Deteriorating air quality in the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH) region and the resulting impacts requires urgent attention from governments, policy makers, scientists, stakeholders and the public. Atmospheric issues are often neglected at policy making and local levels. The Atmosphere Initiative at ICIMOD, realizing the media’s important role in raising public awareness is organizing a training workshop for journalists to increase their understanding of the issues and complexities surrounding air pollution, its sources and impacts, and mitigation options.
Established in 2013, the Atmosphere Initiative of ICIMOD is a part of the Regional Programme on Cryosphere and Atmosphere. It aims to improve our understanding of atmospheric issues and promote regional cooperation for addressing issues relating to air pollution in the HKH region.
Highly motivated journalists working with various media outlets (including print, radio, television, and online) from ICIMOD’s regional member countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Myanmar and Pakistan – will be brought together through this workshop. The workshop will be facilitated by a senior reporter.
This four-day long workshop will allow them to have better understanding of regional air pollution, its sources and impacts, atmospheric processes, mitigation options, and policy options. Scientists and other specialists will teach the participants about atmospheric science with emphasis on air pollution, its sources and impacts, and mitigation options with specific relation to the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region. By the end of the workshop, the participants will be required to share their story ideas and exchange views with fellow journalists, facilitators, and scientists to discuss and to get the facts right.
A comprehensive programme will be dedicated to familiarize and to discuss the issue and techniques for information gathering. Detailed presentations by scientists on atmospheric sciences are an attraction of this workshop that offers the participants to clarify and enhance their understanding of issues related to air pollution. The field trip organized as part of the workshop will bring a journalistic perspective to the unrecognized human aspects of the problems associated with air pollution. The workshop will serve as an opportunity to clarify and correct common misconceptions related to air pollution, and also provide journalists with the background knowledge needed to correctly interpret scientific data and present scientific findings to the general public, and to incorporate new perspectives into their articles. By the end of the workshop, the participants will have developed stories aimed at publishing through their respective media houses.
Interested candidates may apply using the online application form no later than 16 August 2015. The following information will be requires while submitting the form:
All applications will be reviewed by a selection committee from ICIMOD. Only successful applicants will be notified via email by 11 September 2015. An automated email and display will appear on your screen after your application is successfully submitted.
Inquiries regarding the status of your application or the results will not be entertained. If you have problems submitting the form or have questions specific to the workshop, please write to atmosphere@icimod.org
We are no longer accepting the application forms