Building prevention research science communication and knowledge translation capacity through multidisciplinary...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Science Communication
• Knowledge Translation

Background:

• A dedicated Science Communication Community of Practice (CoP) was established within an Australian public health research collaboration.
• The CoP aimed to enhance prevention-focused knowledge translation (KT) and evidence uptake by uniting researchers and science communication experts.
• Members included early- and mid-career researchers (EMCRs) and science communication specialists.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document the outcomes of a dedicated Science Communication Community of Practice (CoP).
• To assess the CoP's impact on increasing prevention-focused knowledge translation (KT) and evidence uptake.
• To understand how the CoP enhanced communication and KT capacity, particularly for EMCRs and low-resourced projects.

Main Methods:

• The CoP convened monthly, with semi-structured meetings facilitated by an experienced science communication professional.
• A key objective was developing resources to aid members in communicating their findings.
• Member insights were synthesized to evaluate the CoP's effect on communication and KT capacity.

Main Results:

• Participatory dialogue within the CoP fostered a deeper understanding of science communication techniques and integrated KT into projects.
• The CoP facilitated the creation of shared narratives and communication outputs, overcoming individual resourcing limitations.
• Members reported increased utilization of diverse science communication skills, including targeted messaging, media engagement, and event management.

Conclusions:

• The CoP significantly improved members' working knowledge of science communication, leading to more frequent KT activities.
• In resource-limited environments, co-locating researchers with science communication experts boosts the dissemination of evidence.
• The CoP promoted unified messaging on effective prevention strategies, enhancing the communication of synthesized evidence.