Toss Gascoigne

Toss Gascoigne is a Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Public Awareness of Science (CPAS) at the Australian National University. With over 25 years of experience in science communication and advocacy, he has worked extensively at the interface between research, policy, and public engagement.

His professional background includes:

• Executive Director of the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS)
• Executive Director of the Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS)
• Founder of Australian Science Communicators
• Inaugural President of the PCST Network

Mr. Gascoigne's expertise centers on science communication strategies, public understanding of science, and research policy development. He established the influential 'Science meets Parliament' initiative in 1999, which has facilitated dialogue between researchers and policymakers through five events for scientists and four for humanities scholars. His work emphasizes practical communication techniques for researchers to effectively engage diverse audiences with complex scientific concepts.

His research focuses on systemic issues in research careers, particularly highlighted in his 2013 ACOLA-commissioned report on Australian research workforce strategy, which documented widespread frustration among researchers regarding employment systems and career uncertainty.

Professional recognition includes:

• Life Membership in Australian Science Communicators
• Life Membership in the international Network for Public Understanding of Science and Technology
• Leadership roles in transforming the PCST Network into a globally recognized organization

As a trainer and consultant, he has conducted hundreds of workshops across Australia, the Pacific, and internationally, developing researchers' media and presentation skills. His current work helps organizations establish communication strategies, organize impactful events, and effectively convey research outcomes to policymakers and the public.

Mr. Gascoigne maintains a critical role at the intersection of research, tertiary education, and government policy, facilitating essential dialogue between scientific communities and decision-makers through his various initiatives and consulting practice.