About SciComm Success
Building science communication capacity across Europe
We help scientific organisations, universities, and research institutes equip their scientists and researchers with the skills they need to communicate clearly and confidently: with peers, policymakers, funders, and the public.
Founded in 2010 by Suzanne Whitby, SciComm Success has grown from one-on-one coaching during a crisis into a trusted partner for universities, research consortia, and science-driven organisations across Europe.
How it all started
In 2010, Suzanne Whitby was working as a communication consultant, intercultural trainer, and creative director in Boulder, Colorado, a hub for environmental research and home to institutions like NOAA, NCAR, and the University of Colorado Boulder.
Then came the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Local scientists and researchers began reaching out for help. They wanted to explain the crisis to the public, communicate clearly under pressure, and use the moment to raise awareness about broader challenges like climate change and ecosystem collapse.
What began as one-to-one coaching quickly grew into workshops and training programmes. By 2012, Suzanne was working almost exclusively with researchers and research organisations.
In 2014, she relocated to Innsbruck, Austria, and made a decisive shift: to focus entirely on supporting scientists and researchers across Europe with practical, hands-on communication training.
That’s how SciComm Success was born.
Today, we support scientists and researchers across Europe (and wherever possible, in Africa, as Suzanne is proudly South African!), and occasionally “beyond” with practical, hands-on training that helps them communicate their work with clarity, confidence, and impact for diverse audiences.
Who leads this work?
Suzanne Whitby
Founder & Lead Facilitator
Suzanne brings over 20 years of international communication experience, combining expertise in strategic communication, intercultural dynamics, and creative storytelling with deep understanding of the research world.
She’s an IAF member and professional facilitator with 15+ years supporting researchers across Europe: from doctoral candidates to senior PIs, from individual coaching to institutional capacity building. Suzanne regularly delivers science communication training for European research organisations and Horizon Europe project consortia.
She is an active science communicator and works with citizens to explore possible climate futures to encourage sustainable thinking and behaviours.
In addition to SciComm Success, Suzanne is a futures researcher and foresight practitioner at Futures Fit, helping science-led organisations explore long-term strategic thinking.
Who leads this work?
Suzanne Whitby
Founder & Lead Facilitator
Suzanne brings over 20 years of international communication experience, combining expertise in strategic communication, intercultural dynamics, and creative storytelling with deep understanding of the research world.
She’s an IAF member and professional facilitator with 15+ years supporting researchers across Europe: from doctoral candidates to senior PIs, from individual coaching to institutional capacity building. Suzanne regularly delivers science communication training for European research organisations and Horizon Europe project consortia.
She is an active science communicator and works with citizens to explore possible climate futures to encourage sustainable thinking and behaviours.
In addition to SciComm Success, Suzanne is a futures researcher and foresight practitioner at Futures Fit, helping science-led organisations explore long-term strategic thinking.
Who supports the work
SciComm Success is a focused team of communication specialists, facilitators, and researchers who understand what it takes to communicate complex science effectively.
Our core team includes:
Megan Evans
Facilitator, Trainer, Coach
Dr. Martin Graus
Scientific Advisor &
Workshop Reviewer
Rasheed Ogunlaru
Media Expert & Coach
Simone Lightfoot
Training Designer & Online Workshop Producer
When projects require specialised expertise, we draw on our network of associates across Europe and internationally.
What makes us different
We understand the research context
Many of our team have worked in academia or alongside researchers. We understand work package deliverables, consortium dynamics, publication pressure, and the reality of communicating across disciplines and institutional cultures.
We design for multilingual Europe
English remains the lingua franca of research, but most European researchers communicate primarily in their native languages. We deliver training in English to support internationalisation while building transferable skills that work in any language. Our train-the-trainer programmes enable institutions to run communication training in local languages and contexts.
We’re professional facilitators, not just trainers
As IAF members, we bring facilitation expertise to complex group dynamics. This is particularly valuable for multi-institutional consortia, cross-cultural teams, and strategic planning sessions. We don’t just deliver content; we create the conditions for effective learning and decision-making.
We build capacity, not just deliver workshops
We help institutions develop their own internal expertise through train-the-trainer programmes, strategic planning support, and ongoing facilitator networks – creating sustainable communication capacity rather than one-off training events.
We work collaboratively, respectfully, and with genuine investment in our partners’ success.
Think of us as an extension of your team, there to support you every step of the way for your project, willing to share a few laughs along the way.
Why this work matters
In uncertain times, scientists and researchers play a vital role in helping society learn, adapt, and innovate. Clear communication isn’t just about public engagement. It’s essential for securing funding, collaborating across disciplines, informing policy, and building the careers researchers deserve.
That’s why we created SciComm Success, and why we’re committed to building communication capacity across Europe’s research institutions.
Fancy a chat?
If you’d like to know more about us, or might be interested in becoming one of our European associates, feel free to get in touch.
Awards and recognition
