If you’ve ever worked in academia, you may have heard of the phrase ‘publish or perish’ — either publish papers relentlessly or be condemned to irrelevancy.

When I started my career working with researchers across various scientific disciplines, I found myself realising that we place so much importance on how to do research well that we forget something else that’s equally important: communicating it clearly to regular people. People who are likely to be the ones impacted by your research the most.

Some of the most remarkable research ends up buried in the sand — because the people behind them weren’t trained to share them beyond academic conferences or scientific papers. And when groundbreaking discoveries are confined to paywalled papers, it leaves a communication gap. Sure, communicating science might not be your biggest priority when you’re buried under endless Western blots and bar graphs, but overlooking it as a soft skill means missing out on a chance to make research go further. Communicating science is just one of many useful skills that scientists can add to their inventories.

The Communication Gap in Research

Science today moves lightning-fast; an article by Ouvrir la Science (”Opening Science”) touches upon the fact that the number of scientific publications has been growing exponentially in the last few years. Naturally, as science advances faster than the ability to communicate it clearly, the disconnect between scientists and the public gets wider and wider.

The balance between accuracy and access is a tricky one in this age of information overload. On one hand, excessive jargon alienates those who aren’t experts. On the other, oversimplifying might just not convey your message the right way.

A Nature article published in 2019, titled “Amplifying the voice of Indian science”, puts it well:

“Citizen science projects have been initiated around the world, in which public can meaningfully contribute to current research, rather than as passive recipients of information. Unfortunately, most public outreach events in India are designed as a one-way passing of information. Public engagement is supposed to be a two-way process, in which the scientists and the public share knowledge and insights to tackle issues that affect us all.”

In India, many scientists receive little to no training in communicating their science beyond specialist audiences, and don’t see this as an important part of their job. Public engagement might feel like a chore, something to tick off a list, rather than something done with the intent of reaching people.

But the thing is, research reaches its full purpose when it can be shared and understood. Knowledge locked in a paper can’t stimulate people’s minds or inform policy, but making your work accessible might!

Why Training Matters

The ability to translate complex ideas is a core skill in itself. Just like grant writing or mentoring juniors is.

I’m reminded of when I was working on my Master’s thesis in neuronal regeneration. I would get innocent questions from family members and friends who were curious about what I was studying. My thesis was incredibly niche, but when I figured out how to simplify the science, I realised the impact it had on those around me. Instead of blank stares, people actually engaged and asked thought-provoking questions — maybe they felt more comfortable asking questions because I was speaking their language.

Besides connecting with the public, being able to communicate your research effectively helps with securing grants, and even collaborating with other researchers. It helps your work travel further and resonate deeper.

This is a big part of why SciRio has invested so much in science communication training. We’ve been partnering with universities and NGOs across India, and designed hands-on workshops that have given students and researchers the space to learn and voice their challenges. And these sessions have always ended with something invaluable — researchers discovering new ways to connect their work to the public.

Embedding Training in Research Careers

In 2023, SciRio was a part of the SciComm ThinkLabs initiative by the Foundation for Advancing Science and Technology (FAST) India, which brought together science communicators, policymakers, and journalists to assess the state of science communication in India. This legitimised what we have known already — that Indian academia needs to encourage skill-building in communication, rather that only focusing on research outputs. We also developed a tool for institutions to understand their current level of commitment to science communication and public engagement in research programs. (Psst, you can find the report here and the modular tool here).

Science communicators can only push for reform in academia, but it’s academic institutions that can make communication a standard aspect of research training. And the great thing is that universities and research institutes are now taking this seriously; in fact, there are now over a hundred university courses globally that specifically teach science communication. In India, Azim Premji University rolled out a science communications course in 2024 to encourage students to think critically about science. Organisations like IndiaBioscience and the National Academy of Sciences have also been excellent platforms to help bring out science communicators’ voices and host communication-focused workshops.

Structured, hands-on programs really can change mindsets and make science communication an indispensable part of a researcher’s identity. That doesn’t mean that every researcher absolutely HAS to become a professional communicator — but it does ensure that communication becomes a part of doing good science.

Where We Go From Here

If we want science to reach and resonate beyond journal articles. we need to treat communication training seriously. There’s a massive role for funding bodies and institutions to play here, by carving out time and resources and pushing for reform.

Scientists deserve their research to be heard, just as the public deserves to understand and connect with the science that might end up shaping their lives.