Imagine ordering a meal at a restaurant. The chef puts all their expertise into the dish, the staff works tirelessly to keep everything running smoothly, and when your meal is finally ready... the waiter places it on an empty table across the room, without telling you it's there.
Sounds frustrating, right?
Yet this is exactly what happens with many academic publications.
You have the entire research infrastructure, brilliant PIs and students doing their most innovative work, and after the journal accepts the publication... everyone goes home, doing zero promotion for it.
The Myth of "It Will Speak for Itself"
Many researchers believe that once published, their work should speak for itself. But research papers don't grow legs and travel the world looking for the distant researchers who need to see them.
This reminds me of the old startup myth: "If you build it, they will come."
Today, entrepreneurs learn early that this simply isn't true. You can build the greatest product, but without the right exposure, your target audience will miss it entirely.
The Evolution of Academic Communication
Think about scientific illustrations. Just a generation ago, researchers who invested in quality illustrations for their papers were seen as going above and beyond. Today? Good illustrations are simply standard practice for clear communication.
We're seeing the same evolution with videos and animations:
Attaching edited videos and lab footage to the SI section becomes standard practice.
Short animations are more frequently used in conference presentations to depict complex mechanisms and structures.
important publications have explainer videos made for them, published in the journal's YT channel.
The Reality Check
Yes, the "publish or perish" culture in academia is already demanding enough. Adding another step to your publication process might feel like the last straw.
But look at the bright side: we're in an unprecedented era of opportunity.
Researchers today have more ways than ever to amplify their work's impact:
Global collaboration platforms connect you with peers worldwide
Social media helps research travel across traditional boundaries
Visual storytelling tools make complex concepts instantly graspable
Digital platforms allow your work to reach previously inaccessible audiences
Conference presentations can be shared and viewed globally
Visual abstracts get shared and discussed far beyond traditional citation networks
Scientific communication has evolved to be both more efficient and effective. You have more tools than ever to amplify the impact of your published work.
Making Your Research Travel
While a paper rarely "grows legs," great visuals and animations do travel—they get shared, remembered, and discussed. When you invest in clear, memorable visuals, you're not just adding decoration; you're:
Making complex concepts instantly graspable
Creating shareable assets for conferences and social media
Building memorable visual anchors for your research
Increasing the likelihood of citations and collaborations
Taking the Next Step
Next time you have an important publication, consider working with a scientific communication expert to create animations that make your work both more accessible and more intuitively understood. Include these visuals in your conference presentations, lab website, and academic social media.
The result? You'll find your peers engaging with your research on a whole new level, understanding concepts faster, and remembering your findings long after they've closed the paper.
After all, your groundbreaking research deserves more than just being served on an empty table, out of sight. It deserves to be seen, understood, and remembered.
What's your experience with visual communication in academia? Have you noticed the growing importance of animations and visual abstracts in your field?
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