The Silent Scientist: When Software Research Fails to Reach Its Audience

TL;DR

This paper highlights the disconnect between software research and its audience, emphasizing the need for more accessible dissemination to enhance relevance and impact.

Contribution

It introduces a perspective on improving research dissemination to bridge the gap between academic work and practical audience engagement.

Findings

Research remains confined to academic publishing

Audience engagement with software research is limited

Enhanced dissemination could improve impact

Abstract

If software research were a performance, it would be a thoughtful theater play -- full of rich content but confined to the traditional stage of academic publishing. Meanwhile, its potential audience is immersed in engaging on-demand experiences, leaving the theater half-empty, and the research findings lost in the wings. As long as this remains the case, discussions about research relevance and impact lack meaningful context.