New framework empowers researchers to communicate findings

DAR ES SALAAM: RESEARCHERS now have a new tool to bridge the gap between academic publishing and real-world impact.

A newly published framework titled “The Publish, Tell, and Show (PTS) Framework for Effective Research Communication” offers a step-by-step guide to enhance public engagement with research findings.

Published in the Tanzania Journal of Sociology, a journal under the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), the framework encourages researchers to view communication as an integral part of the research process.

It proposes a three-phase approach, Publish, Tell, and Show, to help ensure research findings are not only published in journals but also reach and influence the public and policymakers.

The concept was developed by Dr Syriacus Buguzi, a Tanzanian science communication expert and co-founder of ResearchCOM.

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He noted the framework addresses a long-standing challenge among researchers: understanding how to effectively communicate findings beyond academia.

“It dawned on me that many researchers struggle to move from publishing to making real-world impact. The PTS framework is designed to change that thinking,” said Dr Buguzi.

The framework defines effective research communication as the intentional, sequential, and non-negotiable completion of the PTS process. It urges researchers to start their work with the goal of achieving societal impact, not just academic recognition.

Dr Philbert Nyinondi, co-author and lecturer at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), described the framework as a “deliberate and carefully structured” approach, designed to break down the barriers between science and society.

“Researchers play a vital role in addressing global challenges,” he said, insisting, “The PTS framework ensures their work contributes meaningfully to a more informed and equitable society.” The framework has already received support from prominent academics, including Prof. Karim Manji, Professor Emeritus at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), who described it as a “great concept” that transforms research into actionable impact.

Many researchers, the authors note, lack clear benchmarks for evaluating the effectiveness of their communication efforts. As a result, valuable research often remains within academic circles, limiting its influence on policy and practice.

Dr Buguzi also acknowledged researchers’ scepticism about engaging with the media, fearing their work might be misinterpreted or seen as activism.

“That scepticism has widened the gap between research and public understanding,” he said.

The PTS approach is currently at the conceptual stage but is expected to be piloted later this year. If successful, it could become a national model for measuring and improving research communication across Tanzania.