At Franklin Women, we love hearing about twisty careers in health, science and research, and the many diverse roles and organisations that contribute to the health and medical research ecosystem. Here Kylie Ahern, science communicator and Founder and CEO of STEM Matters, talks about her twisty career and why she is passionate about supporting researchers to communicate their impact!
My career has taken many twists and turns, but has always been driven by my deep passion for science and research.
In 2005, I co-founded COSMOS magazine, which revolutionised science publishing in Australia. COSMOS quickly became the top-selling publication in its category and won an impressive 54 awards, including twice being named Magazine of the Year. Continuing my commitment to science, in 2020 I launched The Brilliant – the first global science communication hub that champions diversity.
Today, through my company, STEM Matters, I help research, science and technology organisations communicate their unique value to their most important audiences – from government and industry to the general public. Over the last few years, we’ve had a particular focus on helping universities communicate their research impact – how their work benefits or has the potential to benefit society.
I’m deeply passionate about the power of research. I believe that publicly funded research has reshaped society for the better, and that it is the fuel that powers economic, medical, social, cultural and environmental benefits (to name just a few). From quantum technology to quokka conservation; from environmentally-friendly irrigation to the iPhone; from preserving our soils to exploring our stars – research has accelerated almost every facet of our world.
Yet not enough people know about this, particularly when it comes to universities. Most alumni can’t name a single invention or discovery their university is responsible for!
It comes down to a lack of effective and engaging communication. It’s not about individual scientists. It’s about the lack of sector-level strategy. University websites are treated like press release machines, churning out disconnected, paint-by-numbers news stories that don’t add up to a greater vision. When it comes to connecting with our audiences, the sector is decades in debt.
That’s why I launched the STEM Matters Newsletter: a must-read for senior executives in the research sector seeking to accelerate their funding, impact and profile. My goal is to transform how research-intensive organisations engage audiences to accelerate their funding, profile, rankings and influence. It draws on my extensive experience working with more than 100 clients –ranging from top international universities to Google’s semi-secret incubator, X, the Moonshot Factory – to provide practical guidance on everything from auditing your research impact to telling inspiring and compelling stories that set you apart.
You can subscribe at https://stemmatters.substack.com. I hope you’ll enjoy – and consider joining me on my mission to get the world excited about research again.