Forman Christian College University (FCCU) hosted the first-ever International Communication Association (ICA) Conference on its campus, bringing together global leaders, scholars, and advocates in climate communication. The event marked a historic milestone as ICA partnered with FCCU, symbolizing a shared commitment to bridging academic research with public engagement in addressing pressing climate challenges.
Forman Christian College University (FCCU) has been a pioneer in education and research, fostering an inclusive and innovative environment for learning and collaboration. Hosting the ICA Conference reflects FCCU’s commitment to addressing contemporary global issues through academic and practical interventions.
The conference’s mission is to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and actionable solutions through communication research, innovation, and collaboration. This aligns seamlessly with ICA’s vision of advancing the understanding and practice of communication for global betterment.
The opening day’s sessions were packed with insightful addresses, including opening remarks from Dr. Firasat Jabeen, the Conference Chair, and a warm welcome by Dr. Jonathan S. Addleton, Rector of FCCU. Dr. Altaf Ullah Khan, Dean of Humanities, and Dr. Bushra Rahman, President of AMCAP, underscored the conference’s importance in galvanizing academic and public discourse on climate issues.
Two captivating keynote speeches by Dr. Waqas Ejaz, a Research Fellow at the Oxford Climate Journalism Network, UK, and Dr. Noshir Contractor, Professor of Behavioral Sciences and Communication at Northwestern University, USA, set the tone for a day filled with thought-provoking discussions. The plenary session, “Activism and Academia: Bridging the Gap in Climate Research and Public Engagement,” featured a panel of distinguished experts, including Dr Noshir Contractor, Dr. Waqas Ejaz, Farahnaz Zahidi Moazzam, Ms. Silvia M. Machado and Ahmad Rafay Alam
Moderated by Muhammad Junaid, a renowned news anchor, the session explored the intersection of research, media, and activism in tackling climate crises. The day also included diverse concurrent panel discussions on topics such as climate advocacy, media narratives, and digital activism. These sessions highlighted innovative research and strategies for addressing climate justice, public health, and environmental challenges in South Asia and beyond.
Panel 1: Bridging Journalism, Science, and Climate Dialogue chaired by Dr. Sohail Riaz Raja and Dr. Saba Sultana being the Moderator focused on the intersection of science communication and journalism in addressing climate change. Presenters highlighted innovative methods to bridge the gap between scientific data and public understanding. Key topics included: Communicating complex climate science to diverse audiences. The role of journalists in shaping public perception and action on climate issues. Presenters such as Bilal Tariq, Maryam Rai Shahbaz, and Hirat Batool shared compelling research and case studies, emphasizing collaboration between media professionals and scientists to enhance climate literacy.
Panel 2: Media Narratives and Environmental Advocacy: Communicating Climate Action and Security in South Asia chaired by Dr. Syed M. Saqib Saleem and Dr. Kiran Karamat being the Moderator examined the strategic role of media narratives in advocating for environmental action and security in South Asia. Key presentations included:
Insights by Rahman Ullah and Sundas Rana on countering misinformation in climate advocacy. Collaborative solutions by scholars like Hafsah Javed to address regional climate security challenges. Discussions underscored the importance of nuanced storytelling and the responsibility of media in fostering actionable change. Panel 3: Visualizing Climate Change: Media Strategies, Narratives, and Frames in Digital Environmental Discourse chaired by Dr. Qurratulaen Liaqat and Dr. Ifrah Iftikhar being the Moderator explored how visual media and digital platforms influence public understanding of climate change. Presenters like Hunter Reeves and Mehraveh Taghizadeh demonstrated:
Innovative uses of digital storytelling to make climate data accessible and relatable. The effectiveness of visual narratives in galvanizing collective action. The session highlighted the power of the media in creating emotional and intellectual engagement with climate issues. Panel 4: Bridging Gaps in Climate Communication chaired by Dr. Taimur Ul Hassan and Dr. Moneeba Iftikhar being the Moderator focused on addressing barriers to effective climate communication, this panel brought together academics and practitioners who emphasized: Collaborative models for inclusive climate messaging, presented by Atif Ashraf and Sadaf Zahra.
Challenges and opportunities in engaging underserved communities in climate discourse. The discussions provided actionable strategies for making climate communication more inclusive and impactful.
Afternoon Concurrent Sessions Spotlighting Diverse Approaches to Climate Communication
Panel 5: Intersecting Narratives: Environmental Challenges and Media Representation in Pakistan chaired by Dr. Saadia Ishtiaq Nauman and Dr. Amrat Haq being the Moderator addressed how environmental challenges are represented in Pakistani media and the role of these narratives in shaping public understanding. Key presentations by Dr. Raana Afzal, Fatima Attique, and others delved into:
The intersection of environmental issues with cultural and socio-political contexts in Pakistan.
Effective strategies to improve the media’s role in advocating for sustainable practices.
Panel 6: Public Health Communication in Pakistan: Innovative Approaches to Disease Awareness and Prevention chaired by Dr. Sayyed Fawad Ali Shah and Dr. Adeel Ahmed Amir being the Moderator played a pivotal role in this session, guiding discussions on innovative public health communication strategies that intersect with environmental concerns. Highlights included:
Presentations by Shafaq Chaudhry and Dr. Hina Adeeb, showcasing creative approaches to disease prevention campaigns in climate-affected regions.
Dr. Amir’s emphasis on integrating digital tools to improve health outcomes and his call for collaborative frameworks that engage local communities.
The panel highlighted how public health messaging can be a critical element in addressing climate-induced health risks.
Panel 7: Risk Governance in Climate Crises: Policy, Practice & Public chaired by Dr. Anam Muzamill and Dr. Qurratulann Malik being the Moderator explored governance frameworks for managing climate risks. Topics ranged from local policy interventions to global best practices. Key discussions included.
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