{{Short description|Australian science news media service}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}} {{Use Australian English|date=August 2015}} The '''Australian Science Media Centre''' ('''AusSMC''') is an independent, not-for-profit service for the news media based in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 2005, the centre gives journalists direct access to evidence-based science and expertise.
==History== South Australian Premier Mike Rann established the Australian Science Media Centre in 2005 following a recommendation from Adelaide Thinker in Residence Baroness Susan Greenfield.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mikerann.net/assets/Speeches-and-Lectures/October-2011-Investigator-LectureCharting-a-Course-for-Change.pdf |title=2011 Investigator Lecture - Charting a course for change |date=2011-10-09 |accessdate=2015-03-26 |website=Mike Rann |publisher=Government of South Australia |last=Rann |first=Mike |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150228091728/http://www.mikerann.net/assets/Speeches-and-Lectures/October-2011-Investigator-LectureCharting-a-Course-for-Change.pdf |archivedate=28 February 2015 |df=dmy }}</ref> For 15 years, it was housed in the old Adelaide Stock Exchange building in Adelaide city<ref name=hist2025>{{cite web |title=About Us |website=AusSMC |date=23 May 2025 |url=https://www.smc.org.au/about-us |access-date=23 May 2025}}</ref>
In 2025 the AusSMC moved to Lot Fourteen.<ref name=hist2025/>
==Function and description== The centre's aim is to better inform public debate on the major issues of the day by improving links between local and international media and the Australian scientific community. The centre operates a database of scientists who are willing to engage with the media.{{cn|date=May 2025}}
The AusSMC collects expert comments from scientists in reaction to breaking news, and also runs national media briefings for journalists. Media briefings are also streamed live over the Internet to journalists. Journalists are able to register with the AusSMC to receive media alerts and expert reactions by email,{{cn|date=May 2025}} and to get access to embargoed science news via the science news portal it administers, Scimex.<ref>[https://www.scimex.org Scimex]</ref> The centre also collaborates with media officers and scientists and has an increasing role in combating misinformation.{{cn|date=April 2024}}
== Governance and staffing== The AusSMC is governed by a board of management. Peter Yates AM is its inaugural chairman.{{cn|date=April 2024}}
The centre's "Statement of Independence" includes the following passage:<blockquote>"All board members acknowledge that Centre staff are free to disseminate the best available scientific information, regardless of any commercial, political or personal interests, including those of any sponsors or board members. Full editorial control of all material disseminated by the SMC rests with the staff of the SMC, with guidance sought from the Centre's Science and Media Advisory Panel (SMAP) when required."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statement of Independence |url=https://www.smc.org.au/about-us/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=smc.org.au}}</ref></blockquote>
{{as of|2025}} AusSMC operates with six full-time and four part-time staff and is headed by CEO Susannah Eliott.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Susannah Eliott FTSE |url=https://www.atse.org.au/our-fellows/2023-new-fellows/susannah-eliott-ftse/ |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=ATSE |language=en}}</ref>
== Supporters == The AusSMC receives funding from several tiers of supporters and partners. Each supporter's contribution is capped at 10% of the centre's operating costs. {{as of|May 2025}} Foundation partners are: ABC, CSIRO, Government of South Australia, New South Wales Government, News Corp Australia, University of Melbourne, University of New South Wales, Flinders University, AIA, Squiz, University of Queensland, University of Technology Sydney, Curtin University, Springer Nature, and Nine Entertainment.<ref>{{cite web | title=Our supporters | website=AusSMC | date=26 May 2025 | url=https://www.smc.org.au/current-supporters | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250526082932/https://www.smc.org.au/current-supporters | archive-date=26 May 2025 | url-status=live | access-date=26 May 2025}}</ref>
In December 2024, the AusSMC was endorsed as a deductible gift recipient (DGR) meaning all donations from members of the public in Australia are now tax deductible.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Current details for ABN 61 630 690 296 |url=https://abr.business.gov.au/ABN/View/61630690296 |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=ABN lookup}}</ref>
==Other SMCs== {{as of |2025}} there are six other international independent SMCs: Science Media Centre in the UK; the Science Media Centre of Canada; and centres in New Zealand, Germany, Taiwan, and Spain.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global SMCs |url=https://www.smcglobal.org/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=SMC Global}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{official website|http://www.smc.org.au/}}
Category:Organisations based in Adelaide A Category:2005 establishments in Australia Category:Organizations established in 2005