COSMOS has a strong public profile, both as a brand and through the contacts of its principals.

Editor-in-Chief Wilson da Silva is a science journalist in demand for public events:

• Speaker on a session on the future of science journalism, "Quality Science Journalism: Is A New Style Needed?", at the Euroscience Open Forum in Munich, Germany, July 2006.
• Speaker and chair of a session on science journalism held at the World Science Forum in Budapest, Hungary, in November 2005.
• Speaker at New Constellations, an international conference on science and the arts, held at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, March 2006.
• Took part in a press conference with Richard Branson in December 2005 announcing the first Australian space tourists scheduled to fly on Virgin Galactic in 2008.
• Keynote speaker at an Innovation Breakfast in Perth for the Ambassadors of Science initiative of the Western Australian state government, April 2006.
• Master of ceremonies at a forum on sustainability at the Festival of Ideas in Adelaide, July 2005.
• Chaired a panel discussion on "Living Forever" at CONASTA, the National Science Teachers' Conference in Melbourne, July 2005.
• Speaker and chair of a public forum in Perth: "The Problem with Science: Why it's so hard to get a straight answer from a scientist", hosted by Scitech Discovery Centre and the University Western Australia.
• Profiled in The Conversation Hour with Richard Fidler on ABC Radio; debated Greens leader Bob Brown on nuclear energy on the Today show, 9 Network; debated Labor MP Peter Garrett on nuclear energy on Nightline, ABC Radio
• Judge, Eureka Science Journalism Award, Australian Museum (2004-2006)
• Chair of the Jury, SCINEMA: 6th International Festival of Science Film, Sydney
• After-dinner speaker at the CSIRO Complex Systems Science Annual Workshop, August 2006.
• Speaker at a University of Sydney public forum with scientists and artists on the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, December 2005.

Co-founder Alan Finkel is Chairman of Luna Media, publishers of COSMOS, and has a high profile:

• Awarded a Ian Clunies Ross Memorial Medal for his contribution to science and innovation in the design and manufacture of scientific instrumentation, June 2005.
• Wrote and broadcast an opinion piece, "In Awe of Nature" on Ockham's Razor, ABC Radio National, on innovation and creativity, February 2006.
• Was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in the January 2006 Australia Day honours list, for his contribution to science entrepreneurship and science education.
• Appointed to the Board of Governors of the Australian Academy of Technological Science and Engineering's Ian Clunies Ross Memorial Foundation, October 2005.
• Wrote an opinion column for Australian R&D Review on innovation, creativity, and the challenges facing a start-up technology company.

Contact

For further information, interviews or images please contact:
Tara Francis, Publishing Assistant
Phone: +61 (0)2 9310 8510
Email: Publicity at COSMOS