By KPC Reporter in Pretoria
Africa will host the 13th World Conference of Science Journalists (WCSJ2025) in December.
The biennial event is set to take place from December 1–5, 2025, at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria, Tshwane, South Africa.
This will be the first time the gathering will be hosted on African soil.
Organizers describe it as “an unmissable event for science journalists, science communicators and scientists wanting to publicise their work.”
The conference theme is “Science journalism and social justice: journalism that builds understanding and resilience.”
It promises a wide-ranging programme of seminars, workshops, and debates exploring topics such as climate change denial, misinformation, ocean science, and the role of Artificial Intelligence in journalism.
“This is a unique opportunity for everyone interested in communicating science to hone their craft, to network with their peers, and to find stories about groundbreaking African science,” organizers said in a statement.
Sample sessions include “Bringing social justice into ocean science reporting,” which will look at the threats facing the world’s oceans from climate change, overfishing, and pollution.
Another panel, “When industry endangers health and ecosystems,” will examine how journalists can expose polluters and drive policy change.
Artificial Intelligence will also come under scrutiny in a session titled “AI – Friend or Foe?” where experts will discuss both the opportunities and dangers AI presents for newsroom survival, integrity, and combating disinformation.
WCSJ2025 is jointly hosted by the South African Science Journalists’ Association (SASJA) and the Science Diplomacy Capital for Africa (SDCfA), with support from South Africa’s Department of Science, Technology and Innovation and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
Registration details are available at www.wcsj2025.org/registration .