Research or medical glossaries help simplify language, better communicate your work  

At the Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences’ 4th Annual Symposium, “Making an Impact, Shaping the Future,”  panelist Dr. L. Ebony Boulware, vice dean for translational science research at Duke University, emphasized the need to speak a common language, especially when working with community members and research participants.

While this isn’t always an easy task, it is a worthwhile one. Becker Library’s Center for Health and Science Communication exists to help bridge communication gaps and can assist researchers in this process.

A recommended first step toward using a common language is to avoid jargon and explain unfamiliar terms. Research and medical glossaries are great resources to simplify and explain common terms related to your work. Here are a few to get you started:

For more on plain language and effective science communication, check out the growing collection of resources at sites.wustl.edu/chsc.