Communicate with Other Scientists Effectively
Different fields of science have vastly different frameworks. Terminology, goals, methodologies, and more can change across the disciplines of scientific study. Collaborative endeavours can provide mutually beneficial results that can further our society's progress.
Contents
Steps
Learning About Other Subjects
- Read scientific articles from different fields. While it may seem daunting at first, this practice will quickly increase your ability to converse on a variety of subjects.
- Look deeper into other subjects that interest you. Ask questions when you don't understand something. Often you can find places online where people have asked the same question. If you can't find any, try asking yourself.
- Take classes in other subjects. If you're out of school, some universities offer classes open to the public in various subjects.
- Look up online lectures from reputable universities or conferences.
Teaching Others About Your Subject
- Approach scientists in other fields similar to how you might teach the public. Often, communicating with those outside of your field requires the same skills you must learn to communicate with the general public.
- Look at good examples of scientific writing and lecturing. Eloquent speakers, such as Richard Feynman, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Bill Nye, and Carl Sagan, talk to the public about various scientific ideas by engaging and entertaining their listeners.
- Learn the ways in which different scientists communicate within their field.
- Remember that other scientists have as much trouble understanding you as you do them.
Tips
- Ask questions. Questions can open up avenues for further discussion and can highlight points that both parties may not completely understand.
- Using analogies can often clarify things when they are hard to grasp.
Warnings
- Be careful what sources you use. Opinions and misinformation can pose as scientific knowledge, and knowing the difference is increasingly important in today's age.
- Not all articles you find will have the full text available. Unfortunately, many scientists do not make their papers publicly available, so you may have to pay a fee or subscribe to a service if you really want to read what they wrote.
References
- Knapp, Bernhard, et al. "Ten Simple Rules for a Successful Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration." PLoS Computational Biology, 30 April 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4415777/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2017.
- Miller, Lulu. "Tell Me A Story." Radiolab, 29 July 2008, www.radiolab.org/story/91852-tell-me-a-story/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2017.
