Six science advice workshops to be guided by INGSA-Asia in 2025

The International Network for Governmental Science Advice (INGSA)-Asia supported by the ISC Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific (ISC RFP-AP) has awarded seed grants to six selected applicants with high quality and well-outlined proposals to organize workshops promoting science advice at an institutional or national level in their respective countries in 2025.

INGSA-Asia and ISC RFP-AP would like to congratulate the six successful applicants for Grassroots Science Advice Workshops on their exemplary achievements. As part of this award, the successful applicants will receive a seed grant worth up to AUD $10,000 as well as guidance and mentorship from a distinguished member of the INGSA-Asia Steering Committee to organize science advice workshops in their home countries in 2025.

The successful proposals are:

Dr. Shadab Alam and Dr. Darshan Gajanan Joshi (India) – Enhancing Grassroot Science Education in Maharashtra: Challenges and Solutions

This proposal outlines a three-day workshop aimed at addressing the challenges in providing state-of-the-art science education with employable skills at the undergraduate level in Maharashtra. The workshop will gather representatives from universities and colleges across the state to initiate a dialogue on current challenges. The aim is to identify key issues faced by state universities and colleges, exploring possible solutions, and leveraging existing resources to enhance science education and employability of graduates across Maharashtra.

The workshop is expected to produce a set of actionable policy recommendations for the state government, focusing on practical steps to enhance science education and improve graduate employability and increase awareness among policy makers and the public about the importance of grassroots science education and its impact on economic development.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jane Gew Lai Ti (Malaysia) – Empowering Food Vendors with Science Advice: A Guide to Minimizing Single-Use Plastics

This workshop aims to equip food vendors with the knowledge, tools, and practical solutions to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics. Through a combination of scientific advice and practical solutions, the project aims to promote sustainable practices of plastic waste and providing practical alternatives.

The workshop hopes to reduce the plastic footprint of food vendors, which will decrease the single-use plastic waste and promote a sustainable culture within the food vendors community, driving them towards a zero-waste future.

Dr. Gina Aliya Sopha, Dr. Ir. Dudi Iskandar & Mr. Tubagus Ari Satria Bakti (Indonesia) – Empowering Bandung: Enhancing Waste Management Awareness through Black Soldier Fly Technology

The workshop will be conducted to evaluate and improve Bandung residents’ awareness of waste management. The black soldier fly technology is a promising solution for waste management efforts as it has the potential to convert food waste into protein-rich feed and organic fertilizers.  

This workshop seeks to empower the Bandung community with the knowledge and tools to improve waste management practices, reduce landfill dependency, and promote environmental sustainability.

Dr. Aftab Ahmad (Pakistan) – Enhancing Science-Policy Integration in Waste Management

A two-day workshop on integrating science advice into waste management policies at institutional and national levels in Pakistan. The workshop will facilitate knowledge exchange between scientists, policy makers, and practitioners to develop actionable strategies for sustainable waste management.

The initiative hopes to strengthen the network of science advisors and policy makers in waste management and provide practical recommendations and action plans for incorporating scientific evidence into waste management policies.

Ms. Tan Su Lin & Dr. Nurulaini Abu Shamsi (Malaysia) – PANAS! Science Journalism Workshop

This interdisciplinary workshop organized by Science Media Centre Malaysia builds on previous initiatives in enhancing climate change reporting in Malaysia, the “PANAS Climate Change Stories in Malaysia” project which invites Malaysian journalists, writers and content creators to produce local Malaysian stories on climate change. The upcoming workshop aims to gather scientists, journalists, and advocacy groups to explore how science advice can inform an enhance science communications in Malaysia, particularly on the topic of climate change.

This workshop aims to improve science literacy among journalists, leading to better media coverage of scientific topics, enhance public understanding of key scientific issues, to allow more informed individual and policy-level decision making. The workshop also aims to strengthen the public trust in science and media as reliable sources of information with the institutionalization of science communication practices within media organizations and research institutions in Malaysia.

Dr. Sri Fatmawati and Prof. Dr. Sri Suhartini (Indonesia) – Empowering Indonesian Women in Science for Policy Influence

The Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) Indonesia National Chapter proposes to organize a series of workshops aimed at enhancing the role of women scientists in science advice and policy-making processes in Indonesia. These workshops will involve 200 women scientists from 22 provinces, focusing on pressing issues such as climate change, biodiversity conservation, and waste management.

These workshops aim to strengthen networks between women scientists and policy makers and promote development of policy briefs and recommendations on key environmental issues.

INGSA-Asia and ISC RFP-AP look forward to supporting the winners in organizing relevant and impactful programmes to promote science advice at a grassroots level.