Research in the headlines: international media strategies for science

The Japan SciCom Forum annual conference comes to Nagoya for the first time on 2026-10-20 and 2026-10-21 for a two-day gathering of science communicators working across Japanese universities and research institutions.

About the theme

JSF2026 takes media relations as its central theme, exploring how universities and research institutions communicate their work to journalists, editors, and broader publics. The conference examines international media strategies for science, comparing approaches across different countries and media landscapes while developing models suited to Asian and Japanese contexts. The relationship between research institutions and the media is evolving rapidly. Traditional press release strategies now sit alongside social media, direct-to-audience content, and new forms of multimedia storytelling. At the same time, questions of trust, transparency, and the responsible communication of uncertain findings have become increasingly urgent. JSF2026 offers an opportunity to reflect on these changes and share practical approaches to navigating them.

Programme overview

The two-day programme features keynote presentations from international speakers offering perspectives on media strategy and science journalism. Panel discussions address questions including how Asian universities are developing their own media strategies rather than simply importing Western approaches, and how institutions can measure the effectiveness of their communications work.

Contributed talks and poster sessions provide opportunities for JSF members to share their own work and experiences. We welcome submissions on topics including media relations practice, research on science journalism and media coverage, institutional communications strategy, and case studies of successful (or unsuccessful) media engagement.

Hands-on workshops on day one offer practical skills development in areas such as writing for international media, media training for researchers, and working effectively with journalists.

The conference includes a EurekAlert! user group meeting, bringing together communications professionals who use the AAAS news distribution service to share experiences and discuss best practices.

The conference dinner on the evening of day one offers an opportunity for informal networking and conversation.

Venue

JSF2026 is hosted at Nagoya University's Noyori Conference Center, named after Nobel laureate Ryoji Noyori. The venue is located on the Higashiyama Campus in Nagoya. Further travel and accommodation information will be provided closer to the event.

Key dates

• Abstract submission opens: 2026-06-01
• Abstract deadline: 2026-06-30
• Registration opens: 2026-06-01
• Conference dates: 2026-10-20 to 2026-10-21

Contact

For enquiries about JSF2026, please contact info@japansci.com.