As a scientist, I’ve been trained to write technical papers and to give technical presentations to colleagues.  These are our primary modes of science communication.  However, things have been changing rapidly in how people share information.  I can find on the internet a video showing me how to do just about anything…from making a souffle to how to dance the tango.  A couple of years ago, our toilet broke, which to fix was going to require complete replacement of the entire flushing system.  I briefly considered calling a plumber, but then had the idea to look online to see if I could find some information. I quickly found several videos on YouTube that clearly and professionally showed, step-by-step, how to replace the fill valve assembly.  One was particularly well done; shot from various angles and showing each critical step as well as providing advice (in voiceover) along the way.  After watching this four minute video, I felt confident that I could repair our toilet.  I went to the store, purchased the replacement parts, and within a couple of hours had a working toilet again. Here’s the video I watched:

Now, as a scientist (or a student of science), imagine how much easier it would be to replicate someone else’s research if you could see a video of how they actually set up their intricate lab apparatus or calibrated an instrument or set up a field experiment.  Some researchers spend months working out a technique that someone has described in a paper but that could be quickly demonstrated in a video.  Yet, there are few such videos out there doing this and only one online journal (that I know of) that publishes peer-reviewed videos (of mostly medical research methods). What’s amazing to me is that there are not more such journals in this age of the internet and electronic gadgets.

Many scientists seem to be still stuck in the 18th century when it comes to communication of science.  We are following a model that was developed long before digital cameras, computers, and the internet.  Scientists initially communicated with each other through letters and eventually journal articles.  We carry on this tradition and try to describe our methods as best we can in writing.  Obviously, much of this information could be much more easily and accurately conveyed visually.  Now that we have easy access to electronic gear that can capture video and audio and to inexpensive software to edit it into a coherent instructional video, I wonder why more scientists are not taking this obvious step?

Part of the answer, of course, is the perception that such an effort will take time away from the real communication of science (written articles) or would require an expensive film crew.   There is also perhaps a reluctance to try a different medium of communication…a clearly non-traditional medium and one that is not going to count toward tenure.  This perception may be changing…gradually.  A few journals are encouraging authors to submit videos showing their methods, and a few scientists are complying.  I think, however, it will take a dramatic change in how we view science communication before the scientific community embraces the idea.

I’ll have more to say about this in later posts.  For now, you might like watching this TED talk by Chris Anderson who describes the coming revolution he’s termed, “Crowd Accelerated Innovation” (note his comment about science communication at 10.43 min):