I would like to give you some hope that there is an awareness, and that there is an interest in and a need for communication. Genome Canada and genome centres dedicate a certain percentage of their budgets to communications and public awareness. I think they have recognized the importance of having communications skills in your organization.
I'd like to use myself as a personal example of organizations recognizing the need. I am not a scientist. My background is as a communications instructor and a public relations consultant. I got into managing science because of my ability to communicate the benefits of science to non-technical audiences like yours. There is awareness that is needed.