How can you simplify academic research for the general public?

Simplifying academic research for the general public can be done by breaking down complex concepts into easy-to-understand language, using relatable examples, and avoiding jargon. Visual aids like infographics can also make it more accessible.

Simplificar a pesquisa acadêmica para o público em geral é fundamental para tornar o conhecimento acessível e compreensível para uma audiência mais ampla. Ao implementar estratégias específicas ao tema, os pesquisadores podem desempenhar um papel fundamental na dissemina??o de conhecimento, tornando a pesquisa acadêmica mais acessível e relevante para o público em geral.

Be careful to tailor your message to the final audience, and not the editor or intermediate person, even if it sounds counterintuitive. Your loyalty should go to your reader/audience first.

You should be very much familiar with your audience. Make sure that you know the age, ethnicity, nationality, language, and general know-how of your audience. By knowing their profession and skills, you have an upper hand in giving them lively examples from real life that they can comprehend.

Absolutely!! My language, lexicon and style MUST adapt to it: is it University researchers? High school students? Children? A mix (tough!!)? What is the level of the audience 'preparedness'? And I use the K.I.S.S. system, always :-D.

As stated in this point, simple and crisp language works the best. If you are using abbreviations and terminologies restricted to your country, always explain those clearly, as it might not be as obvious to the reader as it is to you.

As for plain language is concerned, a person who is skillful in making good and short sentences that embark on their thoughts can inspire his audience more easily, instead of a brain stuffed with knowledge, but unable to communicate properly.

Adapted, again, to the audience: I have recently followed a EU course on food waste (or better: how to avoid it) and its language plus concepts were/was so elementary I got annoyed.

This also falls under the "know your audience" umbrella: if your content is a journalistic one, then respect the journalistic standards of your media (written, radio, video, microblogging...). If this is more of a corporate or specific audience content (like science marketing or public office and research communication/popularization), use the templates and documentation provided by your institution/client, if there are any. Basically: the most important information needs to come first. Always think that most of your audience will only spend a few seconds on your content. The context is the cherry on top, that will interest a very curious audience, but it is secondary.

You can start just from a reasonable joke or short story that connects your audience with the topic that you want to introduce. Never be formal.

Visuals indeed play a pivotal role in conveying complex information to a broader audience. They're a powerful tool to enhance engagement and comprehension. When used thoughtfully, they transform abstract concepts into accessible, memorable insights.

Simplifying technical information with visual aids is a potent strategy. Graphs, illustrations, and animations enhance understanding, making complex concepts accessible to a wider audience. For example, they can clarify relationships in molecular structures or biological systems, surpassing the limitations of text. Infographics organize key points into a visually appealing narrative, bridging the knowledge gap for lay audiences. In essence, visual support transforms intricate scientific topics into digestible insights.

Short, 'fun' and to the point, be it a PPT or a video. And I find important having the speaker appearing sometimes in the videos/pictures: it adds credibility (bearing witness).

By keeping in focus your audience's background knowledge, you should always proceed from known to unknown and easy to difficult. Never jump to the technical applications at the beginning but make it your last resort. Use a brainstorming strategy and stream your subject in a logical order. Instead of using terminologies, use similes and case studies to explain what do you want to convey. Avoid spoonfeeding. Visual aids work only for the audience who are familiar with the basics of the technical subject you are delivering. But you are not always lucky to have such an audience. Sometimes you are casting pearls before swine.

Getting feedback from your audience informs you of your strengths and weaknesses. Their marking helps you identify the areas where you need to improve.

If someone wish really to try influence and convince and get the message through, or at least its seeds, feedback is a MUST. I ALWAYS ask for it. In my opinion, when we get arrogant, then it is 'game over' (aahhhh, my hero, Carl Sagan!!)

Learn to promptly be able to adapt and change DURING the 'performance' by feeling/reading the audience response: have a plan B and even C ready.

Simplify with Stories. Reimagine with Metaphors. If we turn academic research into a story, we can invoke emotion. We can also transform complex data into simple metaphors, reimagining academic research as relatable entities. For example, when talking about environmental disasters, rephrasing complex data into concepts known to the reader (e.g 2.5 megalitres of spilled oil rephrased as an olympic swimming pool) allows understanding of scale previously incomprehensible.