‘Results of scientific research should be published in easily understood language’

GEORGE TOWN: Malaysia needs more editors who can publish the results of research works in science and technology in language that can easily be understood by the masses.

Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said there was a gap between researchers in this field and policy makers as most of the writings on the research works were difficult to be understood by policy makers and the public.

“In developed countries, they have many editors in this field who don’t only do proofreading, but also work with the reseachers to write out the research findings in a comprehensible way for the benefit of the public.” Saifuddin said this after the presentation of the Persada Kencana Awards, Institute of Postgraduate Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), here, yesterday.

He said the universities produced a lot of high- quality research works but were not written in a way for public reading.

Saifuddin said the role of universities such as USM was important in helping the government produce more experienced editors and subeditors.

“I am so far satisfied that USM has produced many publications in this field, but I ask that it produce editors and sub- editors not only for this university but the whole publishing sector in the country including other universities.

“If you want to create a culture of knowledge, you need to have many such editors and subeditors,” he added. — Bernama