The University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo State, has stressed that groundbreaking research within the academic community might not receive the necessary visibility without what it described as strategic public communication.

According to the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Ebunoluwa Adejuyigbe, for research to achieve true value and drive societal development, scientists must endeavour to bridge the gap between the laboratory and the broader public.

Adejuyigbe stated this during a workshop titled ‘Enhancing Research Impact through Communication and Research Outputs,’ held at the Oladipo Akinkugbe Auditorium on the institution’s Laje Campus.

The workshop was organised by the Central Office for Research and Development (CORD) in collaboration with the institution’s Directorate of Public Relations and Corporate Affairs.

The vice chancellor argued that effective dissemination of research outputs is not only a critical multiplier but also enhances the university’s reputation by attracting vital collaborations and ensuring societal impact.

While reaffirming UNIMED’s commitment to fostering a robust research culture that serves as a link to ethical scientific inquiry with proactive and effective communication strategies.

Adejuyigbe emphasised that “while rigorous research is essential, visibility is what gives research value and global relevance.”

On his part, the Director of CORD, Prof. Oyeyemi Oyetunde, described the workshop as timely, stressing the need for researchers to publish responsibly and communicate their findings beyond academic circles.

Delivering the first presentation, Deputy Director of CORD, Dr. Ijomone, who spoke on ‘Publishing Research for the Right Scientific Audience,’ advised researchers to “target appropriate journals, avoid predatory publishers, and prioritise quality over speed.”

The Public Relations Officer of the university, Isaac Oluyi, who spoke on ‘Communicating Science Beyond the Academy’, emphasised the need to communicate research outcomes in a relatable language that end users, particularly policymakers and industrialists, would be able to relate with.

Oluyi harped on the adoption of the inverted pyramid approach as a tool for simplifying research communication for public understanding.

“The inverted pyramid approach of communicating research outcomes places emphasis on the most newsworthy information, as opposed to an elaborate introduction that subsumes the most important information. Research outcomes should galvanise development. To this end, research should be communicated in a simple language.”