science communication can benefit everyone

   Better connections Science communication can help build direct links between scientists and the public who fund them. 

Sharing scientific information is as old as science itself. Early scientific pioneers agreed that it was important to discuss ideas, show experiments to others and read what other scientists were doing. Today’s scientists continue this tradition when they discover something new and interesting about the world, publishing their work in journals and discussing it at conferences. Doing so allows findings to be disseminated and helps others with their own research. But for this vital step to take place, knowledge must be transferred – in other words, science must be communicated.

Centuries ago, those interested in such pursuits were few and far between. Today, however, the results of scientific research are spread far and wide – and sometimes even beyond the confines of science. Some scientists, for example, want to communicate their research in the hope that policy makers make more informed decisions. This interaction between scientists, the public and policy makers can even raise the profile of “citizen science” initiatives by attracting attention to their aims.

In the past few decades, however, a disconnect has emerged between scientists who generate knowledge and the journalists, bloggers and science communicators who disseminate it to the public. This has reinforced the view held by some scientists that these popularizers distort the findings of their research to generate a better headline and more readers. But it is not just the popularizers’ fault; researchers often lack the skills to effectively communicate their research to journalists and the public.

Indeed, I have witnessed this culture at first hand. During my postgraduate studies, I came across few PhD supervisors who supported, or harder still, encouraged their students to get involved in science communication. The opportunity to participate in outreach events was often viewed as a “tick-box exercise” to demonstrate transferable skills. Such activities, it was felt, got in the way of the “real work” of pure scientific research.

As a consequence, scientists who engage with the public are often less well regarded by their peers – there seems to be a false dichotomy that you can be a good scientist or a popularizer, but not both. This picture is slowly changing, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced scientists to explain their findings and offer their opinions to the public. The last few years have shown that talking, explaining, listening and learning are important skills in the collective effort to control the pandemic. So how can we carry on this trend?

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