Indonesian Science Affairs Fellowship 2026
A Journey to Strengthen Indonesia’s Science Journalism Ecosystem Begins
Jakarta, 28 August 2026 — A journey to strengthen the science journalism ecosystem in Indonesia is about to begin. In collaboration with Indonesian Science Affairs and Science WatchDog.id, the Society of Indonesian Science Journalists (SISJ) is hosting the Indonesian Science Affairs Fellowship 2026, an intensive three-month programme designed for aspiring science journalists in Indonesia.
When the application window closed on 31 July 2026, the programme had received 92 applications from people at different stages of their careers. Applicants came from diverse geographical locations across Indonesia, from Aceh to Papua, as well as from islands and cities such as Batam, Bali and Ambon. The fellowship call also reached aspiring journalists based overseas, including in Kyoto, Adelaide, Utrecht and Seoul.
From the pool of applicants, 12 participants were selected to join two pre-fellowship sessions. During this stage, participants were introduced to the fundamentals of science journalism through lectures and workshops. The sessions covered topics including the distinction between science journalism and science communication, the skills and characteristics of a good journalist, and how to read scientific journals.
In one of the sessions, Dyna Rochmyaningsih, founder of Indonesian Science Affairs and a member of the SISJ Advisory Board, introduced the fundamental principles and practices of science journalism. She emphasised the importance of scepticism, analytical thinking and keeping an open mind when reporting on scientific topics.
Participants were also introduced to different forms of science journalism, from reporting scientific advances and placing science in its social context to covering science policy in Indonesia.
The session also explored the boundaries of science journalism and the concept of journalistic neutrality. While journalists should strive for objectivity in their reporting, personal perspectives and biases can still influence the journalistic process, particularly when covering controversial issues or subjects with personal relevance to journalists and their communities.
Following two pre-fellowship sessions, six participants were selected to continue to the main stage of the Indonesian Science Affairs Fellowship 2026. They are:
Galih Widyanto
Muflika Fuaddah
Syahlan Faluthi
Ayu Nabilah
Susi Gustiana
Gert Antonio Tobing
Starting on 28 August 2026, the six participants will take part in an intensive series of classes led by experienced journalists, academics, researchers and practitioners working across science and journalism.
Fellowship Classes
28 August 2026 — Kinds of Science Journalism
Feature writing, hard news, investigative journalism and visual journalism
Instructor: Dyna Rochmyaningsih
4 September 2026 — Introduction to the Philosophy of Science
Exploring the scientific method, the falsifiability of science, the social compact of science, and the relationship between science and journalism.
Instructor: Ilham Ahsanu Ridlo
11 September 2026 — Finding Science Stories
Exploring how to identify the science angle in a story and how to use press releases and scientific journals as starting points for reporting.
Instructor: Dyna Rochmyaningsih
18 September 2026 — The Art of Interviewing Scientists
Research and preparation, developing questions, and understanding and explaining scientific information.
Instructor: Dyna Rochmyaningsih
25 September 2026 — Writing Popular Science
Exploring writing style, structure and the use of jargon in popular science writing.
Instructors: Dyna Rochmyaningsih & Maggie
2 October 2026 — Reading Scientific Journals
Learning how to read and understand scientific journals as an essential part of the science reporting process.
Instructor: Dyna Rochmyaningsih
9 October 2026 — Scientific Integrity
Learning how to assess the quality of research and examine scientific integrity and research practices.
Instructors: Dyna Rochmyaningsih & Ilham Ahsanu Ridlo
16 October 2026 — How Science Works and Metascience
Understanding how science works and exploring the emerging field of metascience.
Instructor: Rizqy Amelia Zein
21 October 2026 — Science Journalism in Environmental Reporting
Exploring how the principles of science journalism can be applied to environmental reporting.
Instructor: Harry Surjadi
28 October 2026 — Covering Science Controversy
Exploring the strategies and challenges involved in reporting on scientific controversies.
Instructor: Ashley Smart, Associate Director, Knight Science Journalism, MIT
Through this series of training sessions, the Indonesian Science Affairs Fellowship 2026 aims not only to equip participants with practical skills in science reporting and writing, but also to strengthen their ability to understand scientific processes, evaluate evidence and research quality, interview scientists, and communicate scientific information accurately and with appropriate context.
More than a training programme, the fellowship is part of a broader effort to build a stronger science journalism ecosystem in Indonesia by connecting aspiring journalists from across the country with knowledge, mentors and professional networks that can support their development as science journalists.
The journey begins now.
