Frequently asked questions
Clear answers about how SciTube works, how we protect scientific accuracy, what happens to your animation and how we help your research reach wider audiences.
About SciTube
What we do, how research is selected and the people behind the service.
What exactly is SciTube?
SciTube is a professional research communication, video production, publishing and dissemination platform operated by Science Diffusion Ltd.
We help researchers communicate complex scientific findings, methods and projects to audiences who may not have the same specialist background.
Our animations complement scholarly publications. They do not replace academic papers or the peer-review process.
Does SciTube peer review the research it features?
No. SciTube is not an academic journal and does not independently peer review the research we communicate.
We generally work with research that has been published in a peer-reviewed journal, accepted for publication or supported by an established research institution, funder or organisation.
Our scientific editors work from that source material, and the researchers themselves check the accuracy of the communication.
Why do researchers pay for SciTube?
SciTube is a paid professional service. The fee covers the work involved in scientific scriptwriting, visual planning, production, researcher review, and the agreed publication and dissemination services.
We do not sell academic publication, peer review, citations or scholarly credentials.
Being contacted by SciTube does not create any obligation to purchase our services. Our prices are published openly so researchers can make an informed decision.
Who actually creates the animations?
Our work brings together scientific editors and writers, illustrators, animators and professional human voice artists.
We use specialist communication and production expertise to turn complex findings into clear visual explanations, working closely with the researchers throughout.
You can meet the people behind the work on our Meet the Team page .
Working with us
Your involvement, scientific approval, ownership, funding and practical project arrangements.
What do I need to provide, and how much of my time is needed?
We normally begin with a research paper, manuscript, report, proposal or summary. Supporting figures and presentations can also help.
We handle the scriptwriting, visual planning, production and agreed publication work. Your main involvement is reviewing the scientific content at key stages.
We understand researchers are busy and aim to keep the process straightforward.
How long does production take?
Timelines depend on the package, complexity of the research and the time needed for researcher reviews and revisions.
The work normally progresses through scientific scriptwriting, visual planning where applicable, production and final approval.
Our animation service page explains the typical production stages. If you have a conference, grant or publication deadline, please let us know early.
How do you ensure scientific accuracy?
We begin with your source research and develop a script designed to make the findings understandable without changing their meaning.
We do not deliberately turn possibilities into certainties, correlations into causation or hypotheses into established findings.
You remain the subject specialist and approve the scientific communication. You review the script, applicable storyboards and finished video before publication.
Who owns the animation, and can my institution reuse it?
Your animation is designed to be a reusable communication asset for websites, presentations, conferences, teaching, research profiles and institutional outreach.
Rights in original bespoke work are handled under the agreed project terms. Third-party assets, such as licensed stock footage, remain subject to their underlying licence conditions.
If your university requires particular usage or ownership arrangements, we can discuss these before the project begins.
Can I use grant funding or university procurement?
Yes. Research communication can fall within grant or institutional budgets for public engagement, dissemination, broader impacts or knowledge exchange.
Eligibility depends on your funder's rules and institutional approval, so please confirm what is permitted before committing to a project.
We can work with purchase orders, institutional invoicing, vendor registration, bank transfers and card payments. Our standard invoice term is normally 45 days unless otherwise agreed.
Can you work with unpublished or confidential research?
Yes. We can work from suitable unpublished manuscripts, accepted papers, active research projects and other research material.
Where required, publication can be held until an agreed release date, and we can discuss working under a non-disclosure agreement.
Please tell us about embargoes, confidentiality or institutional restrictions before production so appropriate arrangements can be confirmed.
Can you accommodate accessibility, branding or special formats?
We can incorporate university or organisation branding, logos and visual guidelines where agreed.
Captions, alternative-language narration, translated on-screen text and different output formats may also be available depending on the project.
If you have specific accessibility standards, security requirements or technical specifications, please discuss them with us before production so we can confirm what's possible.
Where can I find the current packages and prices?
We publish our standard packages, prices and inclusions on the Animate Your Research page .
Options include videos using existing footage and graphics, bespoke 2D scientific animation and packages incorporating custom 3D sequences.
Prices depend on the chosen service, and UK VAT applies to UK clients. If you need additional production or technical requirements, we can discuss these separately.
Publication & dissemination
How your animation is published, shared, cited and used to support research communication.
What happens after my animation is finished?
Once you've given final approval, we prepare the animation for publication and dissemination.
Standard SciTube publication includes a dedicated page with clear research attribution, a link to the source research where available and a citable video publication.
We also share the work through relevant SciTube channels and public-facing platforms to help new audiences discover it.
Will my animation have its own DOI?
Standard published SciTube videos receive their own Crossref Digital Object Identifier (DOI) and scholarly metadata.
Where a source research publication exists, we clearly connect the video to the original work, making it easy for audiences to explore the underlying research.
The video is a separate communication output. Its DOI does not mean it has undergone academic journal peer review.
Do you guarantee views, citations or research impact?
No. We actively work to help research reach wider audiences, but we cannot guarantee a particular number of views, citations, collaborations, funding outcomes or other impacts.
Results depend on factors including the research topic, audience interest and how people engage with the content.
Our established channels and audience figures demonstrate distribution capability, not guaranteed results for an individual animation.
Can I choose production only, without SciTube publication?
Yes. If you prefer to commission an animation without publishing it through SciTube, we can arrange production only.
The project price remains the same, as the standard publication and dissemination services are included rather than charged as separate mandatory extras.
Production-only arrangements should be agreed before work begins. They do not include the standard public SciTube publication and associated DOI.
Your research remains your expertise. Our role is to help communicate it clearly, publish it responsibly where agreed and create more opportunities for people to discover it.