Communicating science: tips and tricks for students
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The document outlines the role of social media in science communication, highlighting a case study on the blog 'Science for Life.365' by Sarah Keenihan. It discusses strategies for effective branding, engagement, and content sharing across various platforms, including Twitter and Facebook. Keenihan emphasizes the importance of developing a personal brand and networking through social media while balancing personal and professional identities.
![5 quick ways to tweet better
1 Make your bio meaningful
2 Use a great profile photo
3 Be a person not a robot
4 Craft content uniquely for twitter
[not the same across many platforms]
5 Don’t abuse the DM](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/aduniscicomm2-150716062032-lva1-app6892/85/Communicating-science-tips-and-tricks-for-students-19-320.jpg)
Communicating science: tips and tricks for students
- 1. Social media for science communication Sarah Keenihan PhD B Med Sci Grad Dip Sci Comms @sciencesarah sciencesarah.wordpress.com
- 2. Outline • Case study: Science for Life.365 • A bit about brand • Refined use of twitter • Other social media platforms • Balancing your personal and professional online presence
- 3. What does a science writer even do? • Digital news and feature stories • Copywriting for universities, museums, research institutions, industry bodies • Specialist writing & editing eg grants, papers ,reports • Feature articles for glossy mags • Workshops • Book reviews • Social media content
- 4. early August 2012 Employed scientist, communicator freelance writer
- 5. • Why? • Where? • What to write about? • Who for? • How to market? • How often? • How much? • Public portfolio, conversations, accountable • Wordpress + Facebook • Science for life! • Scientists, colleagues, friends, family, networks • National Science Week, twitter, Facebook sharing • Daily commitment • Varied lengths + great image My answer = blog http://scienceforlife365.wordpress.com http://www.facebook.com/scienceforlife365
- 6. SFL365: my publication routine • Write the post in Wordpress • Find a great image (my own or Flickr CC) • Publish in WP • Send >1 tweets with link to WP post • Copy/paste the text and image as a new post in to FB community page • Publish in FB • Share FB post from my own personal account • Year 1 vs Year 2 vs Year 3
- 7. http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/blogging.png Build it, and they might come
- 8. Some people read it Science for Life.365: Wordpress stats
- 9. Some people like it Science for Life.365: Facebook stats Clicks Likes/ comments/ shares
- 10. A tale of two audiences • Facebook readers liked: - animals, science humour, new ways of thinking about science, personalised aspects of science and learning • Wordpress readers liked: - art, food, fashion, literature, writing, discussions around journalism /communication
- 11. Social media = networking • Find other brands that are relevant: National Science Week, Australian Science Communicators, Universities, TEDxAdelaide, scientific societies, museum, magazines, other bloggers, community groups • Find other people like you: writing courses, public events, training opportunities, professional groups, conferences
- 12. It’s not just about the stats: benefits of blogging Branded and public portfolio of writing Develop your writing ‘voice’ Know strengths/weaknesses as a writer Learn to connect with online audiences Find relevant and supportive communities Refine use of social media for marketing Get known in your field in Aus and OS
- 13. Different types of science writing PhD views = 13 Blog views = 30K views = 30K+? Freelance writing
- 14. Different types of science writing PhD views = 13 Blog views = 30K views = 30K+? Freelance writing
- 15. Your writing helps create your brand • Brand is the face and personality of you and what you do • All your public and professional activities contribute to your brand • Yes, scientists can have brands! eg Corey Bradshaw, Tanya Monro, Cameron Webb, Mia Cobb, Upulie, Brian Schmidt
- 16. Ingredients of my writing brand Science training Science experience Science networks Blogging – WP + FB Website Twitter + other socmed Real life events Real life professional groups Real life places My own writing Writing for clients Socmed interactions
- 17. Let’s talk more about twitter https://twitter.com/sciencesarah
- 18. Twitter can help you: • Establish an online presence • Find an engaged audience • Find peers and mentors, even clients • See what others are up to • Source references and reading material • Keep up to date with what’s hot
- 19. 5 quick ways to tweet better 1 Make your bio meaningful 2 Use a great profile photo 3 Be a person not a robot 4 Craft content uniquely for twitter [not the same across many platforms] 5 Don’t abuse the DM
- 20. What makes a good pro tweet? • A great image or clip • A link (full or shortened) • A relevant hashtag • 1-2 relevant other accounts • ~120 characters (NB new RT) • Great copy: - an enticing quote - something funny or quirky - tap into zeitgeist
- 21. Twitter for marketing: SFL365 Day 32 of Science for Life.365: Waste. Best school excursion ever "I saw 8 seagulls get killed" http://ow.ly/dFMiJ #science365 #adelaide Day 38 of Science for Life.365. Spitfire. Or is it 'oil vomiter'? http://ow.ly/dOOMN #science365 #adelaide @reemarattan @Mozziebites Scientist? Had a baby? This may strike a chord. A post by @annahuddo for #SciMs & #science365 #onsci http://t.co/nAFhjcHakA
- 22. Become ‘known’ on twitter • Live tweet from pro and networking events • Find your people – search and follow • Find new audiences through common ground • Use hashtags • Tailor content to your audience • Follow and interact with ‘rocur’ accounts eg http://twitter.com/realscientists
- 23. Tweets aren’t just for broadcasting • Engage in real-time conversations • Be useful: share what you’re reading, thinking • Don’t just RT – add value • Give credit where credit is due • Find a favourite and watch how they operate • Look for twitter chats/communities eg #onsci http://bridge8.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/onsci/ + see paper at Proceedings of an Australian Science Communicators Conference at http://www.asc.asn.au/
- 24. How do I know I’m doing it right? • Relevant people follow you (follow back!) • You’re having professional conversations • You appear in other people’s lists http://twitter.com/sciencesarah/lists • Look at the data - Twitter analytics are free
- 25. What about other social media? • Medium – publishing platform http://medium.com/@sciencesarah • Instagram – images http://readwrite.com/2013/09/25/best-instagram-accounts-for-science-geeks • Vine – looping clips https://vine.co/u/1053360364614029312 • Periscope – live footage • LinkedIn – online social CV • YouTube – AV content • Soundcloud – audio content • Snapchat – image-based temp chat + discover http://www.theverge.com/2015/7/13/8949981/snapchat-discover-live-events-stories-update • RSS feeds
- 26. Sarah Keenihan - freelance writer - Instagram WB blog SLF365 FB blog SFL365 FB personal Vine LinkedIn twitter @sciencesarah Sarah Keenihan - person - Medium Personal & professional aspects of social media website
- 27. Summary • Social media can support your professional activities as a scientist and a communicator • Your social activities help you develop a brand - but get the personal/pro balance right • There are many social media platforms – pick those you get value from and enjoy • Don’t be shy – JUST START
- 28. More reading • Social Media for Marketing Science (2012) https://bridge8.wordpress.com/2012/02/16/s ocmed-marketing-sci/ • 10 Digital Media Tools for Science Communicators (2014) https://medium.com/@sciencesarah/10- digital-media-tools-for-science- communicators-78e4f795868