Scientists need to brag. Sagan had proved his prowess in these areas, not least through his successful television show Cosmos.
People identify with individuals.
Dr Garrett is not suggesting himself as the face of Australian science, but he does believe that scientists should promote their research and its importance. We can be at the top of gold medals in the science business. Maybe we are, but nobody knows. Asked to single out notable Australian research, Dr Garrett elects the fields of astronomy, biotechnology, plant science and the environment. His own research was in metallurgy, studying the fracturing of metals, but Dr Garrett has been in management since the late 1980s.