The Scientell story

Your work in science is important. But is it having the impact you want it to?

Science workshop

Our world is full of fascinating science but so much of it isn’t communicated clearly or disseminated widely.

If you need help engaging others with your science then we can help. 

We can connect your science with: the public, students, educational institutions, government, funders or staff internally within your organisation. 

Scientell Pty Ltd was founded in 2015 by Simon Torok and Paul Holper, who had worked together at CSIRO. Their passion for science and for writing led to them co-authoring 20 popular science and climate change books. Many of the books have been for children, and a number have been translated – into Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean and Hungarian.

Since inception, Scientell has successfully completed hundreds of projects. Our clients include Commonwealth, state and local government, CSIRO, Cooperative Research Centres, universities and private companies. Much of Scientell’s work represents repeat business, attesting to clients’ satisfaction with our service.

The company specialises in synthesising scientific and technical information into clear and usable knowledge.

We have extensive experience in writing and developing content for brochures, booklets, newsletters, education material, presentations, websites, and proposals, and in producing videos, animations and infographics. We are also well qualified in communication planning and implementation, development of strategic plans, and in preparing and implementing media strategies and managing media liaison.

Today, Scientell is comprised of four experienced science communicators: Simon Torok, Paul Holper, Alysha Huxley and Sonia Bluhm. Scientell also works with a range of expert support staff and sub-contractors, including designers, videographers, animators and designers.

We are committed to clarity, accuracy, honesty and ethical behaviour. Our principles include:

  • communicating clearly in a way that promotes understanding
  • basing our work on the best available information
  • delivering on time, on budget and on brief
  • respecting, and acknowledging as appropriate, all of our information sources
  • evaluating and learning from all that we do
  • contributing to school, tertiary and public education.

Scientell has been shortlisted as a finalist for the 2020 and 2018 Australian Small Business Champion Awards; we won the microbusiness category of the Monash Business Awards in 2016-2017, and we’ve had articles included in The Conversation Yearbook 2019 and the Best Australian Science Writing 2017.

 

Thought leadership

Scientell are active leaders in the science communication field.

We have been shortlisted as a finalist for the 2020, 2019 and 2018 Australian Small Business Champion Awards, and we won the microbusiness category of the Monash Business Awards in 2016-2017.

We’ve had articles included in The Conversation Yearbook 2019 and the Best Australian Science Writing 2017.

Scientell staff are members of the Australian Science Communicators and the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society. Scientell is also a member of Science & Technology Australia’s Member Benefits Program.

                                       

Directors – Simon and Paul

Scientell’s founders, Simon and Paul, first met at the GREENHOUSE 1994 climate change science conference,
organised by Paul in New Zealand and attended by Simon as a PhD student.Book launch

Their paths crossed again in 1996 when Paul was communication manager for CSIRO Atmospheric Research and Simon started as communication manager for CSIRO Environmental Mechanics. A couple of years later, Paul suggested they write a science trivia book together, which was published by ABC Books in 1999.

Over the ensuing decade, Paul worked at CSIRO in Melbourne and Simon worked in Canberra, then England, and then also at CSIRO in Melbourne. As they worked their day jobs, they continued to write together in their spare time, with an average of one book published each year. This efficient, spare-time writing and their collaborative work together at CSIRO laid the foundation for Scientell in 2015.

Our logo

The colours of Scientell’s logo, green and red, align with the ways we work. Green represents our focus on the environment and our company’s commitment to projects that bring positive environmental outcomes. Red represents the earth and its rich resources, that sustain and nurture us.

Our tagline ‘science, in other words’ is a succinct summary of what we do. We bring clarity and engagement to science, so that everyone can interact with it.