Dr. van Rooyen’s thesis resulted in a field guide for the ethical communication of emerging technologies. A paper on how the guide applies to Generative AI is currently in preprint with the Journal of Science Communication (JCom). As research fellow to the Department of Journalism at Stellenbosch University, he is also involved in ongoing research projects with the Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST) and the Department of Media and Communication at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU München) in Germany.
Dr. Fanie van Rooyen
Research and Communications Consultant
Dr. Fanie van Rooyen is a science and technology communication specialist with two decades of experience spanning science journalism, strategic science outreach and ethical science communication research.
As Research and Communications Consultant at the Institute for Methods Innovation (IMI), he leads communications and engagement strategies across IMI’s portfolio of social research projects and capacity-building initiatives, including several multi-country programs funded by the European Commission, including HYPOP, FEMLEAD and REMHub.
As a science communication specialist, Dr. van Rooyen drives the reach and usability of social research. He designs and delivers communication strategies that showcase IMI’s advances in methodological innovation, research capacity building, and evidence-informed practice. He leads the dissemination and engagement components of complex, multi-partner projects, ensuring that new methods and findings are accessible to varied audiences. He holds an MA and PhD in Science Journalism from Stellenbosch University.
Expertise and experience
With a background in journalism and academic expertise in science communication ethics, Dr. van Rooyen brings a unique blend of storytelling, strategic communication, and theoretical insight to the IMI team. His PhD research focused on the ethical communication of disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, and gene editing—areas where methodological rigour and public understanding intersect critically. He has produced tools and frameworks for responsible research communication directly relevant to IMI’s mission of driving high-quality, socially responsive research.0
Dr. van Rooyen is also editor of QUEST, the youth science magazine of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAF). He is committed to ensuring that research methods and results are robust and resonant, communicated with clarity, purpose, and ethical integrity.
Publications
News media
Dr. van Rooyen’s reporting has appeared in Beeld and News24, while his feature writing includes contributions to Popular Mechanics, ScienceScope (CSIR), and commissioned articles for several universities and centres of excellence.
Languages
English (native) and Afrikaans (fluent).
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