Communicating ‘Difficult’ Research Topics

Difficult Topics

Areas may be seen as difficult to communicate for many reasons such as: Technical/few real world applications; Commonly held misconceptions or misunderstandings; controversial or emotionally sensitive.

Process

Who? What audience are you targeting

Why? What is the reason for the interaction/communication

Why II? Why will people listen?

What? Is there a clear message?

How? What process will you use?

Capture.

When starting out on any new communication project it is important to consider a few key points and have these clearly set out.

Audience Identification

Policy Makers

Industry

Academia Education

Audience

General Public

Interest groups

Who? Identify and target your audience so the content is relevant and pitched in the correct manner. Too broad a net may leave people feeling unsatisfied.

Maximising Engagement

What do you want? What do they want?

Find the middle ground

Why?

Write a list of what you can get from the engagement. Then write a list of what the audience will expect/want. Meet both of these lists with a tailored approach.

Building Relationships Why?

One of the most common complains or fears is that researchers will parachute in and take what they need. Think about establishing longer term communication. Make the audience feel invested and important to the work.

Nanoscale Thermoelectronics

Technical How?

Find a hook. Where possible relate a technical topic to a use or application that people may be familiar with.

Translate How?

Use appropriate language. Sometimes it is difficult to tell what words are in common usage and which words are just commonly used by you. Run language and content past someone not in your area

Routes How?

Social Media and blogging can be effective ways of interacting with communities and reaching relevant audiences and collaborators.

Routes How?

Communication need not be at the end of the research think about routes in which you could share your expert knowledge so that charities, policy makers or the general public have access to the most up to date and correct information.