The title of the talk is a quote from Sir Mark Walport-the first chief Executive of UKRI and previous Chief Scientific Adviser. It is a powerful reminder that discovery alone isn’t enough. The value of science lies in how it is shared, understood, implemented and trusted. In microbiology, where invisible worlds shape our health, environment and daily lives, communication is not a luxury it is a responsibility. When we explain our work clearly we don’t just inform the public, we build trust, counter misinformation and inspire curiosity about the unseen systems that sustain our planet. In many ways, communicating microbiology completes the science. It turns data into understanding and research into impact.