dissémination

Dissémination is a general term for the act of spreading something widely. It is used across disciplines to describe how information, ideas, technologies, biological agents, or other materials move from a source to a broad audience or area. The word is derived from Latin disseminare, meaning to scatter about, and is used in French and increasingly in English as dissemination.

In information science and communication, dissémination refers to the deliberate distribution of knowledge—through reports, press releases, policy briefs, academic articles, and digital media—with the aim of broad reach and uptake. Practices emphasize accessibility, relevance to audiences, and evaluation of reach and impact, such as views, downloads, citations, or policy changes.

In public health and medicine, dissémination denotes the intentional spread of evidence-based health information and interventions to practitioners, policymakers, and populations. It is closely linked to diffusion of innovations, which describes how new ideas spread through social systems; dissémination is the planned activity that facilitates adoption, while diffusion describes the actual spread.

In ecology and agriculture, dissémination can describe the spread of seeds or pests by wind, animals, or human activity. In oncology, it can refer to the dissemination of cancer cells within an organism, commonly termed metastasis.

Assessment and ethics: scholars measure dissemination outcomes using indicators such as reach, engagement, adoption rates, and behavioral or policy changes. Ethical considerations include accuracy, privacy, cultural sensitivity, and the avoidance of misinformation or biosecurity risks.