Chemistry is a broad subject that includes the fields of biochemistry and polymer, organic, inorganic, analytical, and physical chemistry. Since chemistry involves terminology not used on an everyday basis, chemists must know the audience of their reports to communicate effectively.

Chemists publish information in the form of lab reports. Lab reports explain in detail the work, results and conclusions of an experiment. Chemists may also desire to have the report published in a journal to expose the information to the scientific community. Because new discoveries happen all the time, chemists read these journals to learn about changes in their profession. However, publishing takes time. {more about how audience influences the article?}

Instead of publishing, chemists may also decide to travel with their information and give reports or talks to students, professors and the scientific community. In Virginia, there are Blue Ridge Meetings where people from local universities and businesses come to listen and learn. When pursuing jobs, chemists present their lab reports to prospective employers so these employers can understand the experience and expertise the chemist has acquired.