SciRio — Broadcasting Knowledge is a communications and outreach enterprise that is building an ecosystem for growing science communicators to upskill and explore new opportunities in science communication.
We also provide a range of communication and outreach services to science-based startups, companies, and organisations that will augment their reach to their customers and/or target audience.
What can we do for you?
For Students and Researchers in the Sciences
SciRio is the first and exclusive platform in India that provides the complete ecosystem to upskill, find existing resources and opportunities, and the right network, all in one place for anyone interested in communicating science in any form. The SciComm Hub is a multimedia blog space where you can build your portfolio and communicate science by writing, sketching, making multimedia content or even drawing comics. We encourage you to explore different ways and formats of communicating science to a varied range of audiences.
For Science Communicators
If you are an individual science communicator trying to find interesting projects to work on, we are always looking for people like you. You can join us on projects we are working on or bring to the table any novel ideas you always wanted to work on but never had the bandwidth for it. Look up our e-store, Sci-e-Comm if you are an artist or any creator and want to create physical or digital products appealing to scientific curiosity.
For Science-based academic organisations, NGOs, and private enterprises
We offer consulting and communication services to communicate your research and create impact. It could be as simple as managing your lab website, blog or social media to building public engagement events to communicate your science in an interactive and engaging manner. We bring the best of two worlds — digital media services with expertise in the sciences. We help you present your work and services in a scientifically sound manner while increasing your outreach manifold. Want to create custom merchandise for your employees? We got you covered.
Sci-e-Comm – Our E-commerce website
Sci-e-Comm is an e-commerce platform that hosts and supports creators in science by helping them monetize their work. The aim of setting up the platform is to create products either from the result of or become a form of communicating science.
This is a place where science transitions into your everyday products, while you learn something new. A simple thing can become a conversation starter and a learning opportunity at the same time. How cool would it be to display your passion for science and learning through a commonplace object? Sci-e-comm acts as your unique go-to store for all things Sciencey.
The website will host products from diverse Sci- Artists. The customers won’t have to surf through websites of individual artists, here they can find varied options with a number of artists under one roof. Shop now!
Our Team
Suchitha Champak
Founder and Editor
As a scholar of science, I always understood that science belongs to everyone and that it should not be confined within the walls of laboratories. After a few years in scientific research, I delved into communicating science to people beyond academia and founded SciRio. We need an independent, free-willed platform with a vision that science communication is a collaborative effort and to execute it effectively. I envision democratising the field of science communication in India. To inspire students and researchers in the sciences to go out and talk science beyond their professional circles and support them in honing their science communicating skills.
Devanshi Gupta
Intern – Social Media and Outreach
I am a scientist-in-making at CDFD, Hyderabad and I understand the need to bridge the gap between advancing Science and society in order to cultivate its importance. I like to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds which makes Science communication easier, palatable, and thriving. I love reading contemporary fiction and often voice my opinion on Women’s Rights, Gender Inclusivity, and Mental health. Writing about how science affects every aspect of our lives in a coordinated fashion keeps me sane and helps me understand the power and beauty of Nature.
Arushi Batra
Intern – Project Management and Strategy
I’m Arushi Batra, a PhD student at the CSIR-IGIB currently exploring the genomics of intellectual disability disorders. My two interests are neuroscience and science communication. In this space, I’m trying to find my middle ground. You can catch me making mandalas, blogging my thoughts, or dancing my heart out when I’m not doing research.
Past Members
Romita Trehan
Intern- Project and Website Management
I am a budding microbiologist with a keen interest in Astrobiology. When not looking through a microscope or at the stars, I’m with my plants or buried within a book. Eager to learn new things and explore beyond academics, I venture out for new roles and experiences. At college, I served as the Editor and Vice president of the Microbiology Society and led the Literary Club as the Vice President.
I believe Science is the backbone of society, just like the sugar-phosphate chains for DNA. Through my writing, I strive to bridge the gap between academia and the general public to shed the inhibition that science is complex. At SciRio, I wish to gain experience as a science communicator and learn on the job.
Meghna Girish
Intern – Outreach Strategy and Support
I am a Biochemistry graduate from the University of Mysore. I love science and writing, so why not have the best of both worlds? Hence, here I am, wading my way across the field of writing and communication. I believe science is for everyone. Science isn’t complicated when communicated right. It is an art in itself. Apart from science, you can find me dancing, mumbling around some foreign languages, reading novels, and collecting sticky notes. Bribe me with some coffee, and you have a friend.
Leeba Ann Chacko
In-house Illustrator
I am a Junior Research Fellow with Dr Vaishnavi Ananthanarayanan at the Center for BioSystems Science and Engineering (BSSE), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. Here, I mostly spend my time peering into the insides of tiny fungi. When I’m not working in the lab, I write science articles on topics ranging from mitochondrial inheritance during reproduction to alternatives to single-use plastics in labs. I also love painting and sometimes use art to express my understanding of science.
I began communicating science when my father said he couldn’t understand one of my journal articles. Thus, in order to help him, I decided to simplify my research using illustrations, 2D animations and writing. I believe it is important to bridge the gap between researchers and non-experts to enable fruitful scientific discussions and to empower people to be able to differentiate fact from fiction (particularly in this era of misinformation). When I am not conducting research or communicating science, I play guitar riffs to my houseplants.
Hansika Chhabra
Editor
Hansika has been a freelance writer and budding communicator since 2019. She hopes to make discussing science routine for people across India. Trained in biology and adept at sarcasm, she wants to change the world, one word at a time.