LOS BAÑOS, Philippines — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) concluded a comprehensive Training on Writing for Science and Policy, held on July 21–25, 2025. As a key component of SEARCA's Graduate on Time (GOT) Program, the training empowered eighteen scholars from various SEARCA scholarship study posts across Asia, including Kasetsart University (Thailand), University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), IPB University (Indonesia), Tokyo University of Agriculture (Japan), and National Taiwan University.
Organized by SEARCA's Education and Collective Learning Department and facilitated by faculty members from the UPLB College of Development Communication, the training was designed to enhance the participants' scholarly communication skills. Scholars deepened their understanding of scientific writing conventions, gaining practical tools to produce clear, well-structured journal articles. A significant focus was also placed on crafting effective research presentations and leveraging visuals and scripts to compellingly communicate findings to both academic and policy audiences.
The training commenced with Prof. Dr. Benjamina Paula Flor, who introduced the fundamental concepts of science communication, emphasizing the critical importance of academic publishing and strategic engagement with policymakers. A "Meet-and-Greet Session" followed, connecting scholars with journal editors and managers from the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC). This session provided invaluable insights into journal operations and ethical guidelines in scientific publishing, featuring presentations from Prof. Dr. Efi Yuliati Yovi on Jurnal Manajemen Hutan Tropika of IPB University, Prof. Dr. Phebe Ding on Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science of UPM, and Ms. Monalinda Cadiz on SEARCA's Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development.
Throughout the program, participants were guided through the strategic aspects of planning for publication, including selecting article focus, creating detailed outlines, identifying suitable target journals, and utilizing project management and online journal matching tools. Prof. Dr. Serlie Jamias led an in-depth discussion on the principles and techniques of writing scientific papers, focusing on structuring key sections like the Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion, and Conclusion and Recommendations. Asst. Prof. Avril Adrianne Madrid emphasized clear and effective writing principles, while Ms. Charlene Mae Arkaina delivered a session on the fundamentals of graphic design and data visualization, underscoring the importance of presenting data effectively through tailored tables and figures. Asst. Prof. Jyasmin Calub-Bautista conducted a session specifically on preparing impactful presentations for policymakers, covering message development, scriptwriting, and delivery techniques that resonate with decision-makers.
As a culminating activity, the participants delivered mock policy pitches, showcasing the enhanced skills and techniques they acquired during the intensive training.
This customized training proactively supports scholars in completing their degree requirements on schedule through targeted academic and enrichment activities, ultimately fostering a new generation of adept communicators and leaders in agriculture.