Presented at the Western Society of Naturalists 2010 Meeting, Student Workshop. Scientists can use the internet to reach a potentially huge audience, but online science outreach has unique challenges. I will discuss the current online science ecosystem, the advantages and disadvantages of different tools (e.g., blogs, Twitter, podcasts), and common pitfalls. I will end with some suggestions for how to get started using free applications.

1. Because Your Grandpa’s On Facebook:
Online Outreach for Scientists
Oh, my, who knew
barnacles could do
that?
allwelike.com
Miriam C. Goldstein
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD
Western Society of Naturalists Meeting
November 11, 2010

2. Because Your Grandpa’s On Facebook:
Online Outreach for Scientists
RESTRICTED
R
Oh, my, who knew
barnacles could do UNDER 17 REQUIRES ACCOMPANYING
PARENT OR ADULT GUARDIAN
that?
For strong language and sweet sweet
barnacle lovin’.
allwelike.com
Miriam C. Goldstein
Scripps Institution of Oceanography

3. The internet: friend or foe?
Jeff Atwood, codinghorror.com

4. Mandate to communicate science to public
• “Broader Impacts”
requirement
• Achieve policy or
conservation goals
(e.g., climate change
legislation, MPAs)
• Because we think
science is the coolest
thing ever!

5. Why use the internet?
1,000,000,000
log [Number of People]
100,000,000
10,000,000
1,000,000
100,000
10,000
1,000
100
10
1
Sci Co Loc Na D Blo Tw F
ent lleg al P tion isco gs itte aceb
ific eC ape al P ver r ook
Co las r ape Ma
nfe s r gaz
ren ine
ce
Traditional Media
New Media

6. Why use the internet?
A look on a linear scale = INTERNET FTW!
600,000,000
Number of People
500,000,000
400,000,000
300,000,000
200,000,000
100,000,000
0
Sci Co Loc Na D Blo Tw F
ent lleg al P tion isco gs itte aceb
ific eC ape al P ver r ook
Co las r ape Ma
nfe s r gaz
ren ine
ce
Traditional Media
New Media

7. One model of the online science ecosystem
Rob Helpy-Chalk

8. Blogs just a small part of online world
“Blogosphere”
xkcd.com/802

9. Blogs just a small part of online world
“Blogosphere”
Science blogs
not even on
map
?
xkcd.com/802

10. One approach: SEAPLEX
• Scripps Environmental
Accumulation of Plastic
Expedition (SEAPLEX)
• 20 days on R/V New
Horizon in August 2009
• Designed & led by graduate
students
• Collaboration with
nonprofit Project Kaisei

11. Communications Tools: Low/no cost

12. Communications Volunteers: On the ship
• Teacher At Sea: Lara
Dickens
• SIO Communications’
Mario Aguilera
• Project Kaisei
Karin Malmstrom
• Separate, complementary
communications effort
Doug Woodring

13. SEAPLEX Blog
http://seaplexscience.com/

17. •Scripps Oceanography &
Project Kaisei channels
•SEAPLEX playlist

19. Official Site
http://sio.ucsd.edu/Expeditions/Seaplex/

20. More interaction, more audience

21. Mainstream media had easy one-stop
access to materials

22. Cost of Online Tools
Item Application Cost
Blog: FREE
Blog Wordpress.com
Domain name: $10
Twitter Twitter.com FREE
Photos Flickr 100 MB/month: FREE
Videos YouTube FREE
Mapping Google Maps/Earth FREE
Official Website In-house IT Not free

23. Total Cost of Online Outreach
People’s time:
Item Application Cost
Blog: FREE
Blog Wordpress.com
Domain name: $10
NOT FREE
Twitter Twitter.com FREE
Up to TK photos: FREE
Photos Flickr
Unlimited: TK
Videos YouTube FREE
Mapping Google Maps/Earth FREE
Official Website In-house IT Not free

24. Pitfalls: Perils of “Live from the Field”

25. Pitfalls: Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory
Especially true with politicized issues
Via J.E. Byrnes, http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/3/19/

26. Pitfalls: Rules from funding agencies,
universities, institutions

27. Most common pitfall: Lost in the Sea of Zero
Comments
xkcd.com

28. Most common pitfall: Lost in the Sea of Zero
Comments
xkcd.com

29. Most common pitfall: Lost in the Sea of Zero
Comments
Networking is the solution
•Classrooms
•Existing blogs
•Existing networks
•Consider alternate outreach methods
xkcd.com

30. Represent, and have fun!

31. Many Thanks
UC
Ship
Funds
Association
for
Women
in
Science
-­‐
San
Diego
Project
Kaisei
Centers
for
Ocean
Sciences
Education
Excellence
Jeffrey
&
Marcy
Krinsk Michael
M.
Mullin
Graduate
Student
Fellowship
in
Biological
Oceanography
Jim
&
Kris
McMillan Scripps
Center
for
Marine
Biodiversity
and
Conservation
Scripps
Director’s
Office
Lyn
&
Norman
Lear National
Science
Foundation
Anonymous
Donor
SEAPLEX Science Annie Crawley Karen Baker Skye Moret
Mario Aguilera Karin Malmstrom Alison Cawood Peter Niller
Rebecca Asch George Orbelian Dave Checkley NOAA Southwest
Pete Davison Steve Constable & team Fisheries
Lara Dickens Sorting Volunteers Paul Dayton Dick Norris
Jesse Dubler Olivia Benge Steve Diggs Cheryl Peach
Matt Durham Carri-Lyn Cameron Penny Dockry Greg Rouse
Josh Jones Patrick Cheng Jim Dufour Steve Bennett
Jesse Powell Dominic Dufour Rose Dufour Scripps
Meg Rippy Chris Gawad Peter Franks Communications
Chelsea Rochman Adam Greco Lisa Gilfillan Scripps Collections
Timothy Stillinger Catherine Nickels Lucina Gonzalez Scripps Development
Darcy Taniguchi Erin Reed Phil Hastings Scripps Web Ops
Andrew Titmus Erik Raudzens Amy Hays Ship Scheduling Office
Marci Rosenberg Brian Hentschel Shipboard Technical
SEAPLEX Faculty Ashley Salas John Hildebrand Support
Advisors Summer Strutt Capt. Wes Hill & crew of Beth Simmons
Jim Leichter R/V New Horizon Annie Townsend
Mark Ohman Algalita Marine Eunha Hoh Eric Wolff
Research Foundation David Hyrenbach
Dimitry Abramenkoff Tony Koslow
Project Kaisei Mike Landry
Bruce Appelgate
Doug Woodring Gustaf Arrhenius Kara Lavender Law