Science communicator and researcher bridging advanced technologies with public understanding through Cosmos Magazine and academic collaborations. Based in Melbourne, O’Connell specializes in demystifying breakthroughs in bioprinting, quantum physics, and space exploration while maintaining an active biomedical engineering research role.
O’Connell’s journey began with a PhD in physics and nanoscience, later pivoting to biomedical engineering at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne. His 2014 co-authored e-book 3D Bioprinting: Printing Parts for Bodies established him as a pioneer in explaining emerging biotechnologies. Since joining Cosmos Magazine, he’s published over 150 articles dissecting complex topics like quantum computing and exoplanet research while maintaining an active research role.
This Griffith Review essay reframes humanity’s quest for extraterrestrial intelligence through the lens of collaborative innovation. O’Connell traces how SETI research has driven advancements in signal processing and machine learning, highlighting unexpected terrestrial applications. His analysis of the Breakthrough Listen initiative reveals how open-source data sharing accelerates discovery across disciplines.
O’Connell profiles Melbourne’s tech startup culture through the story of a bioprinting firm creating lab-grown organs. The piece masterfully interweaves technical details about extracellular matrix scaffolding with ethical debates about commercializing life-saving technologies. His on-site reporting captures the tension between scientific idealism and venture capital realities.
In this webinar, O’Connell dismantles academic jargon while demonstrating how to maintain precision in popular science writing. He provides actionable frameworks for translating complex research findings into engaging narratives, using examples from his Cosmos articles about quantum entanglement and CRISPR applications.
O’Connell prioritizes stories demonstrating how laboratory discoveries achieve real-world impact. His coverage of 3D-printed corneal implants exemplifies this approach, emphasizing clinical trial partnerships over pure technical specs. Pitches should highlight interdisciplinary teams and regulatory milestones.
Articles like his analysis of Antikythera mechanism reconstructions show his preference for linking contemporary tech to historical innovations. Successful pitches will identify unexpected lineages, such as how ancient Persian irrigation systems inform modern hydroengineering projects.
While O’Connell covers emerging technologies, he avoids minor iterations on existing platforms. His in-depth piece on quantum radar development skipped common superconducting qubit updates to focus on novel photonic detection methods. Pitches need paradigm-shifting angles, not incremental improvements.
O’Connell’s 2022 Australian Science Media Fellowship recognized his ability to explain complex bioprinting protocols to lay audiences. The competitive program selects only five researchers annually based on communication impact metrics. His work appears in Best Australian Science Writing anthologies three times since 2019, a rarity for active researchers.
“The LED lighting your home contains physics breakthroughs from six decades and three continents – innovation is always a chorus, never a solo.”
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Science, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
