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I am so proud of my first paper as corresponding author! And on a topic I am SURE I& #39;ll work on for the rest of my life: the need to #SciComm in languages other than English! It was so fun working with @mcmsharksxx on this! 
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="đ" title="Down pointing backhand index" aria-label="Emoji: Down pointing backhand index"> #ComunicaCiencia 1/n https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2020.00031/full">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/...
Before I start on this thread, I want to thank the team @FrontiersIn, our editor @mufferaw, and our reviewers @sabahzero and Rakeb Tesfaye for helping us turn an honestly mediocre manuscript into a much more thoughtful opinion. I love it when #PeerReview works! #SciComm 2/n
The #COVID19 pandemic has highlighted many inequities including the lack of #SciComm in languages other than English. We wrote this before the pandemic hit and it& #39;s been sad to see much of what we speak of in this paper reflected in real time. 3/n
English dominates scientific publishing (80% of all journals in SCOPIS are published in English), scientific journalism in traditional mass media, and heck, even within #SciComm in social media. This happens when you Google the word "science" in 11 languages 4/n
While the use of a single international language of science facilitates the dissemination of knowledge across national and cultural boundaries, the English language often acts as a gatekeeper to scientific discourse. #Scicomm #MultilingualSciComm 5/n
Facing the biggest existential threats to humanity (like #COVID19) requires understanding and support of science at a global scale. But the primary use of a single language has created barriers for those who are non-native English speakers. #SciComm #InclusiveSciComm 6/n
Because of the way science currently works, most scientists feel a LOT of pressure to publish their papers and present their work in English. Similar pressures in newsrooms contribute to the dominance of English in journalism. #SciComm #InclusiveSciComm 7/n
Not knowing English limits access to scientific info. Learning a language is not always feasible; many do not have access to the resources needed to learn a new language. See this awesome analysis in https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="đ¨đ´" title="Flag of Colombia" aria-label="Emoji: Flag of Colombia"> by @Valeria_RamCas! #SciComm #InclusiveSciComm 8/n https://twitter.com/Valeria_RamCas/status/1230284938731114496?s=20">https://twitter.com/Valeria_R...
Science& #39;s language bias extends beyond printed words. It manifests in how #science is reported in mass + social media, in the researchers represented in the media, and often in the lack of contact between communities and their local scientists. #SciComm #InclusiveSciComm 9/n
We know that #SciComm in the native language of a target audience yields greater participation and leads to stronger connections to concepts in the native culture. @LizNeeley has also taught me that sharing identities with your audience REALLY matters. #InclusiveSciComm 10/n
Even more importantly: societies NEED to be scientifically literate to make informed choices on science-related policy issues AND considering basic science is financed by govt funds in most places, tax-paying citizens have a RIGHT to access/understand it #SciComm 11/n
So what do we do about this massive problem? We propose multiple recommendations in our piece and I& #39;m sure there are many others that could/should be implemented. This is just a starting point for discussion. For more detailed descriptions, read our paper https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="đ" title="Upside-down face" aria-label="Emoji: Upside-down face"> SciComm 12/n
1. For scientific journals: Translate research abstracts and articles to make them available in other languages. Open access policies also help even the scientific playing field #SciComm #InclusiveSciComm 13/n
2. For media in English-speaking societies: Highlight scientists working in settings where English is not the native language to ensure more backgrounds are represented. I love @ligaze& #39;s work with @ForbesScience. #Scicomm 14/n
3. For media in societies where English is not the native language: Increase local science coverage. PLEEASE stop relying so much on translated press releases! @agencia_bori is doing a GREAT job in Brazil connecting scientists & journalists #SciComm 15/n
4. For everyone doing #SciComm: create culturally relevant content. I adapt my weekly #MicrobeMondays and #MicroMartes posts to fit each audience. @AstroSibs is a South African expert doing this in Zulu. #InclusiveSciComm 16/n https://www.symmetrymagazine.org/article/decolonizing-science-through-sci-comm">https://www.symmetrymagazine.org/article/d...
5. Train scientists and communicators to engage with & relate to diverse audiences. This really has to be done at local levels and trainers can borrow ideas from wonderful initiatives like @Reclaiming_STEM, @InclusiveSci, @storycollider, @thebiotaproject & more. #SciComm 17/n
This #InclusiveSciComm research topic in @FrontiersIn has tons of papers on this:
CĂłmoSciWri: for bilingual science writing - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2020.00010/full
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/... href="https://twitter.com/storycollider">@storycollider: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2020.00035/abstract
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/... href="https://twitter.com/InclusiveSci">@InclusiveSci: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2019.00077/full
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/... href="https://twtext.com//hashtag/InclusiveSciComm"> #InclusiveSciComm: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2020.00002/full
17/n">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/...
CĂłmoSciWri: for bilingual science writing - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2020.00010/full
17/n">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/...
6. Encourage + support STEM students and professionals to talk about their work in their native tongue. It& #39;s really important for our personal/prof. development. Orgs doing a GREAT job at this include @CdeC_Col, @caminosciencia, the Imagine Project in Brazil. #SciComm 18/n
7. Use the ubiquity & accessibility of social media platforms to reach a wider diversity of audiences. @mcmsharksxx and I already do this, but LOTS more are. Examples from YouTube @CienciaSumerce (Spanish), @manualdomundo (Portuguese) & @salmanahameed (Urdu). #SciComm 19/n
8. Create communities where #scicomm-ers in different languages can interact with one another. One could think about Facebook groups like @theSTEMsquad or Slack channels like @joesbigidea& #39;s and hashtags like #Comunicaciencia (Spanish) or #WissComm (German) 20/n
To finish, 3 caveats: (1) @mcmsharksxx & I are Spanish speakers so our examples are biased. Share your own in other languages! (2) This list isn& #39;t comprehensive, do add your own ideas. (3) We realize we& #39;re hypocrites. We& #39;re working on translations of this article. #SciComm 21/n
Before we end, I also want to thank @CornellFellows. Without my stipend from the fellowship, it would have been very difficult to afford the publication fee for this article. These fees btw are also a BIG barrier to publishing in many non-English speaking nations. #SciComm 22/n
We hope this Opinion inspires you to think more deeply about #MultilingualSciComm & the burden non-native English speakers bare. We also hope it might motivate you to make some changes at your institutions/journals or to dive into #InclusiveSciComm. 23/n
We also hope it sparks new discussions around developing effective strategies for #multilingual and #inclusive outreach efforts to #SciComm and #SciEngage formally and informally. The future of the scientific enterprise worldwide depends on it. 24/24 #B30">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2020.00031/full #B30">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/...
