Bridging the gap: making communication research more accessible through translation and application

As communication scholars, our interdisciplinary fi eld has contributed to the production of research that has enhanced our understanding of the complexities of human communication. The scienti fi c information gleaned from our research is essential for guiding future studies and establishing credibility in our fi eld. However, one of the most signi fi cant obstacles researchers face is communicating expert knowledge to nonspecialists in a manner that is easily apprehensible to lay audiences. They must be able to relay the fi ndings of their studies to more inclusive crowds. Communication scholars can assist in bridging this gap by developing a feeling of urgency regarding the signi fi - cance of interpreting and translating information for lay audiences and building a strong connection between research and practice.