6 Strategies to Bring Research into the Real World

There is often a gap between academia and real-world application of research. Bridging this gap is essential for addressing societal challenges and encouraging progress. Here are six strategies that academics can use to communicate the real-life application of their research to the public:

1. Identify Your Audience

Make a profile of the person you are trying to reach. Here are some questions you can ask:

How old are they?

How familiar are they with your field of study?

How much time do they have to learn about your research?

Where do they discover new information?

What language(s) do they speak?

What is their literacy level?

What is their cultural background?

How adept are they with technology?

What accessibility considerations do you need to address?

Use these questions to inform your communication style, medium, and platform. Determine if it is appropriate to use technical jargon, or if this will not appeal to your target audience.

2. Streamline Your Message

Humans can only process 5-7 new pieces of information at a time. It’s important to cut out any non-essential information that can overwhelm your audience. A helpful way to determine your message is to ask yourself:

What do I want them to be able to do after interacting with my research?

The more definitive actionable tasks that you can pinpoint, the less likely you are to overwhelm your audience with information. This will lead to more effective and measurable outreach.

3. Connect to their Everyday Lives

Connect your research to their everyday lives. Ask yourself:

How can they use this information in their everyday lives?

What real situations can this research be applied to?

Using this information in your outreach will increase their value for what you are doing, and their motivation to engage and apply your research in the real world.

4. Use Visual Aids

Use visual aids such as charts, graphs, diagrams, and images to simplify complex concepts and make your research more understandable and memorable to the public. Consider your audience when you are determining which visual aids to use.

5. Collaborate with Communicators

Partner with instructional designers, journalists, educators, and outreach professionals who specialize in connecting with the public. Collaborative efforts can amplify the reach and effectiveness of your communication efforts.

6. Be Transparent and Accessible

Your peer-reviewed content may be behind a paywall and inaccessible to your target audience. Foster trust and credibility by being transparent about your research methods, limitations, and potential implications. Make yourself accessible and approachable to the public to address questions and concerns and provide opportunities for further discussion and collaboration.

By implementing these strategies, scientists can bring their research into the real world.

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