Science in Public

What Science in Public does

Science in Public Pty Ltd is an Australian professional services firm operating as a specialist science communications and public relations agency. Founded in 1998, the company is headquartered across Adelaide and Melbourne and serves a client base spanning government research organizations (CSIRO, CERN), universities, science associations, nonprofits, and individual researchers. Its service portfolio is unified rather than platform-based, covering strategic communication planning, writing and editing, media campaigns, media training workshops, video production, social media management, and newsletter services including custom bulletins for third-party organizations such as the Australian Institute of Physics and the National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia.

The business model is fee-for-service professional services with no proprietary technology platform. Revenue is generated through retainers for end-to-end communications engagements, per-attendee workshop pricing (AUD 950+GST for full-day courses, AUD 1,045 for the Melbourne Royal Society of Victoria venue), online mentoring sessions, and newsletter writing/distribution contracts. The firm has held the Australian Government's national publicists role for National Science Week since 2015 and runs the Fresh Science early-career researcher program, both of which anchor its market position. Operations are entirely domestic (Australia) and the firm maintains no disclosed external investors, funding, or M&A activity. The company is led by Creative Director Niall Byrne, Director of Engagement Tanya Ha, and Managing Director Sarah Brooker.

Name

Science in Public

Legal name

Science in Public Pty Ltd

Website

https://scienceinpublic.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Science in Public Pty Ltd is an Australian specialist science communications and PR agency (founded 1998) helping researchers, universities, and government science bodies translate complex research into media stories, campaigns, and training programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science Communication and Public Relations Services

NAICS

Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAAADAD

Healthcare & Life Sciences PR

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Advertising, Marketing & PR Services/Public Relations & Communications Agencies

Keywords

• Science public relations
• Science communication services
• Media training workshops
• Research communication
• Media campaign management

Headquarters

HQ city

Spotswood

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Science Communication Services: Science in Public provides comprehensive science communication services including strategic communication planning, writing and editing, media campaigns, media training, social media management, video production, and newsletter services. Revenue is generated through service fees for these professional communication services delivered to research organizations, universities, government bodies, and science-related associations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Science in Public is an Australian science PR agency that provides end-to-end science communication services for researchers, research organisations, science-based companies and associations. Its offering spans strategic communication planning, writing and editing, media campaigns, media and presentation training, social media management, video production, newsletter creation and distribution, prize nomination support, early-career coaching and mentoring, and the National Science Week national publicity contract, including the long-running Fresh Science early-career researcher program.

Product overview

Science in Public is Australia’s science PR agency offering an end-to-end science communication service. The company operates as a unified service offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core services include strategic communication planning, writing and editing, media campaigns, media training (full-day courses and workshops), video production, social media management, and newsletter services (Scientists & Researchers Newsletter, Journalists and Media Newsletter, Custom Newsletters). Additional offerings include prize nomination support, early career coaching and mentoring, National Science Week coordination, and the Fresh Science program for early-career researcher communication training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategic Communication Planning Develops practical communication plans that align science, stakeholders and channels for research labs, companies and associations, ensuring messages achieve cut-through with target audiences.
• Writing and Editing Transforms complex research into clear, compelling content including interviews, case studies, web content, and prize and grant nominations for research organisations and science-based companies.
• Media Campaigns From targeted media releases to coordinated multi-channel campaigns, crafting science stories, pitching to media and managing coverage for research labs, companies and associations.
• Media and Communication Training Full-day media, communication and presentation training courses for groups of 6-12 people, plus shorter workshops for groups of 20-200, priced at $950 + GST per person for in-person full-day courses; shorter workshops and larger-group formats available.
• Social Media and Thought Leadership Develops and executes social media content campaigns showcasing client work for online audiences and building professional profiles, for researchers, companies and associations.
• Video Production Develops video scripts, hosts shoot days and delivers final edits with a style focused on letting researchers tell their own stories with minimal voiceover and maximum authenticity, for use in campaigns, websites and events.
• Scientists and Researchers Newsletter Bi-monthly email newsletter providing practical communications advice, research sector updates, science prizes, and opportunities for scientists and researchers to promote their work.
• Journalists and Media Newsletter Dedicated media email list providing the latest Australian science stories and interview opportunities with researchers and innovators, for working journalists.
• Custom Newsletters for Organisations Newsletter creation and delivery services for organisations, including writing and distributing regular email bulletins to their communities; confirmed clients include the Australian Institute of Physics and the National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia.
• Prize Nomination Support Support services for science prize nominations and applications, including assistance with required video submissions for researchers and science organisations.
• Early Career Coaching and Mentoring Cost-effective bespoke advice for researchers and science communication professionals, including one-hour consultations and 90-minute online mentoring sessions on the communication potential of research.
• National Science Week Coordination National publicist service for National Science Week, coordinating events, media releases, story ideas, event listings and talent across Australia in partnership with government and key science organisations.
• Fresh Science Program A national science communication training program that helps early-career researchers find and share their stories of discovery, building a cadre of skilled Australian science communicators; running since 1998.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Australian Institute of PhysicscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerScience in Public helps the Australian Institute of Physics write and deliver regular email bulletins to their communities, managing newsletter content and distribution as a service partner.
• National Stem Cell Foundation of AustraliacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerScience in Public creates and delivers newsletters for the National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia, hosting webinars and managing their public communications including the Metcalf Prizes announcements.
• Australian Government (Inspiring Australia)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience in Public serves as the national publicists for National Science Week, coordinating with the Australian Government's Inspiring Australia program. They manage media relations, story development, and national coordination for events reaching 3+ million Australians annually.
• Questacon, CSIRO, Australian Science Teachers Association, ABC SciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partners supporting National Science Week alongside government funding. These organizations provide additional programming, resources, and promotional support for the annual science festival.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Notch Communications: A UK-based specialist science PR and communications agency serving research institutions, universities, and life-science companies. Closest international comparable to Science in Public given its science-only focus, media-training offering, and research-sector client base.

Emerging players

• Science Media Centre (UK): Independent press office for science, supporting journalists with vetted scientific expertise and running training for researchers. Comparable to Science in Public's role connecting scientists with journalists and running media training, though structured as a nonprofit rather than a commercial agency.

Broad incumbents

• WE Communications: Global technology and science PR firm with deep practices in health and science communications. Comparable as a broader incumbent that competes for science and research-sector communications work but with a much wider industry footprint than Science in Public's Australian science-only niche.
• Edelman: Global communications firm with a dedicated Health and Science practice serving research institutions, pharma, and government science programs. Relevant as an incumbent that Science in Public competes with or complements on larger multinational science accounts.
• FleishmanHillard: Global PR network with a Healthcare and Life Sciences group servicing research bodies and science-driven companies. Comparable to Science in Public at the broader end of the market, with significantly greater scale and geographic reach than the Australian firm.

Regional players

• SenateSHJ: Australia-based PR and communications consultancy with a science, health and technology practice. A domestic alternative to Science in Public for research-sector clients, but operating across multiple verticals rather than science-only.
• Think HQ: Australian purpose-led communications agency with experience across government, health and research campaigns. Comparable to Science in Public on government and public-engagement work, particularly as a competitor for state and federal science-communications tenders.
• Howorth Communications: Australian full-service communications and PR firm with science, technology and B2B clients. Domestic peer for general communications work but without Science in Public's depth in research-sector specialisation.

Others

• Springer Nature: Global academic and scientific publisher with media, PR and conference-services arms reaching research communities. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem participant that Science in Public has historically produced Nature supplements for, illustrating overlap in serving the research communications market.
• Cision (PR Newswire): Global media intelligence and PR distribution platform serving communications agencies and in-house teams. Adjacent infrastructure provider for the media-campaign and journalist-outreach work that Science in Public executes on behalf of science clients.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/scienceinpublic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/science-in-public-pty-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/ausscistories

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Science in Public