Himalayan Boot Camp sparks creation of South Asian Science Journalists Network

As an outcome of discussions among a group of South Asian science journalists during the Himalayan Climate Boot Camp 2022 in the Everest region, the South Asian Science Journalists’ Network (SASJN) was formed to create opportunities for regional collaboration among them.

The network was co-founded by Subhra Priyadarshini, Editor in Chief of Nature India and the founding President of Science Journalists Association of India; Chhatra Karki, the founding President and program Director of Nepal Forum of Science Journalists (NFSJ), and Pantho Rahaman, President of Bangladesh Science Journalists’ Association (BSJN).

The objectives of SASJN is to build capacity of science journalists in the region, and to offer mentoring and training opportunities to science journalists by harnessing resources from individual associations.

‘SASJN will aim to explore issues of common interest to the region’s science journalists,’ Priyadarshini, the co-founder of SASJN says.

In keeping with the broad objectives stated above, SASJN will explore opportunities to work with the associations and like-minded organizations (government or non-government) from the region to create training and mentorship programmes for the science Journalists to promote science Journalism in the regional scene.

According to co-founder Karki, SASJN will facilitate meetings between members and journalistic collaboration among the members of the network, and create a virtual platform for sustained discussions of issues of mutual interest.

Science journalists from South Asia (Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives and Afghanistan) can join the network.