Communication is the foundation of an impactful and resilient scientific community

Scientific communities play a critical role in the structure and process of science. Creating and sustaining these communities relies on clear channels of communication to enable the effective and inclusive exchange of ideas, norms, and practices. “Science communication” is therefore a critical part of the overall research ecosystem, but one that is traditionally undervalued. While popular uses of the term primarily focus on communicating science to lay audiences, science communication among peers also plays a crucial role in the growth and maintenance of professional scientific communities, such as the Organization for Human Brain Mapping (OHBM). Based on our experiences as Chairs of the OHBM Communications Committee, we argue that effective science communication is critical to building and sustaining an impactful, inclusive, and resilient scientific community. We highlight how mediums including the OHBM podcast, blog, and newsletter support and strengthen its parent community, while also fostering connections with adjacent communities with overlapping specializations such as the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) and field-wide neuroscience efforts such as The Transmitter. We argue that science communication extends well beyond traditional publications and improves the research process and outcomes, both for individual researchers as well as the field more broadly.