Fostering Multilingualism for Global Scientific Engagement

This project intends to explore the use of languages other than English in research and scientific publications with a particular focus of the use of Spanish by Spanish-speaking researchers working abroad. English dominance in research can create substantial challenges for non-native speakers, leading to biases and disparities in academic publishing. It risks fostering an epistemic monoculture, overlooking diverse perspectives and cultural nuances, and restricting access to scientific knowledge for non-English speakers.

Project objectives:

• Explore multilingualism within the academic and scientific community;
• Understand the diverse and complex dynamics of language use in research, emphasising both the advantages and challenges posed by linguistic diversity;
• Analyse the role of English as the main language to disseminate knowledge and its effects on producing different form of bias and disparities;
• Capture linguistic attitudes towards the use of languages other than English within the Spanish-speaking scientific community working outside of Spain;

The project methodology will combine both quantitative and qualitative methods. By employing quantitative techniques, such as surveys and statistical analysis, the project will gather measurable data to identify trends and relationships to language within the Spanish scientists working outside of Spain.

The survey will seek to explore how language influences the professional and social experiences of Spanish-speaking researchers. This survey aims to gather insights on their preferences, challenges, and perceptions related to using Spanish and English in both academic and professional contexts. The survey will provide a preliminary understanding of how linguistic identity intersects with professional integration, communication, and collaboration within the scientific community.

Complementing this, qualitative methods, including interviews and focus groups, will allow for in-depth exploration of researchers' experiences, perspectives, and motivations in relation to multilingualism.

The project is commissioned by RAICEX, the Network of Associations of Spanish Researchers and Scientists Abroad, and financed by the Fundación Ramón Areces.