Use video not journals to disseminate research - FT.com

“One of the main objectives of academic research is to have an impact on society and its development. But as much of this research is published in specialised international academic journals, it is read by only a limited number of people. Consequently, its impact and reach are very limited. We are all familiar with the emerging social media landscape – YouTube, Vimeo and other popular social media sharing websites as well as video sharing concepts such as TED Talks – where popular speakers share their ideas in a convenient, accessible and effective video format streamed online. Given the ubiquity of online technology why does academia not make greater use of it, instead of continuing to rely on writing papers as a means of publicising research? Online video sharing technologies offer promising new ways for disseminating breakthroughs to wider audiences... traditionally researchers have been averse to the video format. As a result, the development of online video technology in academia is in its infancy. This reluctance to use video technologies has its roots in the nature of the academic publishing system and publishing houses that rely on the written word as the main medium of communication... Delivering academic research via online video would also promote exchanges between researchers and the public. In turn, this would inform the way researchers approach their subject matter. For instance, in my recent research project on an electronic music scene, preliminary findings were streamed online in the form of video. The video was posted publicly on Vimeo and shared across online discussion forums. We received immediate feedback from the participants of the study and more than 4,000 views in just a few months. This had an impact on how we proceeded with the project and also gave us the opportunity to interact with the public. Video can also be used to explore areas that are harder to capture on paper – such as an underground musical scene. It opens up a new window to the real lives and experiences of people in a format that is credible, authentic, transparent and in tune with the 21st century. In teaching, it provides academics with new opportunities to attract students’ interest in academic research. While for students, video offers innovative and intriguing ways of studying and presenting reports, including theses... Academic journals will also have to accept change and publish breakthrough research online, rather than simply in selected academic journals. We are all used to having information at our fingertips. Perhaps now is the time for academic publishing houses to recognise that and follow suit.”