In the past I've worked around non-computer science researchers and saw many places where having a programmer on-board would help greatly.
It wasn't so much about understanding, I guess, but the apparent loss of ownership. Like if bits of the research get automated, then it isn't no longer their work, but the computer's.
They fall victim to the same thing every programmer in over their head rushing to finish does.
It looks to them like if they can just add one more floor to the house of cards it will be over, why bother explaining the whole project to someone else?
It wasn't so much about understanding, I guess, but the apparent loss of ownership. Like if bits of the research get automated, then it isn't no longer their work, but the computer's.