Reflection: The Importance of Communication in Science

Networking. Appropriate conversation with superiors. Reading scientific peer-reviewed articles. Giving presentations for any audience to understand. Whether it is professional or scientific, communication is an important piece of research. There are keys to sharing information and keys to listening, and some I have learned in this program are knowing your audience and thinking ahead of the presenter when listening to ensure attentive listening. Since the beginning of the program, I have listened to a multitude of presentations and read scientific articles with topics that are foreign to me, and I have had practice asking questions and reaching out to others when I run into obstacles comprehending such information. With articles, I usually find that I am outside of the target audience of the paper: other scientists in the field who have a base knowledge of the topic already. To alleviate this communication barrier, I have been gaining skills on how to break down the articles for the best comprehension. My most commonly used skill is to frequently stop and investigate terms and minor concepts I run into that I am not familiar with so my confusion does not carry to the end of the paper.

Outside of scientific communication, this program has helped me build professional communication techniques. For example, tips on sending an email to a superior that is detailed, respectful, and leaves limited room for additional questions to minimize the need for the back-and-forth. I have struggled with networking and knowing who I can connect with to make the best network for me, but I am more confident in how to present myself and communicate with potential connections. I have so much to learn, and I can only benefit from people who have walked the path I am heading and can help guide me.

Naomi Calhoun | Howard University