One of the goals of research within engineering and the physical sciences is to extend its impact beyond academia, influencing industrial practices and enhancing technological innovation. To amplify this impact, engineers must be able to communicate their work effectively to non-academic stakeholders. Discover the strategies researchers can employ to effectively communicate research to diverse audiences in the following blog post.

Clearly define the broader applications of your research

Articulating the broader significance of your research outside your field is important for making a real-world impact. When discussing a project on which you have spent months or years working, it is easy to forget that not everyone has the same in-depth knowledge as you do. When communicating your research, especially to an audience with little technical knowledge, it is essential to start from the basics.

Ask yourself:

• What changes could my research bring about?
• Who stands to benefit from my research?
• What recommendations can I propose for effecting change?
• What evidence supports these recommendations?

Viewing these questions from the perspective of a non-specialist can assist in conveying your message to non-academics in an easily digestible manner.

Tailor your message to different audiences

Once you’ve identified the potential impact of your research, pinpointing your target audience(s) becomes paramount for efficient communication. Whether it’s industrial engineers, design engineers, C-suite professionals, policymakers, the public, or journalists, each stakeholder group requires a tailored approach based on their unique terminology and level of technical comprehension.

When tailoring your message, consider what information you must convey to your target audience. Make your communication concise to include only relevant information, making it easier for your audience to understand. For example, what do C-suite professionals need to know from your research to apply it within their organisation?

Additionally, how you communicate this information may differ from if you were discussing it with colleagues and other specialists. Try using analogies to communicate complex ideas more simply or include real-world examples with which the audience may already be familiar.

Develop additional materials

In addition to their original research, authors can create additional materials to support their Research Article. These include Data Notes and Method Articles, which offer an opportunity for authors to present additional information to readers.

Researchers may also publish an Open Letter about policies relevant to their research output. This allows authors to further discuss their work with a broader audience, including policymakers and non-engineering specialists.

For more information on other Article Types that may provide additional context for your research, visit our Article Types page here.

Next steps: promote effectively

After writing and publishing your work, effective promotion can significantly increase the reach of your research. By sharing your work with your professional network on social media platforms, you can showcase your discoveries to a broader audience. Here are a few tips to get the most out of your posts:

• Be sure to tag your colleagues. By tagging them, your post will show up to your followers and theirs!
• If your department or institution has its own social media accounts, be sure to mention them in your posts promoting your work to reach a wider audience across your institution
• Tag your funder, as they are also likely to share any research they have been involved with, resulting in more people seeing your post.

In addition to social media promotion, you could also consider:

• Joining other academic research-sharing networks
• Writing a blog post or press release for your institution to publish
• Creating video or image abstracts to communicate your research visually
• Presenting your findings at a conference. This allows your target audience to ask questions too, allowing you to address any missing information that may limit their understanding of the topic.