The inherent complexity of life science research creates a formidable communication challenge for researchers. Every day, we hear anecdotal stories from the research community, highlighting how the communication of science poses a significant obstacle to its advancement. These stories shed light on various challenges, such as internal team and cross-functional communication issues that hinder the progress of research projects. External communication is also a hurdle when it comes to conferences, publications, and grant applications. This year, we commissioned an independent study to better quantify the impact of science communication. We’re excited to share our findings with you. 

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In our inaugural 2023 State of Science Communication report, we surveyed 162 scientists anonymously across North America and Europe, of which 30% were BioRender users. The objective was to gain and share valuable insights on the obstacles scientists face in research communication, exploring the business advantages of improved communication, and gathering their perspectives on the tools they use to communicate more effectively. 

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Whether it is collaborating internally to drive research projects forward or disseminating findings to a broader audience through publications, there are a few key themes that surfaced from the survey. 

1. Visual communication is critical
Effective scientific communication is vital for research, with 96% of scientists agreeing to the importance of visual communication in advancing research for both industry and academic scientists. 79% of scientists agree it has a positive impact on improved collaboration and higher quality decision-making. 

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2. Poor communication has serious consequences
Poor communication results in stalled or canceled research, limited collaboration, publication rejections, and difficulties in conveying key findings. 72% of industry scientists surveyed agree poor communication leads to stalled or canceled projects. 

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3. Clear communication has business benefits
Respondents agree that clear communication has demonstrable business benefits as well. It increases success rates for funding (81%), improved productivity (90%), more grants (82%), and cross functional research (94%). 

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The report provides additional and peer insights on:

• The business benefits of effective science communication
• The implications of poor scientific communication in research
• Why visual communication is paramount to success yet difficult to create
• Which software researchers ranked highly for visual communication

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Download the very first State of Science Communication annual report by completing the form above.

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