Career Pathway Interview: Tullio Rossi, Director at Animate Your Science—Helping Scientists to Unleash Their Impact

In this interview, we feature Dr. Tullio Rossi, Director at Animate Your Science (Fig. 1).

Almost ten years ago, a marine science association based in Australia launched a competition in which researchers were to come up with a short video communicating a key point of their science (similar to the Three Minute Thesis competition—https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Minute_Thesis—but in video format). I don't remember many of the entries, but one was an animation about a baby fish and how its ability to find habitat can be disrupted by ocean acidification. This animation was created by Dr. Tullio Rossi, whose interest in both science and communication subsequently led him to begin Animate Your Science, an agency to help researchers better share their work with the world. It has been amazing to watch the growth and development of Animate Your Science in the years since. They create scientific animations and graphics for researchers, run training sessions (both online and in person), and create free online content of value to researchers (all of which you can explore here: https://www.animateyour.science/).

To get a sense of the experience from his perspective, I sat down with Tullio to ask him about how he made the transition from PhD researcher to start-up founder, what it actually involves, and the things he wishes he had known from the start of this journey.

L.F.: Can you introduce your background and the position that you are currently in?

T.R.: I have a background in marine biology and graphic design, and it was during my PhD at the University of Adelaide that I really began to appreciate the power of communication. My research focused on the effects of ocean acidification on marine animals, but I quickly realized that the real challenge was not just uncovering new knowledge—it was making sure that knowledge reached the right people. Since my research did not have a direct commercial application, its impact depended entirely on how well I could communicate it.

That realization led me to bring together my two worlds—science and design. Around the same time, I became fascinated with storytelling and science communication, and everything clicked when I created my first animation (https://youtu.be/g3cIr9RomPM?si=YoDQoXX-XwOn3OHi) about my PhD research. The response was incredible, and that experience set the stage for the next chapter of my career. I saw that many other researchers struggled with communication, and I knew I could help.

So, in 2017, I founded Animate Your Science, a science communication agency dedicated to helping researchers and institutions share their work visually—with impact. Since then, I've been leading the agency as its director, working with an amazing team to make research more engaging and accessible to audiences worldwide. We support researchers in two key ways: we create visuals for them—whether it is animations, illustrations, or infographics—or we teach them how to do it themselves. Through our portfolio of workshops and online courses, we equip researchers with the skills they need to communicate their science effectively through compelling visuals (Fig. 2).

L.F.: How did you make the transition from academia to your current position?

T.R.: The transition wasn't easy. Like many PhD students, I had a moment of disillusionment with academia. For years, I had imagined myself becoming a professor, but somewhere along the way, I realized that wasn't the future I wanted anymore. That realization was tough—I suddenly found myself in a kind of limbo, unsure of what I wanted to do instead.

Luckily, the path revealed itself when I started experimenting with science communication for my own research. It was something I genuinely enjoyed, and I saw the impact it could have. Finishing my PhD turned out to be the perfect moment to take a leap and start my own business. Sure, I was broke, but I also had no major responsibilities—no mortgage, no kids—so the risk was mine alone to take. I figured, if I failed, it would only be my problem to deal with.

So, I threw myself into it, working very hard for a long time until, eventually, the business got off the ground and became established. Looking back, I am incredibly proud of that decision. It wasn't the easy path, but it was the right one for me, and I would not change a thing.

L.F.: What motivated you to follow your career path?

T.R.: What motivated me was the realization during my PhD that science isn't finished until it is communicated. I saw so much incredible research being done, but most of it was not reaching the people who could actually benefit from it. There was often no communication strategy in place—or, worse, no attempt at all to share the findings beyond the academic bubble. Whether the audience was the general public, industry, or potential investors for a spin-off company, the message just was not getting out there.

Too many researchers still believe that once their paper is published, their job is done. But to me, that is just the beginning. Publication day is when the real life of that research starts. Communicating and promoting it is just as important as the work that went into producing it.

That is what motivated me to step into this field. And honestly, one of the best parts of my job is that I still get to be immersed in science every day. I learn about fascinating discoveries through my clients, and I get to help them share their work with the world—without having to spend my holidays writing grant proposals. I'll take that any day!

L.F.: What are the things that you would tell people considering a career as a science communicator and entrepreneur?

T.R.: For anyone considering a career in science communication, the first thing I'd say is: there is no single, clear-cut path. You have to carve your own. Some people go down the formal route and do a master's degree in science communication—but I did not, and here I am. I learned by doing: reading books, attending workshops, practicing, experimenting, failing, and trying again. That's how I built my career.

When I look at potential employees, the thing that stands out most is initiative. It's not about having a perfect resume—it's about showing that you have put yourself out there and tried. Even if an experiment or project does not work out, it proves that you had the drive to do something. So, if you love writing, start writing! Publish articles, start a blog, get your ideas out there. If you are into illustration, create an Instagram page and showcase your artwork. If video is your thing, launch a YouTube channel. It does not matter where it all leads, but it will give potential employers (or clients) a tangible way to see what you are capable of.

For those thinking about starting their own company after a research career, I'll let you in on something that was a huge revelation for me: academia exists in a bubble, and we rarely realize that there is a whole startup ecosystem out there—and it is incredibly supportive. There are incubators, early-stage investors, and networks designed to help people turn ideas into businesses. In academia, we are often led to believe that the only way forward is through grants and tenure tracks, but stepping into the startup world, I discovered a whole new landscape of possibilities. When I launched my business, I found myself surrounded by support, and that made all the difference.

L.F.: What do you wish that you would have known?

T.R.: When I started my journey with Animate Your Science, I knew absolutely nothing about business. I had to accept that I was basically going back to school—learning on the fly, making mistakes, and figuring things out as I went. Looking back, there are definitely a couple of things I wish I had learned sooner.

One big one is digital marketing. It is a vast, complex world with a million different strategies, tools, and platforms. But the reality? You do not need to master all of them. You just need to find one marketing method that works for your business and do it really well. I wasted a lot of time trying to figure out everything when, in hindsight, focusing on one solid approach from the start would have been far more effective.

The other big lesson is leadership. There may be no way to truly become a great leader without experience (and plenty of mistakes), but I do think some leadership training early on would have helped. The moment you have a team, everything changes. It's no longer just you grinding away on your own—you have to guide, support, and inspire others. And let me tell you, that is not easy. Leadership is still very much a work in progress for me, but I now understand just how crucial it is to running a successful business.

L.F.: What excites you most about your position? What aspects do you not enjoy?

T.R.: First, I get to learn about cutting-edge science every day through my clients. I am constantly exposed to fascinating discoveries across all fields of research, which keeps my curiosity alive and makes my work very stimulating.

Second—and this is the big one—I get to see our work making a real difference. One example that comes to mind is a video we created for an innovative product out of Flinders University (https://youtu.be/xASfiYhqxHE?si=tCwUDbA0Y2YL9vid): a new type of sponge made from recycled materials that can clean up oil spills. Knowing that our video helped the researcher connect with investors and ultimately bring this product to market is just amazing. Moments like that remind me why I do what I do.

And last but certainly not least, I absolutely love teaching. There is something incredibly rewarding about equipping researchers with the skills to communicate their science effectively, then watching them put those skills into action and reap the benefits. Over the years, I have received emails from past students saying things like, I took your training a while ago, and now I've won a Poster Prize! I live vicariously through their success.

As for what I don't enjoy? Honestly, the admin side of running a business. Emails, contracts, chasing invoices—all necessary, but not exactly thrilling.

L.F.: Is there anything else you would like to share?

T.R.: Yes! I would love to share something that many researchers might find useful. Over the years, we have put a lot of effort into our blog, building a library of free resources designed to help researchers improve their science communication skills. We now get around 25,000 reads a month, which tells me that there is a real hunger for this kind of practical guidance.

LJF decleares she is Editor of L&O Bulletin.