Narrow minded or am I asking too much?

[OmNomNom]

I do HIV research, and it can be DIFFICULT to get people to understand it's importance due to the fears associated with simply being inexperienced and unknowledgable about the research process. It is what it is...

And please don't let people who don't understand or see value in research deter you.

So in a grant application, if you fail to explain the significance and impact of your work it is the failure of the (highly experienced) review committee to "understand" the work?

Scientists have a responsibility to ensure that their work is communicated effectively, clearly, and efficiently to the media and to the general public.

Failure of the public to understand is our failure. Failure to communicate to the media is our failure. Simply hiding behind the excuse of "they just don't understand" is NO excuse. We may not be very good at social communication and interaction, but the public are the ones funding our research. It is our duty to explain it to them so that they DO understand. Blame the media and the school systems all you want, but the failure to demonstrate and explain the importance and impact of your work rests with you and you alone.

Here is your peer review: Just look at the reactions here if you want to see what the "general public" thinks of scientists who perch atop their ivory tower, eyeing their bread-and-butter with contempt. If you cannot convince people why your work should be done and what benefit could be gained from it, either there is no benefit to be gained or you're doing it wrong. But never take the approach of "they won't understand, so I just won't explain it to them". That takes the road of going nowhere fast.