As part of the 56th Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health (APACPH) Conference, a focused pre-conference workshop was held on 4 November 2025 to strengthen capacities in scientific writing and ethical publishing. Organised by the editorial team of the Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health (APJPH), this half-day workshop took place ahead of the main conference proceedings. It was well-attended by researchers, students, reviewers, and academic professionals.
Advancing Scientific Writing in Public Health
The workshop opened with a welcome address by Ms Helen Guat Hiong Tee, Editorial Officer of APJPH, followed by an introduction to the journal’s scope and editorial approach by Ms Bairave Shunnmugam. Participants gained valuable insight into the journal’s expectations and role in promoting regional public health scholarship.
The core of the workshop began with an in-depth session by Prof Dr Wah Yun Low, Editor-in-Chief of APJPH, who provided practical guidance on writing and publishing public health papers. Her session highlighted the importance of clear structure, scientific rigour, and narrative coherence to enhance the chances of manuscript acceptance.
The AI Dimension in Academic Publishing
A key feature of the workshop was its forward-looking focus on artificial intelligence (AI) in academic writing. Prof. Dr Victor CW Hoe Abdullah, Editor-in-Chief of the Medical Journal of Malaysia, explored how AI tools are transforming the drafting and refinement of academic manuscripts. His presentation struck a balance between optimism about AI’s utility and caution about its limitations.
Following this, Prof Dr Claire Choo Wan Yuen examined the biases and content limitations in AI-generated text, emphasising the need for critical review and editorial oversight. Dr Noor Ani Ahmad, Director of the Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, closed the technical sessions with a compelling discussion on the ethical dimensions of AI use in scientific publishing, highlighting concerns around authorship integrity, plagiarism, and data authenticity.
Collaborative Reflection and Future Directions
The workshop concluded with a dynamic Q&A session moderated by Ms Helen Tee, fostering dialogue around real-world challenges and future trends in scientific writing. A group photography session marked the close of the event.
Reflections
This workshop exemplifies APACPH’s commitment to building academic capacities and promoting responsible publishing practices across the region. By integrating technical skills with discussions on emerging technologies and ethics, the event prepared participants to navigate the evolving landscape of scientific communication.
