What is it about?
This paper explores how scientists adapt their research into video formats that can be understood by people outside their field. Through an analysis of chemistry videos on the Latest Thinking platform, it shows how clear explanations, visuals, and relatable examples help make complex research accessible and engaging for broader audiences without losing accuracy.
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Why is it important?
This study examines how academic video publications reframe research for both experts and non-specialists. It provides the first analysis of videos from the Latest Thinking platform, showing the strategies researchers use to balance accuracy with accessibility, such as simplification, credibility-building, and audience engagement. By identifying these patterns, the work provides timely insights into how scholars can improve the visibility and impact of their research, while also offering practical guidance for more effective science communication and training.
Perspectives
Writing this article has been a very rewarding process because it allowed me to bring together my interests in academic discourse, multimodality, and science communication. I believe that analyzing the Latest Thinking videos is a valuable way to understand how researchers can share their work more openly and effectively. My hope is that this study encourages more academics to view video not as a simplified substitute for papers, but as a complementary tool that increases transparency, fosters connection with audiences, and broadens the impact of their research.
María Ángeles Velilla Sánchez
Universidad de Zaragoza
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Recontextualizing knowledge in academic video publications, Pragmatics and Society, November 2024, John Benjamins,
DOI: 10.1075/ps.23124.vel.
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