Reader's question:

Among Nebula's potential uses: rapid development of policy-compliant, secure Web applications and support of education, public outreach, collaboration, and mission support. Could you explain “public outreach”?

Success so often depends on effective communication.

Catering to this demand many universities today offer degree programs under the title of “Communication Studies” which may involve marketing, public relations and/or journalism units.

One aspect of communications involves “outreach” or “public outreach”.

This is an effort by individuals or a group to connect their ideas or practices to that of others.

Non-profit organizations and civic groups often engage in outreach.

A defining characteristic is that it is less profit driven compared to say marketing, which usually concerns a product or strategy and is intended to boost market share.

Outreach frequently deals with education and delivering information that is of benefit to the community in addition to being communicative and providing information back to the original party from the community it first engaged.

In this respect public outreach can be both give and take.

Outreach can also involve other parties that may have similar objectives which in a different light could be conceived of as competitors rather than collaborators, e.g. health groups reaching out to other government departments.

Here in China outreach currently being undertaken can be seen with the Ministry of Health soliciting opinions and feedback from the general public in regards to the digitalization of medical records.

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本文仅代表作者本人观点，与本网立场无关。欢迎大家讨论学术问题，尊重他人，禁止人身攻击和发布一切违反国家现行法律法规的内容。

以上讨论问题来自翻吧（translate.chinadaily.com.cn）

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