[Dissemination of research--a neglected obligation]

In contrast to research and teaching duties, the obligation to disseminate research results to the general public is poorly described and not lived up to in academic medicine. At the Norwegian University of Science and Technology's Faculty of Medicine, an interdisciplinary group met with academics to discuss and identify means for improvements. The academics reported positive attitudes to popularising and communicating their findings. Dissemination of research as a working area was, however, characterised as fragmented, incidental and too much dependent on individual enthusiasm. The most important initiatives in order to achieve better dissemination were said to be the following: more and better training in popularization and dealing with the media; development of an infrastructure for dissemination at a decentralised institutional level (defined responsibility, routines etc.); and encouragement of good presentations by making dissemination of research meritorious.