Researchers are disliked

https://x.com/kanair_jp/status/1819041990341951938

Ryota Kanai 🌙 @kanair_jp I spoke about the topic of “researchers being disliked” at a recent debate. One of the themes of the discussion was about increasing research funding, specifically government funding like the Kakenhi. I wanted to convey that in order to increase research funding through the national budget, it is necessary to have the support and approval of the public. I believe researchers themselves tend to forget this, assuming that the importance of research is self-evident. I intended to convey that it is not self-evident that research is important and that it is necessary to gain the support of many people. Speaking in a condescending manner like, “Research is important, understand it,” makes it difficult to gain empathy. While not everyone communicates in this way, I have observed such communication. When I was solely focused on research, I lived without paying much attention to these matters. However, after starting a company and transitioning to being an entrepreneur, I gained a different perspective. This made me more aware of situations where the general public might feel uncomfortable with researchers’ statements. Since this discomfort is not easily noticed by researchers who are solely focused on research, I wanted to express that perhaps the general public does not agree with researchers’ opinions as much as they think. The discomfort that entrepreneurs feel towards researchers is that it seems like researchers are belittling the efforts of people participating in economic activities to provide value to customers and society. Many entrepreneurs brainstorm to develop services and products that customers find valuable. They engage in activities to convincingly communicate the benefits to customers. In comparison, when researchers ask for an increase in research funding, it feels like there is insufficient effort to communicate the benefits to the ultimate customers, who are the citizens. I believe that the need to increase research funding in Japan can be effectively communicated by explaining it carefully. However, if this aspect is overlooked and taken for granted, it becomes difficult to gain empathy. Therefore, it would be beneficial for researchers to be more creative in communicating their value to garner more support. One aspect of the significance of research funded by the national budget is that in profit-oriented companies, it is challenging to cover costs and engage in long-term basic research. However, when new research results are born in Japan and lead to industrial applications, they become a source of international competitiveness for people working in Japan, which also holds significant societal value. Since this is an investment with long-term public benefits, I believe there is a justification to support it with the national budget. Although the benefits of research may not be easily understood solely through direct benefits, there is still an expectation from society for research to enrich the world. From the perspective of researchers, there is often a tendency to resist being asked for “useful research.” Basic research may not be immediately useful, so it is necessary to also carefully explain the value of these types of research. However, researchers should strive to demonstrate their willingness to return research results to society by conveying their significance and appeal, including not only economic benefits but also cultural values. The statement “researchers are disliked” was made as a reminder that in order for research activities to be supported by the public, effective communication is essential. I find it challenging to ensure that this is done perfectly, and articulating the value of research clearly is also difficult. Surprisingly, there are people who are not professional researchers but still value research. By increasing trust in researchers, it is hoped that the number of people supporting them will increase, thereby potentially changing the tide.