About AuthentiSci

AuthentiSci connects science-related media with researchers who have the expertise to assess it.

Our charitable platform helps verified scientists add clear, constructive context to news stories, videos, blog posts, social media content and other public discussions of science. Their reviews help readers understand the evidence behind scientific claims, recognise important limitations and make more informed judgements about what they encounter online.

What we do

Match media with relevant experts

AuthentiSci identifies science-related media and uses an intelligent recommendation system to match it with researchers whose expertise is relevant to the claims being discussed.

Matching is informed by reviewers’ research publications and the information they choose to provide in their private research biography. Researchers receive personalised opportunities through their dashboard and by email.

The technology supports discovery and matching. Reviews themselves are written by scientists, based on their own expertise and judgement.

Provide expert context

AuthentiSci reviews assess scientific media across three areas:

• Evidence: Are the claims adequately supported, and do they accurately reflect the available evidence?
• Balance: Are findings, limitations and different perspectives presented fairly and proportionately?
• Clarity: Is the science explained in a way that readers can understand without being misled?

Reviewers explain the reasoning behind their scores, highlighting both strengths and areas where additional context may be helpful.

Make scientific guidance accessible

Published reviews can be found through the AuthentiSci website and displayed alongside media through our browser extension. Anyone can also submit a link to scientific media they would like experts to review.

Our purpose is not to police journalists or creators. It is to help scientists contribute their knowledge constructively and give audiences access to relevant expertise when they need it.

Why it's important

Scientific claims influence decisions about health, technology, the environment and society. Yet research can be difficult to communicate accurately, particularly when findings are complex, preliminary or uncertain.

Important context can be lost as scientific information moves between research papers, press releases, news coverage, videos and social media. Even well-intentioned communication can exaggerate conclusions, overlook limitations or leave readers uncertain about what the evidence really shows.

AuthentiSci creates a direct route for researchers to contribute context, explain uncertainty and recognise examples of excellent science communication. By bringing scientific expertise closer to public discussion, we aim to support informed decision-making and strengthen trust between science and society.

How AuthentiSci works

1. Scientific media is identified or submitted. AuthentiSci monitors a broad range of online media, while readers can also submit content for review.
2. Relevant researchers are found. Our recommendation system compares the subject of the content with the research backgrounds of verified reviewers.
3. Scientists choose whether to contribute. Researchers only review claims that they have sufficient expertise to assess.
4. Expert guidance is published. Reviews provide scores and accessible commentary that readers can explore through the website or browser extension.

Our story

AuthentiSci was founded in response to concerns about the loss of scientific context in public communication and its effects on trust in science.

We are a UK-based registered charity and non-profit company limited by guarantee. Our work brings together scientists, science communicators, software developers and volunteers who share a commitment to more informed public discussion of science.

Recent development of our expert recommendation system was supported by the University of Exeter’s EPSRC Impact Co-Creation programme and undertaken with researchers in computational social science.

AuthentiSci has also received support from Stifterverband and works with organisations including the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings and the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics. This support helps us remain independent and provide AuthentiSci as a free public resource.

AuthentiSci Limited

Company number 15251407

Registered charity number 1214338

Our team

Executive team

Nicholas Clifton and Ana Alonso Serrano

Board of Trustees

Phill Jones, Shama Sograti Idrissi and Dominik Krzeminski

Volunteer team

Claire Gilby, Helena Davies, Christina Kushnir, Hanna Ganderton, Freya Shepherd, Laura Harvey and Angelica Silva

Get involved

Explore expert reviews

Search AuthentiSci to find researcher commentary on scientific media, or install our browser extension to access reviews while you browse.

Become a reviewer

If you are a published researcher, sign in using your ORCID iD. AuthentiSci will use your publicly visible publications and private research biography to recommend media relevant to your expertise.

Request a review

Found a scientific claim that would benefit from expert context? Submit the link through AuthentiSci and help bring it to the attention of relevant researchers.

Support our work

Subscribe to our newsletter, volunteer with us or help fund our work to support better science communication.