This article interrogates the evolving ontology of news in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), with a particular focus on science communication practices within Dubai-based newsrooms. As the United Arab Emirates positions itself as a global hub for innovation and knowledge economies, the integration of AI into journalistic workflows ranging from automated content generation to algorithmic news curation has begun to reshape not only how science is communicated but what is communicable as science

Talk 2

Integrating Artificial Intelligence into Science Communication Education Curricula in Arab Universities: An Exploratory Study of Opportunities and Challenges

Speaker: Ghada Salih

This study explores the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in advancing science communication education in Arab universities. Rapid developments in AI technologies present unprecedented opportunities to enhance students’ skills in areas such as big data analysis, fact-checking, and tailoring scientific content for diverse audiences. At the same time, these opportunities come with challenges, including ethical considerations, algorithmic bias, and the need for advanced technical infrastructure.

The paper adopts a conceptual research methodology, drawing on existing literature and case studies, to examine both the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI into science communication curricula. It provides recommendations for curriculum design, pedagogical strategies, and institutional readiness, aiming to equip students with the skills needed to navigate the evolving landscape of digital science communication while addressing ethical and practical concerns.

Talk 3

Pathways for Youth-Led Climate Change Communication: Reframing Climate Narratives in Jordan through Podcasts

Speaker: Thawab Hilal, Hanan Badr

This paper explores climate change through the lens of youth-driven digital media in Jordan, a country affected by climate change, including rising temperatures and critical water shortages. Focusing on podcasts as an emerging form of participatory media, the study investigates how young Jordanians are reshaping public discourse on climate change by emphasizing community-centered, justice-based approaches over technocratic or externally driven narratives.

Talk 4

Reddit Discourse on Assisted Dying

Speaker: Syed Ali Hussain

The U.K. Assisted Dying Bill has reignited debate on autonomy, dignity, and end-of-life care. Analyzing 7,836 Reddit comments (2024–2025), we identified ten themes, from personal suffering and dignity to distrust in institutions and disability rights. Autonomy remained central, while safeguards and slippery slopes drew high engagement. Peaks aligned with parliamentary debates. Insights highlight how online discourse can inform Arab policymakers navigating culturally grounded end-of-life ethics.

Talk 5

Virtues of Science Communication

Speaker: T. Y. Branch

This paper explores the ethical dimensions of science communication and their impact on public trust. It examines the virtues scientists are expected to uphold, such as honesty, sincerity, transparency, and openness, and questions whether simply possessing these traits automatically builds public confidence. Responding to Stephen John’s 2018 critique, the paper argues that transparency and openness, when properly understood and applied, remain essential for effective communication and are worth cultivating across diverse scientific contexts. The discussion highlights how thoughtful attention to these virtues can strengthen the relationship between science and society.

Since 1868, Japan has modernized by adopting Western science, yet it also preserves traditional knowledge known as the Japanese Way of Knowing Nature. This presentation explores the commonalities and differences between Western science and this Japanese perspective. Using the traditional astringent-persimmon coating “Kakishibu” as a case study, it illustrates how traditional knowledge can integrate with modern science to promote environmental responsibility, human-nature harmony, and sustainable innovation. The session highlights how including non-Western ways of knowing can broaden the understanding of “science” in science communication.

Talk 2

Large Language Model (LLM Empowered Curating an Exhibition of Science and Technology Museums – A Case Study of an Intelligent Assistance System Development

Speaker: Liu Yajing

Curating an exhibition for a science and technology museum involves transforming professional scientific achievements into engaging, accessible content that effectively communicates knowledge to the public. One of the key challenges in this process is converting scientific achievements into exhibition-ready content, which often involves scattered data sources and time-consuming content integration.

To address these challenges, the National Science Library of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) developed a design model based on scientific achievement news data and powered by large language model (LLM) technology. This model supports the creation of an intelligent assistance system for curating exhibitions in science and technology museums. The system automates the collection, cleaning, and knowledge extraction of scientific achievement data, generates exhibition content automatically, and enables multimodal resource matching for collections, significantly improving the efficiency of exhibition preparation.

In this study, 6,300 data items—including research news, multimedia news, and CAS media publications—were collected from the official CAS website. Using LLM technology, major achievement patterns were extracted, and the system automatically generated structured content for each result, including Title, Year, Team, Scientific Principle, and International Evaluation. Relevant images and popular videos were also linked, completing the exhibition content automatically.

The outcomes of this research provide a practical framework for integrating museum collection data and generating intelligent exhibition content. They demonstrate the potential for deep integration between AI technology and museum operations, offering a valuable reference for enhancing science communication through innovative curatorial practices.

Talk 3

How Can Scientific Journals Conduct Science Communication: A Reflection Grounded in China’s National Science-Communication System

Speaker: Tan Yihong

This paper examines the models, challenges, and opportunities for Chinese scientific journals in undertaking science communication. Current outreach strategies include:
(1) creating non-academic columns that translate research into accessible stories,
(2) partnering with mainstream or social media to highlight findings, and
(3) repurposing articles into bite-sized posts for digital platforms such as WeChat, short videos, and microblogs.
However, these efforts often rely solely on in-house resources, leading to bottlenecks in topic selection, narrative development, team building, platform management, dissemination, impact evaluation, and incentive structures.

Many journals either avoid producing popular-science content or do so without tracking reach or societal impact. To overcome these limitations, journals should reposition themselves as collaborative information hubs, sharing resources across titles, connecting academia with society, certifying quality, and providing feedback to authors, funders, and the public. Key actions include enhancing editors’ science communication skills, formalizing cross-organizational collaborations, and establishing structured pathways for researchers to contribute to public engagement. Implementing these systemic changes will enable journals to become active, trusted agents of science communication, strengthening China’s national science-popularization infrastructure and supporting long-term scientific innovation and self-reliance.

Talk 4

STEM Experience Paradox and the Mechanism of STEM Choice in Higher Education

Speaker: Zhonghui Li

This study revealed a paradoxical pattern: in Japan, the more frequently girls participate in informal STEM-related activities, the less likely they are to pursue STEM majors.
In addition, even though girls participate in many activities just as frequently as boys, their interest in mathematics and science tends to be much lower. This suggests that if these activities fail to spark girls’ interest, simply increasing the quantity of participation may have little or no positive impact.

Talk 5

How Do Scientists Engage in Science Communication? Four Practical Models of Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences

Speaker: Hu Hui

Chinese scientists play a significant role in public science communication. The Chinese Academy of Sciences, the largest scientific research institution in China, has seen an increasing number of its scientists engage in this effort, disseminating science to the public through various activities. This study summarizes the current state of scientists’ participation in science communication through observations, surveys, and other methods, identifying four practical modes.

Talk 6

Advancing Science Communication Beyond Western Frameworks

Speaker: Thilina Heenatigalalores

Science communication as a field has traditionally been shaped by Western institutional norms and English-language discourse, which often fail to reflect local contexts of knowledge production, language, and trust.
In many regions of the Global South, including Asia and the Arab world, such frameworks risk overlooking indigenous epistemologies, multilingual realities, and the political ecologies of science. The PCST Japan 2025 symposium, held in Tokyo, provided a pivotal moment for reimagining non-Western approaches to science communication, foregrounding cultural relevance, linguistic plurality, and community-centred practice.