Publish and perish

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The nature of publicly funded research is changing. Both developed and developing nations are increasing their investments in scientific research, either to maintain their technological lead or to catch up with advanced societies. The focus on research as a basis for a ‘knowledge society’ has raised public awareness of science and its impact on society, with repercussions for science and its public image. Demands for accountability, transparency and quality—and a greater focus on fraud, misconduct and plagiarism—are growing concerns both in the research community and in society. To secure and maintain public support for research, scientists must increasingly show ethical and responsible conduct in their research, and improve their oral and written communication skills to transmit and discuss relevant knowledge, its possible social implications and the excitement of doing research. > Demands for accountability, transparency and quality—and a greater focus on fraud, misconduct and plagiarism—are growing concerns both in the research community and in society This changing paradigm of scientific research and communication—from a deficit model to a democratic process that involves all stakeholders—suggests that scientists must realize the old truth that science is communication: “Science exists because scientists are writers and speakers. [...] As a form of knowledge, scientific understanding is inseparable from the written and spoken word. There are no boundaries, no walls between the doing of science and the communication of it; communicating is the doing of science” (Montgomery, 2003). However, scientists' communication practices—with each other and with a non‐specialist audience—leave much room for improvement. The average scientific publication is almost impossible to understand for a non‐specialist, even a fellow scientist. Furthermore, a lack of clarity, commitment and conciseness in scientific communication paves the way for scientific misconduct, such as fraud and plagiarism. > I argue that the communication and writing practices of researchers—ranging from scientific papers to conference …