Science communication career:
definition and meaning

Text by Valeriia Fast

Editing by Olya Vvedenskaya, Diana Mitrea, and Julia Kolodiazhnaia

- What is the definition of science communication? And what does science communication mean?

- How broad is the spectrum of science communication?

- Why do scientists consider science communication as a career path? 

What is the definition of science communication?

In a broad sense, science communication can be defined as sharing scientific knowledge with an audience in a clear, accurate, and accessible way. As a scientist, have you ever tried to explain to your colleagues, family, or friends what you are doing for your bachelor's, master's, or PhD thesis, your postdoctoral project, or your work in industry? Have you ever translated complicated technical terms into simpler language? If so, you have already practiced science communication. But for some people, science communication is not just a part of scientific work – it becomes a career in itself.

Why does science communication matter?

Scientific discoveries rarely create impact on their own. To benefit society, research must reach researchers, policymakers, healthcare professionals, industry, educators, investors, and the general public in forms they can understand and use. Science communication builds bridges between these groups. It supports collaboration across disciplines, helps communicate scientific evidence to decision-makers, contributes to science education, and strengthens public trust in research. 

Because different audiences have different backgrounds, needs, and priorities, effective science communication requires adapting both the content and the way it is presented.

How broad is the spectrum of science communication?

One way to understand the diversity of science communication is to look at the intended audience and the level of specialized knowledge required. While the boundaries between these categories are not strict, they illustrate the wide range of communication tasks and career opportunities within the field.

1. For a specialised audience - communication between experts in the same field

On one side of the scale is communication at the technical level. Here, the primary goal is to communicate new scientific knowledge to other specialists. The communication here highlights scientific results, but does not necessarily give instructions on how to implement them or translate them into out-of-lab applications. Information is exchanged between experts in the same domain. The scientific findings might be presented as research articles, protocols, books, posters, technical reports, etc. As a rule, this form of communication is jargon-heavy, and the required background knowledge is high.

Examples of roles: journal editors, scientific writers, technical writers, policy analysts, and scientists. 

2. For professional stakeholders - communication across disciplines and sectors

The middle of the spectrum includes communication between professionals from different disciplines who collaborate on science- and technology-based challenges. They may include researchers, engineers, patent lawyers, business development teams, regulators, funders, clinicians, or patient organizations, depending on the context. Because these audiences have different expertise and priorities, effective communication focuses on what each group needs to understand, decide, or act on. Technical details are therefore defined, explained, condensed into key messages, or omitted when they are not relevant, while scientific accuracy remains essential. Typical formats include press releases, case studies, white papers, grant proposals, regulatory or medical documents, and stakeholder engagement materials.

Examples of roles: scientific managers (working for universities, institutes, scientific clusters), medical writers, outreach and engagement officers, course and conference officers.

3. For the general public - making science accessible and engaging

At the other end of the spectrum is science communication aimed at the general public. Here, scientific ideas are presented in the context of everyday life, societal challenges, or personal experiences. Information should be clear, concise, and engaging while remaining factually correct. Blogs, videos, museum exhibitions, and popular science books are common examples. At this level, visual communication, relatable examples and analogies become more important than jargon, exact definitions, and equations. Technical terminology is minimized, and any essential concepts are explained in plain language. Education, public engagement, and trust-building become the central objectives.

Examples of roles: museum curators, science and medical journalists, social media managers.

Science communication as a profession

As you can see, the job title science communicator appears relatively rarely. Instead, science communication is embedded in many different professions and can be defined and categorized according to the audience, communication format, and employer.

Rather than existing as a standalone profession, science communication is often a capability.

Why do scientists consider science communication as a career path? 

1. Help research create real-world impact

Scientific discoveries can only benefit society if they are understood and used. Science communication helps translate research into forms that different audiences can understand and act upon. This may involve educating the public, raising awareness of important societal challenges, improving public understanding of science, or addressing misinformation. It can also support the adoption of scientific discoveries by policymakers, healthcare professionals, industry, entrepreneurs, and investors, increasing the chances that scientific discoveries will inform decisions, influence policy, and find practical applications.

2. Help research get the support it needs

If you have worked as a Master's or PhD student, you know that research does not happen on its own. It depends on funding, collaborations, talented students, industrial partners, public trust, and institutional support. Science communication helps researchers demonstrate the value of their work, communicate with funders and stakeholders, attract collaborators, and explain why a project deserves attention and investment. By making research understandable and relevant to different audiences, science communication creates the conditions that allow research to move forward.

3. Become a public voice for science

Science communication offers opportunities to engage directly with the public through talks, podcasts, social media, festivals, museum exhibitions, and educational initiatives. For people who enjoy explaining ideas and interacting with diverse audiences, this public-facing aspect can be one of the most rewarding parts of the profession. By becoming associated with particular topics or projects, science communicators can build visibility and credibility as experts in their field.

4. Stay connected to science while changing the nature of your work

Science communication offers an opportunity to remain closely connected to research without spending most of your time in the laboratory. Instead of conducting experiments yourself, you may find greater satisfaction in explaining discoveries, writing, teaching, organizing events, creating illustrations or videos, managing outreach activities, or helping researchers communicate their work. It is a way to stay intellectually engaged with science while focusing on the aspects of the scientific process you enjoy most.

5. Build a career that matches your lifestyle

Science communication offers a wide variety of working environments. Depending on the role, communicators may work in universities, companies, museums, NGOs, government agencies, or as freelancers. Many roles involve project-based work and can offer greater flexibility in terms of location, schedule, and the balance between independent and collaborative work.

Is there a place for me in science communication?

If any of these motivations resonate with you, science communication may be a career worth exploring. Many of the core skills required for the science communication profession, such as critical thinking, scientific rigour, writing, analysing evidence, and explaining complex ideas, are the skills already developed through research. Additional skills in finance, event organisation, social media management and marketing can be developed even alongside academic roles or built later in your career.

To learn more, explore our articles on the skills required for science communication and on navigating the science communication job market.

As we discussed above, the definition and mission of science communication are really broad. Materials below can also help with a smoother transition from academia, medicine, or industry and shape your future role according to your interests and skills.

Additional materials

• Science communication and digital marketing consultancy with learning materials at pitchscience.com.

• Top 10 Principles for Plain Language

• Blog about science visualisation

• And a classic book: “The Visual Display of Quantitative Information” by Edward R. Tufte

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