A Changing Landscape for Research Content

Published research no longer competes only within journals and databases.

It now sits alongside everything else people use to learn:

• digital platforms
• video-first content
• fast, accessible formats

At the same time:

• attention is more limited
• readers expect clarity and speed
• discovery increasingly happens outside traditional journal environments

The article remains central.

But how research is experienced is evolving.

The Visibility and Understanding Gap

Most published research does not have a quality problem.

The challenge is visibility and accessibility.

A paper can be available to read
and still be difficult to engage with beyond a specialist audience.

There is often a gap between:

publishing research
and
making it easy to understand

That gap is where additional formats start to matter.

A Practical Addition to Author Services

SciTube provides a fully managed research animation service designed to sit alongside the published article.

We turn peer-reviewed papers into clear, structured animations that explain:

• what the research is
• why it matters
• where it can be applied

This creates an additional, high-quality output that supports authors, strengthens journal visibility, and adds value at the point of publication.

A Fully Managed, In-House Team You Can Trust

Every project is delivered by a dedicated team with expertise in both science and communication.

Across Science Diffusion, we’ve delivered 2,500+ research communication projects across 40+ countries, working with researchers, institutions, and organisations globally.

This experience allows us to work confidently with research while maintaining the standards expected in scholarly publishing.

Our team includes:

• science writers and PhD-level editors
• specialist scriptwriters
• designers and illustrators
• 2D and 3D animators
• science communication specialists

All work is handled in-house by our core team.

We do not outsource production or rely on third-party vendors.
This ensures consistent quality, clear communication, and full accountability across every project.

We manage the entire process from start to finish.

From understanding the published paper, through scripting and visual development, to final production and delivery.

Authors are involved at key stages and approve everything, ensuring accuracy and alignment with the original research.

What This Means for Your Journal

• outputs reflect the quality and standards of your publication
• consistency is maintained across all content
• authors are supported professionally throughout
• there is no risk of fragmented delivery or variable quality

There is no need for internal production, coordination, or additional resource.

In practice, this gives you the output of a full internal team, without needing to build one.

Designed to Integrate Easily

Our model is built for simplicity.

• author opt-in service
• no system integration required
• no editorial workload beyond initial referral
• direct coordination with authors
• final assets delivered ready for hosting and reuse

In practice, this can be introduced with minimal internal effort.

Maintaining Control and Brand Alignment

We understand that control is essential.

• no content is distributed without approval
• outputs align with journal branding
• assets are delivered for use within your platforms
• ownership remains with the publisher or author

We handle production.

You control how it is used.

A Higher-Quality Alternative

Some production models prioritise speed and volume over quality and consistency.

While effective in certain contexts, they can create trade-offs in:

• narrative clarity
• visual consistency
• alignment with journal standards

SciTube is designed as a more considered alternative.

Each animation is:

• developed directly from the published paper
• professionally scripted and structured
• designed to reflect positively on the journal and its authors

Research Areas We Cover

We work across a wide range of disciplines, supporting journals and authors in communicating research clearly and effectively.

Our experience includes:

• Arts & Humanities
• Physical Sciences
• Earth & Environment
• STEM Education
• Health & Medicine
• Behavioural Sciences
• Business & Economy
• Biology
• Engineering & Technology

And beyond these areas, we regularly support interdisciplinary and emerging fields.

If it can be published, it can be explained clearly.

We’ve delivered 2,500+ projects across 40+ countries.

Supporting research communication in all areas.

Environmental & Behavioural Science

How everyday routines shape environmental outcomes

• Complex social-ecological theory translated into a clear, visual narrative
• Made abstract concepts accessible to non-specialist audiences
• 200% Altmetric increase (Environmental Sociology, Taylor & Francis)
• 24,000 views and counting

Performance

Alongside production, we track how content performs when shared across appropriate channels.

Across recent projects, we typically see:

• 3,000–5,000+ views per animation across platforms
• consistent engagement beyond specialist audiences
• improved Altmetric attention for associated research

In many cases, these outputs become some of the most accessible and widely engaged-with versions of the research.

Supporting Public Engagement and Wider Impact

Research is increasingly expected to be understood beyond academic audiences.

Across many funding frameworks and institutional priorities, there is a growing emphasis on:

• public engagement
• wider accessibility
• real-world relevance
• demonstrating impact beyond publication

Providing clear, accessible formats alongside the published article helps authors:

• communicate their work more effectively to non-specialists
• support impact and engagement requirements
• share research with funders, policymakers, and wider audiences

This creates additional value for authors at the point of publication.

A Stronger Position Within Institutional Ecosystems

Universities are placing increasing importance on how research is communicated and demonstrated externally.

Journals that support this through high-quality, accessible outputs can:

• strengthen their appeal to authors and institutions
• align more closely with research communication priorities
• provide added value when content is being considered, shared, and referenced

This not only supports authors, but can also strengthen how journals are perceived when institutions evaluate subscriptions, engagement, and overall value.

Flexible Commercial Models

We offer multiple ways to work together, depending on how you’d like to position animation across your journals.

1. Publisher-Led (White-Label Model)

• fully white-labelled if required
• presented under your brand
• we handle all production behind the scenes
• you manage the author relationship

2. Direct-to-Author (Referral Model)

• authors work with us directly
• we manage the full process
• no internal workload
• optional revenue-share structure available

3. Publisher-Funded Content

• commission animations directly
• promote selected articles or collections
• support key publications

4. Wholesale / Reseller Option

• structured partner rates
• full control over pricing
• margin per project if desired

Flexible Pricing and Integration

We offer flexible structures depending on how the service is introduced.

For context, our direct-to-author pricing typically sits within the range of:

£850 to £2,310 per project, depending on format and level of production.

For publisher partnerships, we provide structured partner rates that align with author service models and allow flexibility in how the service is positioned.

This allows you to:

• start with a small pilot
• scale across journals
• integrate without operational complexity

Optional Dissemination and White-Label Flexibility

We understand that different publishers have different approaches to distribution.

For that reason, dissemination is always optional.

You can choose to:

• host and distribute content entirely within your own platforms
• integrate animations into your journal ecosystem
• use the service as a fully white-label offering

Alternatively, where useful, we can support:

• co-branded dissemination
• platform distribution
• performance reporting

We handle the production.

You decide how the content is used.

Built to Be Transparent and Practical

We’ve designed our model to be straightforward to work with.

• no complex systems
• no hidden layers
• clear scope and delivery

The focus is on delivering high-quality outputs, consistently.

Start a Conversation

If you’re exploring ways to strengthen how research is presented and engaged with, we’d be happy to talk.

We can look at:

• how this could fit within your journals
• where it adds the most value
• and how it can be introduced in a practical way

Request more information

(No pressure. Just a useful conversation.)