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  • CAREER COLUMN

Being fluent in a second language can boost your research

Scientists who speak different languages can bring science to a whole new audience — and use it to their advantage, says Jamie Sugrue.
  1. Jamie Sugrue

    1. Jamie Sugrue is a PhD student in viral immunology at Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin, Ireland.

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In Ireland, where I am studying for a PhD in immunology at Trinity College Dublin, we have two official languages. Irish is the first and national language, English the second. Internationally, this fact isn’t widely appreciated, but before the nineteenth century, Irish was the predominant language of Ireland. The reasons for its decline are contentious and complex, but include its repression under English rule, along with the famine of 1845–50, which decimated Ireland’s population.

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Nature 595, 461 (2021)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-01797-z

This is an article from the Nature Careers Community, a place for Nature readers to share their professional experiences and advice. Guest posts are encouraged.

Competing Interests

J.S. has received funds for media appearances from Radio na Gaeltachta. J.S. has also received financial support from the Irish Department of Health as part of the Science Communication Collective.

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