Track record:

Julian Cribb is the principal of Julian Cribb & Associates, specialists in science communication. He is Adjunct Professor in Science Communication at the University of Technology Sydney and a fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

From 1996-2002 he was Director, National Awareness, for Australia's national science agency, CSIRO where he oversaw a 150 per cent growth in the organisation’s media profile.

A journalist since 1969, he was editor of the "National Farmer" and "Sunday Independent" newspapers, editor-in-chief of the "Australian Rural Times", and chief of the Australian Agricultural News Bureau. For ten years he was agriculture correspondent, science and technology correspondent and scientific editor for "The Australian" and still writes a regular column for the national daily. He edits Australian R&D Review and ScienceAlert.com.au, the nation’s leading scientific news site.

He has received 32 awards for journalism including the Order of Australia Association Media Prize, the inaugural Eureka Prize for environmental journalism, the inaugural AUSTRADE award for international business journalism, the Dalgety Award for rural journalism, two MBF Awards for medical journalism and five Michael Daley Awards for science journalism.

He was national foundation president of the Australian Science Communicators (ASC), president of the National Rural and Resources Press Club, a member of CSIRO advisory committees for agriculture, fisheries and entomology. He has served as a Director of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), the Crawford Fund, the Secretariat for International Landcare, CSIRO Publishing, the Australian Minerals and Energy Environment Foundation, the National Science and Technology Centre (Questacon) and the Council of the Academy of technological Sciences & Engineering.

His published work includes more than 7,000 print articles, 1000 broadcasts, 500 media releases and 300 speeches as well as "The Forgotten Country", six editions of "Australian Agriculture", and "The White Death". His most recent book is “Sharing Knowledge”, a manual for effective science communication. He teaches science communication at ANU.

“I have known Julian for about 7 years and during that period I have benefited greatly from his experience and wisdom in the area of science communication. Julian has had a significant impact on my thinking and the thinking of many others within the CGIAR. Because of Julian's collaboration with us, we have developed a new and effective communications effort. Julian is a clear thinker with a very analytical mind. He combines these characteristics with much experience in the area of science communications and a high level of motivation.”

“Mr Cribb has been a significant force in promoting science throughout the community for two decades…he is the author of numerous papers and books and has mentored a great many science communicators.”

“For a quarter of a century Professor Cribb has been at the forefront of communicating about science in Australia. He highlights how important it is for people involved in science to explain its benefits for the community. Better communication will improve society's appreciation of innovation.”

“The National Awareness Program of CSIRO stands as somewhat of an icon…. It is therefore quite outstanding that the contribution to public education and awareness of science has in fact almost doubled based on recent innovations in the CSIRO program….I regard the CSIRO Program as a superb example of how things should be done in Australia.”

“I note another splendid release written by Julian Cribb. There has been a steady stream of excellent examples of the outcomes of CRC research in recent months from this joint DEST/CRCA project. I am using some of the examples in discussions as to the type of outcomes we expect from leading edge Australian research.”

“The CSIRO National Awareness program must be considered one of the most effective science awareness initiatives run in the country…CNA demonstrates exceedingly high quality indeed.”

“(The) National Awareness Program has been and continues to be most valuable and measurably useful. I have noticed a decided increase in output of appropriate and well-researched material over the past four years.”

“The quality of CSIRO National Awareness communication materials and activities are of the highest standard, in my professional view.”

“In the period 1996 to 1999 I was a Deputy Chief Executive in CSIRO and had the pleasure of working with Julian Cribb on many occasions. I am now working in industry and I have to say that from outside the organisation his science promotion effectiveness is even more obvious than it was inside.”

“Julian is a highly creative individual and a great communicator. Julian is a true visionary with respect to the potential role of science in Australia and society and deeply committed to raising the awareness of this potential among the Australian community.”