Scientific research and linguistic diversity

The issue of linguistic diversity in scientific research has multiple facets, such as accessibility, inclusion, vitality of linguistic communities and dissemination of scientific knowledge. In today’s world, globalization has affected research, as it has so much else, and researchers who speak different languages must often work together. It is therefore essential to examine the impact of languages not only on how research is carried out, but also on how research results are disseminated and understood.

Sandra Klemet-N’Guessan, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Waterloo, lives and studies the phenomenon of linguistic diversity in her particular research field: ecology. We sat down with her recently to learn more about her research and about her life as a francophone researcher in a largely anglophone environment.

Dr. Klemet-N’Guessan, how did you become interested in ecology?

It all started in school when I was 10 years old and we were watching a documentary about climate change. That was the first time I had ever heard of climate change, and I was revolted. I was really angry at the grownups. Also, in those days, I used to take nature walks with my Mom, so I was exposed to nature and interested in it. I felt that I had been given a mission. I wanted to help find solutions to climate change, and ever since, I have always cared about the environment a lot.

When I was 15, I did a research internship on human health at the Institut Pasteur. I was thinking about making my career in that field, but when I started first-year university at McGill in 2014, I took my first course in evolutionary ecology, and I was totally smitten! So I decided to focus on ecology and the environment, my first loves.

Right now, you’re a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Waterloo. Can you tell us more about your research?

My research deals with the role of language in the production and dissemination of scientific knowledge. I work from case studies of the teams belonging to two networks of scientists who do research on peatlands: Can-Peat, at the University of Waterloo, and Congo-Peat, its counterpart in the Congo River basin.

These scientists come from various institutions, and they work in various languages and with communities that speak various languages. I try to understand how they incorporate three aspects of linguistic diversity—accessibility, inclusion and accuracy of information—into their research.

I am also interested in how scientific knowledge is shared, and in particular with members of Indigenous communities. Many Indigenous communities in Canada and in the Congo basin depend on peatlands. These communities facilitate the two networks’ access to research sites and participate in their data-collection efforts. Indigenous data sovereignty plays a crucial role in this project.

In the course of your education, you have worked in both French and English in a variety of settings. What challenges have you faced regarding linguistic diversity in the production and dissemination of scientific knowledge?

Obviously, doing research in more than one language takes additional effort. As a researcher whose mother tongue is French, I often have to make an extra effort to reach the level that I need to conduct my research in English. This effort takes time that I can’t devote to my research as such.

Nowadays, some scientific journals let you publish abstracts of articles in multiple languages, but that too takes time and effort that do not necessarily get recognized. So to make my research more visible and accessible, I publish in English as well. Such additional efforts should be recognized and considered in the evaluation of research results.

Language is a way of understanding the world. Depending on which language you choose and which translations you use, some information may get lost along the way. Another example is that if you do a review of the scientific literature published in one particular language, by definition you won’t find any relevant studies published in other languages.

What could the funding agencies do to encourage young researchers to give linguistic diversity more consideration in their research?

The funding agencies could consider the issue of linguistic diversity and the use of artificial intelligence. Could researchers—in particular francophone researchers—be encouraged to make ethical use of artificial intelligence to facilitate their research? In our field, the use of artificial intelligence—whether to overcome the language barrier in order to do research in English or to translate research papers from English to French for purposes of dissemination—is not yet well accepted; this remains a challenge.

Agencies like NSERC could continue to work with other organizations and take part in initiatives to promote research in French. They could also provide services to support francophone researchers in minority settings who want to submit their funding applications in French. That would lighten the load for applicants who, without this help, would have to do everything all alone.

The agencies could also do more to promote research in French at anglophone postsecondary institutions. Canada is a bilingual country, so it is important to value both official languages and to showcase the work being done by all researchers.

Lastly, as regards the evaluation of funding applications, we must continue to recognize and encourage all the initiatives presented by applicants for the promotion of linguistic diversity.

In addition to your research activities, you are passionate about communicating scientific information to the public at large. Why is promoting science and research so important to you?

I think that every researcher has a responsibility to promote science. This is essential so that the Canadian public has access to the results of the research that their taxes pay for. Promoting science is also a way to inspire young people and encourage them to pursue scientific careers. We must change people’s perception of researchers as isolated up in their ivory towers. In reality, everyone can do research and contribute to science in one way or another. We have to make science accessible and fun!

Communicating about science does pose some challenges. Because my project concerns linguistic diversity, I strive to set an example in the way that I present my research. For instance, I’ll be participating in a symposium in the near future, and I had to prepare a bilingual poster for it, in French and English. French often uses more words than English and therefore takes up more space on a poster, which represents another challenge.

Do you have any advice for francophone researchers working in anglophone settings?

It’s important to find ways to stay connected to the francophone community. For example, I do it by listening to French-language radio and watching French-language TV. I love hearing francophone researchers talk about their work.

There aren’t many opportunities to talk about research and science in French; this interview is a great one. I would encourage researchers to take advantage of even the slightest opportunity that they get. For example, I served as a judge at a science fair in Ontario, where I evaluated the research projects presented in French. I also made a presentation at a symposium, and I chose to do so in French, even though I had written my article in English. That took some mental gymnastics. Sometimes you have to take some independent initiatives to create your own opportunities.

I want perceptions to change. I want researchers to feel encouraged to present their results in French rather than to feel that they are taking a risk if they do so.

This interview has been edited for conciseness and clarity.

About Sandra Klemet-N’Guessan

Sandra Klemet-N’Guessan is a postdoctoral fellow at the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability at the University of Waterloo. Her research interests include freshwater ecology, biogeochemistry, socioecological systems and diversity and equity in science. She is also passionate about communicating about her research to non-scientists, and she participates in various initiatives to stimulate the younger generation’s interest in research careers.

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