Question: In what ways do you present your research findings?

Wei Xun answered on 15 Jun 2011:

I get to go to meetings, both in my department/university, and outside like in a scientific conference. I can make a poster which explains my main findings, or make a presentation using a series of slides, or write and publish an article in a scientific journal.

But to reach the public , I have to try harder. Taking part in iasascientist is part of my attempt to bring my research to a wider audience, I can also write a commentary into a magazine or newspaper. I don’t think science should only be accessible to scientists, and most public institutions such as universities get funding from public funded charities or tax, so the knowledge generated there should be public also.

The project in Bangladesh I talked about in my profile is a particular good example of how this can happen. Locals are invited to a workshop in which the findings from the study are communicated directly to them, if they can understand and pass the message onto other people they know, then the knowledge will spread and benefit others.