How can scientific communicators balance transparency and confidentiality?

As a scientific communicator, you have the responsibility of sharing your research findings and insights with various audiences, such as colleagues, funders, media, and the public. However, you also have to respect the confidentiality of your data, sources, collaborators, and sponsors. How can you balance these two aspects of your role without compromising your integrity, credibility, or reputation? Here are some tips and strategies to help you navigate this challenge.

1 Define your goals

Before you communicate your science, you need to define your goals and objectives. What is the purpose of your communication? Who are you trying to reach? What do you want them to know, do, or feel? How will you measure your impact? These questions will help you tailor your message, tone, format, and channel to your specific audience and context. They will also help you identify the level of detail, complexity, and transparency that is appropriate and ethical for your communication.

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2 Know your limits

Another important step is to know your limits and boundaries when it comes to confidentiality. What are the legal, contractual, or ethical obligations that you have to protect your data, sources, collaborators, or sponsors? What are the risks or consequences of disclosing sensitive or proprietary information? How can you avoid or minimize these risks? You need to be aware of the policies, agreements, and norms that govern your research and communication activities, and follow them accordingly. You also need to communicate these limits clearly and respectfully to your audience, and explain why they are necessary.

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3 Use discretion

Even when you are not bound by formal or explicit confidentiality rules, you still need to use discretion and judgment when communicating your science. You need to consider the potential implications, benefits, and harms of sharing certain information with different audiences. For example, you may want to avoid revealing unpublished data, preliminary results, or trade secrets that could jeopardize your research quality, validity, or competitiveness. You may also want to avoid disclosing personal or confidential details about your sources, collaborators, or sponsors that could compromise their privacy, safety, or reputation. You need to weigh the pros and cons of transparency and confidentiality, and make informed and responsible decisions.

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Marlon Domingus
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The easy way to define practical steps with regards to discretion while sharing your research findings, is to consider the different stakeholders, and ask, with their perspective in mind, what their reasonsble expectation is with regards to your sharing, and which disclosure might result in harm or ethical dilemma’s. Do this prior to the research itself to validate, where necessary, your assumptions. Stakeholders may include partners for analysis, measurements, private or public partners, funders and sponsors, and sources of re-use of data / studies. The question is what is sharing too much and what is sharing too little (not appropriate for the nature of the collaboration).

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4 Seek consent

Another good practice is to seek consent from your data, sources, collaborators, or sponsors before you communicate your science. You need to inform them about your communication goals, objectives, methods, and outcomes, and ask for their permission, approval, or feedback. You also need to respect their wishes, preferences, and concerns, and negotiate a mutually acceptable level of transparency and confidentiality. By seeking consent, you can build trust, rapport, and collaboration with your stakeholders, and avoid potential conflicts, disputes, or misunderstandings.

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5 Be honest

Finally, you need to be honest and transparent about your communication process and outcomes. You need to acknowledge and disclose any limitations, biases, uncertainties, or errors that may affect your research or communication. You need to cite and credit your sources, collaborators, or sponsors, and respect their intellectual property rights. You need to provide evidence, data, or references to support your claims, arguments, or conclusions. You need to be open and responsive to feedback, questions, or criticism from your audience, and address them respectfully and constructively. By being honest, you can enhance your credibility, reliability, and accountability as a scientific communicator.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can scientific communicators balance transparency and confidentiality?

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1 Define your goals

2 Know your limits

3 Use discretion

4 Seek consent

5 Be honest

6 Here’s what else to consider

Laboratory Management

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