ABSTRACT

Technological advancement has transformed research across the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines, leading to the development of new fields of enquiry, as well as novel research tools and methodologies. It has also generated a variety of original media for communicating scholarly research. Yet, despite this, articles in highly ranked, peer-reviewed journals remain – for better or worse – the panacea. Postdocs working at research-intensive universities are required to demonstrate innovation to further their careers. However, the pressure to publish in order to secure a permanent academic post means that the gap for creative research communication is narrow. Most postdocs are accordingly conservative in the way that they report and disseminate their research. This chapter looks at how the ‘publish or perish’ culture affects the ways postdocs understand and make choices about communicating their research. Using a recent public outreach project as a case study, it explores the benefits of participating in creative dissemination projects and discusses the broader value of creative forms of science communication.

Introduction

This chapter looks at the ways in which the ‘publish or perish’ culture which exists within STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines influences the choices postdoctoral researchers (postdocs) make about how to conduct research and communicate their findings. Drawing on data examining the role of creativity in STEM research, it explores the scope for creative forms of research dissemination and suggests that while developing a strong portfolio of peer-reviewed publication is critical, more creative forms of scholarly communication are also of increasing value to postdocs’ career progression.

Publishing in the digital age

Technological advancement has transformed research across the STEM disciplines, leading to the creation of new fields of enquiry and the growth of novel methodologies and research tools. It has also generated a variety of original media for sharing data and communicating findings. Yet despite this, articles in highly ranked, peer-reviewed journals remain – for better or worse – the panacea of scholarly communication.

Rather than transforming the way in which research is disseminated, the advent of digital technology seems, somewhat ironically, to have reinforced traditional modes of scholarly communication. Debate concerning the accessibility (or lack thereof) of online publications has led to the development of alternative communication strategies. These include Open Access journals, institutional repositories, pre-print servers, social networking sites and personal blogs.