Thilina Heenatigala
Assistant Professor / Director of Science Communication , Earth-Life Science Institute
Thilina is an Assistant Professor and Director of Communications at the Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) in Tokyo. His research interests are public engagement evaluation, science & society strategies at research institutions, astrobiology communication, and decolonising science. He heads the ELSI PR Office, teaches science communication for graduate students, supervises science communication internships, and coordinates science and society projects.
Sessions
Setting the scene
PCST Symposium 2025 Tokyo / Japan SciCom Forum 2025
The opening panel sets the tone for the symposium by unpacking the global and regional dynamics shaping science communication today. Panelists will reflect on the challenges of aligning science with societal needs—particularly in non-Western and rapidly evolving contexts—and explore how questions of power, language, legitimacy, and access continue to influence the practice and purpose of science communication. This session invites participants to critically consider where the field stands, and where it needs to go.
PCST 2025 Tokyo - Theme 2 (Science and Society)
PCST 2025 Tokyo - Theme 1 (Education and Training)
An introduction to JSF-PCST 2025 Tokyo
AI and Science Communication
This panel explores the evolving role of AI in science communication, from shaping This panel explores the evolving role of AI in science communication, from shaping press release policies to transforming communication practices with generative press release policies to transforming communication practices with generative AI. The panelists will also discuss the critical challenges posed by AI-driven AI. The panelists will also discuss the critical challenges posed by AI-driven misinformation and deepfakes.