02451nas a2200337   4500000000100000008004100001260003700042653004900079653004000128653005700168653002600225653001300251100001200264700002600276700002300302700001500325700001600340700001500356700002600371700002500397700001300422700001300435700001700448700001400465245007200479856010200551300000900653490000700662520143000669022001402099       2023                            d  bPublic Library of Science (PLoS)10aGeneral Agricultural and Biological Sciences10aGeneral Immunology and Microbiology10aGeneral Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology10ascience communication10alanguage1 aAmano T1 aRamírez-Castañeda V1 aBerdejo-Espinola V1 aBorokini I1 aChowdhury S1 aGolivets M1 aGonzález-Trujillo JD1 aMontaño-Centellas F1 aPaudel K1 aWhite RL1 aVeríssimo D1 aDirnagl U00aThe manifold costs of being a non-native English speaker in science  uhttps://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3002184&type=printable  a1-270 v213 a<p>The use of English as the common language of science represents a major impediment to maximising the contribution of non-native English speakers to science. Yet few studies have quantified the consequences of language barriers on the career development of researchers who are non-native English speakers. By surveying 908 researchers in environmental sciences, this study estimates and compares the amount of effort required to conduct scientific activities in English between researchers from different countries and, thus, different linguistic and economic backgrounds. Our survey demonstrates that non-native English speakers, especially early in their careers, spend more effort than native English speakers in conducting scientific activities, from reading and writing papers and preparing presentations in English, to disseminating research in multiple languages. Language barriers can also cause them not to attend, or give oral presentations at, international conferences conducted in English. We urge scientific communities to recognise and tackle these disadvantages to release the untapped potential of non-native English speakers in science. This study also proposes potential solutions that can be implemented today by individuals, institutions, journals, funders, and conferences.</p>

<p>Please see the Supporting information files (S2–S6 Text) for Alternative Language Abstracts and Figs 5 and 6.</p>
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