By Wallace Mawire
South Africa is set to host the World Conference of Science Journalists (WCSJ) in Pretoria from 1 to 5 December,2025.
According to Mandi Smallhorne, President, South African Science Journalists Association, it’s the first time the conference has ever been held in southern Africa and the first time it’s being hosted on the African continent.
She said that WCSJ2025 will take place at the CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa under the theme Science Journalism and Social Justice – our role in promoting resilience.
The conference is organised by the South African Science Journalists’ Association (SASJA, a Special Interest Group of the Southern African Freelancers Association) and the Science Diplomacy Capital for Africa (SDCfA), an initiative and entity of South Africa’s National Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
She added that the WCSJ gives science journalists an opportunity to share ideas and information, stimulate debate and discussion and brainstorm solutions regarding how science journalists can contribute to building resilience in our communities and countries in the face of a daunting array of challenges.
‘It’s also a great opportunity to interact with stakeholders in our field,’Smallhorne said.
The World Conference of Science Journalists takes place every two years and is the largest international event for science journalists to gather as peers, helping one another learn, grow, and thrive.
During the conference, attendees will enjoy seminars, workshops, lectures and access to expertise from around the world. An engaging, relevant and stimulating programme of content will foster both inspiration and growth.
‘We’ll also offer a bouquet of day trips and longer tour options, which will explore cutting-edge science and the natural and cultural glories of our country. Our beautiful country has a lot to share, and that includes some fascinating scientific experiences, from the Square Kilometre Array Observatory, to cutting edge genomic sequencing and biomedicine, to the Cradle of Humankind for journalists covering paleontology,’ she said.
