How can science communication promote interdisciplinary research?

1 Build trust and rapport

One of the challenges of interdisciplinary research is to establish trust and rapport among researchers from different disciplines, who may have different assumptions, languages, and cultures. Science communication can help by creating opportunities for dialogue, mutual learning, and feedback. For example, you can organize workshops, seminars, or webinars where researchers can share their goals, methods, and findings, and ask questions and offer suggestions. You can also use social media, blogs, or podcasts to showcase your work and connect with other researchers.

2 Enhance visibility and impact

Another challenge of interdisciplinary research is to increase its visibility and impact among relevant stakeholders, such as funders, policymakers, or practitioners. Science communication can help by crafting clear and compelling messages that highlight the relevance, benefits, and implications of your research. For example, you can write policy briefs, op-eds, or press releases that explain how your research addresses a societal challenge or informs a decision. You can also use infographics, videos, or interactive tools to illustrate your data and findings.

3 Inspire and engage

A third challenge of interdisciplinary research is to inspire and engage new and diverse audiences, such as students, educators, or the public. Science communication can help by sparking curiosity and interest in your research topic and field. For example, you can participate in science festivals, fairs, or exhibitions where you can demonstrate your research and interact with visitors. You can also use games, quizzes, or stories to make your research fun and relatable.

4 Learn and improve

A fourth challenge of interdisciplinary research is to learn and improve from your experiences and feedback. Science communication can help by providing opportunities for reflection, evaluation, and adaptation. For example, you can conduct surveys, interviews, or focus groups to assess the effectiveness and outcomes of your communication activities. You can also use analytics, metrics, or indicators to measure the reach and impact of your communication channels.

5 Collaborate and innovate

A fifth challenge of interdisciplinary research is to collaborate and innovate with other researchers and stakeholders. Science communication can help by facilitating the exchange of ideas, insights, and resources. For example, you can use online platforms, networks, or communities to share your publications, data, or code. You can also use co-creation, co-design, or co-production methods to involve your audiences in your research process.

Science communication is not only a way to disseminate your interdisciplinary research, but also a way to enhance it. By using science communication to build trust and rapport, enhance visibility and impact, inspire and engage, learn and improve, and collaborate and innovate, you can promote interdisciplinary research and contribute to solving complex problems.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?