Out of the Lab, Into the World: An Atenean’s Mission to Make Research Matter

Science doesn’t change the world by staying inside a laboratory.

For generations, scientists have been taught how to conduct research; far fewer have been taught how to tell the world why it matters.

For Dr. David Peralta, Editor-in-Chief at Wiley-VCH GmbH, one of the world’s leading publishers, helping researchers bridge that gap has become both his driving purpose and advocacy.

“Doing the scientific work is important, but so is knowing how to communicate it. These days, when people are searching for answers more than ever, we need to be able to explain what we do as scientists to everyone,” he says.

Long before he headed Wiley, Peralta was an Ateneo student with a foot in two different worlds: chemistry and German studies. Today, he brings both together in his work, helping scientists communicate their discoveries and make research matter for more people.

A chemist by training and now a science publishing professional, Peralta has spent more than a decade helping researchers share their work with the scientific community and the wider public. His journey began in the laboratory, where he pursued research in chemistry before earning a PhD in Germany. Yet it was also his Ateneo education in the humanities, particularly his background in German language and culture, that would shape the trajectory of his career.

A study tour to Germany, made possible through his German studies, introduced him to Heidelberg and eventually led him to pursue doctoral studies there. While completing his PhD, Peralta realized that although he remained deeply passionate about science, his strengths and interests extended beyond conducting experiments.

“I realized that I still really love science, but I didn’t necessarily want to stay in a laboratory doing the lab work myself.”

Scientific publishing was the answer.

“I realized that it was a perfect job that I really enjoy because it put me at the forefront of science… It combined my love for science, my love for writing and communication, and my love of teaching,” he explains.

For him, publishing is not merely the final step of a research project. It is an essential part of the scientific process itself.

This belief drives his advocacy work among researchers, also bringing him back to Ateneo during one of Wiley’s workshops. Through workshops and author engagement programs, he encourages scientists to view their research as stories worth telling.

He already has his eyes set on the future. “We do these workshops to help communities and to support the next generation of researchers who will determine and shape the future research landscape.”

Peralta’s career reflects the value of an education that bridges disciplines. Drawing from both the sciences and humanities, he has built a career at the intersection of research, communication, and education. The same combination of scientific rigor and humanistic understanding that shaped his years at Ateneo continues to inform his work today.

“Interdisciplinary definitely helps. To be an effective scientist, you need to learn how to understand people. You need to be aware of social and geopolitical situations that can shape your career, your work, and how your science is applied. Especially today, scientists need to clearly explain what they do, why it matters, and how it impacts the world around them.”

As research increasingly intersects with emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, Peralta believes that communicating scientific work is becoming more important than ever.

Peralta embodies the idea that science may begin in the laboratory, but its impact does not end there. Research is only half finished when the experiment ends. The other half begins when knowledge truly reaches the people it’s meant to serve.