Science communication becomes recognized in the evaluation of Romanian research

UEFISCDI published a report this week analyzing the research evaluation system in Romania. While the document provides a broad perspective on many aspects of the research ecosystem, one element in particular caught my attention: the growing role of science communication in the careers of Romanian researchers.

The report “Perspectives on the strengths and weaknesses of the Romanian research evaluation system” presents the results of a survey of 1,342 researchers from various fields and career stages. It is interesting to note that, although the current system continues to emphasize traditional metrics (number of publications, impact factor, citations), science communication is increasingly making its presence felt as a valuable dimension in the evaluation of research activity.

Moving from traditional metrics to science communication: Hard data from the report

• 881% of respondents mentioned the number of scientific publications as the most frequently used indicator in evaluation processes
• The journal's impact factor is mentioned by 73.81% of respondents
• The number of citations is indicated by 67.5% of participants

In addition to these traditional metrics, the report explicitly mentions that "dissemination activities to society and knowledge transfer" - essential components of science communication - "are starting to make their way into this landscape, being mentioned by 21.71% of respondents as metrics encountered in the evaluation."

Although this percentage of 21.7% is not yet at the level of traditional indicators, “this presence signals an emerging trend of valorizing science communication.” The report emphasizes that this trend is “in line with emerging practices at the European and international level,” reflecting a gradual but significant change in the landscape of research evaluation in Romania.

Science communication, the third most important emerging practice

One of the most revealing aspects of the report is the explicit highlighting of science communication as a dimension associated with quality research.

"In the section dedicated to emerging practices, science communication appears as the third most important contribution that should be recognized in research evaluation processes, after interdisciplinary collaboration and project management."

Respondents highlighted science communication as a crucial activity for broader societal engagement

"Respondents highlighted science communication as an essential activity for broader societal engagement," thus underscoring the growing recognition in the Romanian scientific community of the value that effective communication of research results brings to diverse audiences.

According to the data presented, it becomes evident that it is no longer enough to produce quality knowledge; it is becoming increasingly important to communicate it effectively, and the evaluation system is beginning to reflect this paradigm shift.

Why is science communication gaining ground?

We can identify several factors that explain this trend:

1. The pressure for societal impact – Modern research is increasingly evaluated in terms of its impact on society, not just the academic community. Science communication is thus becoming an essential vehicle for demonstrating the social relevance of research.
2. Competitive funding – Many European and national grants now include mandatory communication and dissemination components. The ability to communicate science is thus becoming a necessary skill for attracting funding.
3. Interdisciplinarity – Collaboration across disciplines, identified in the report as the most valuable contribution, implicitly requires communication skills that transcend the jargon specific to a single discipline.
4. Emerging roles – The report mentions the emergence of specialized roles, such as "science communication" and "scientific advice", which reflect the professionalization of this field.

The researcher has several roles

Analyzing the report in detail, the section dedicated to the roles that should be considered in research evaluation processes provides another argument for how important science communication is becoming. According to the data presented in Figure 8 of the report entitled “Researchers’ perspectives on the relevance of considering various roles in research evaluation”, the roles of “science communication” and “scientific advice” are highlighted as being among the most important for a healthy research ecosystem.

In analyzing the data, the report highlights: “The survey results show that both science communication and research management received increased attention from respondents in two key areas: first, when considering new types of research contributions and activities that should be recognized in research evaluation processes, and second, when assessing the importance of new research roles.”

This dual recognition in the report – both as a valuable research activity and as a distinct role – reflects a fundamental paradigm shift: science communication is no longer seen as just a secondary responsibility of researchers, but as a distinct specialization that requires specific skills and deserves recognition in academic evaluation.

How to develop your scientific communication skills

In a context where science communication is becoming increasingly valuable, here are some suggestions for researchers:

1. Participate in dedicated trainings – Many universities and research institutes now offer courses in science communication. Don't miss these opportunities.
2. Get involved in popularization events – Researchers' Night, Science Café, and other similar events are excellent opportunities to practice communicating science to the general public.
3. Develop your online presence – Blogs, podcasts or social channels are accessible tools to communicate your research.
4. Collaborate with communication specialists – Communication departments in universities or research institutes can provide valuable support.
5. Include communication plans in your projects – Anticipate from the proposal phase how you will communicate the results of your research to different audiences.

The benefits of effective science communication

Effective scientific communication can bring multiple benefits to Romanian researchers:

• Increased visibility – Communicating research results to diverse audiences can increase the visibility of your work and, implicitly, the number of citations.
• Collaboration opportunities – By making your research accessible to experts in other fields, you can open doors to valuable interdisciplinary collaborations.
• Societal impact – By communicating effectively to the general public and decision-makers, your research can influence public policies and behaviors.
• Fundraising – Funders increasingly value the ability to communicate the value and potential impact of research.

Transforming evaluation metrics

The UEFISCDI report suggests that we are witnessing a gradual transition from a system that exclusively values traditional scientific output (articles, citations) to one that recognizes a broader range of contributions, including science communication. For researchers in Romania, developing scientific communication skills is no longer just a "bonus", but is gradually becoming an essential component of a successful research career.

The full report "Perspectives on the strengths and weaknesses of the research evaluation system in Romania" can be consulted at: https://uefiscdi.gov.ro/news-raport-nou-perspective-asupra-punctelor-tari-si-slabe-ale-sistemului-de-evaluare-a-cercetarii-din-romania.