Science Communication: Why Researchers Must Connect

In a commentary published October 20, 2026, at 5:05 PM MYT, Research Officer Kumuthini Chandrasekaram of the Universiti Malaya Power Energy Dedicated Centre (UMPEDAC) at Universiti Malaya (UM) argues that science matters when researchers connect discoveries to people’s concerns. Her point is simple, and taxpayers and families should recognize it. Findings alone don’t persuade anyone. Relevance does.

The Lesson From Two Famous Minds

Chandrasekaram turns to two unlikely guides. One is novelist Jane Austen, who explored how pride and perception shape relationships in Pride and Prejudice. As the commentary puts it, assumptions about what others understand can create walls between people who need to talk. The other is physicist Albert Einstein, popularly associated with the idea that complex concepts should be explained simply. The two thinkers never actually met in this account; still, the article says their lessons apply to scientists today.

Consider a familiar example. Scientists might explain photovoltaic-cell physics in careful technical detail, while a family considering solar panels may care more about reducing its electricity bill, handling Malaysia’s hot climate and living more sustainably. The science doesn’t change. The story does.

Dissemination Versus Dialogue

Science communication has often followed a one-way route: experts pass knowledge to the public through classrooms, lectures and presentations. The commentary doesn’t reject that model. Dissemination helps people access reliable knowledge, but it can leave little space for questions, debate or other views. Public participation, on the other hand, gives people room to challenge and contribute.

People make sense of science through their backgrounds, education, experiences and community concerns, Chandrasekaram argues. Researchers who listen can address questions that matter to the people they serve. She says the two approaches can work together, depending on the audience and purpose. Scientific rigor needn’t be sacrificed to get a better hearing.

Keeping Children Curious

The commentary also considers how to draw young people into science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Students often face unfamiliar terminology, complicated equations and long lists of facts to memorize. When they can’t see how the material relates to everyday life, curiosity may give way to apprehension.

A renewable energy lesson could ask why solar panels perform differently as the weather changes. Students could then examine how sunlight and temperature affect output, study solar-cell materials and learn how researchers increase energy generation.

Interactive demonstrations, storytelling, digital platforms and direct conversations with researchers can make these ideas approachable, the article says. Students should ask questions, test ideas and use curiosity as an engine for discovery. Nobody learns much by being told to be impressed.

Why This Matters:

The commentary’s central claim is that scientific excellence should include the ability to explain science’s value. That has real consequences for public budgets and private choices. Researchers are often judged by publications, patents and laboratory breakthroughs; Chandrasekaram argues that their work should also be measured by how it informs decisions, improves lives and inspires the next generation.

Families deciding whether solar panels make financial sense, and students weighing a science career, ultimately determine whether research pays off. If researchers can’t reach them, returns on public and institutional investment shrink. The article assigns responsibility to educators, institutions, policymakers and communities to make room for dialogue. It describes science as a conversation where everyone can learn, question and contribute. That conversation depends on researchers communicating without condescension and audiences participating without intimidation. The article is an opinion piece and says it reflects the writer’s personal views, not necessarily those of Malay Mail.