Science Blogging Sandeep Gautam

Blogging as a learning media Sandeep Gautam http://the-mouse-trap.blogspot.com

Blog as a platform
Private and unsupervised; Read at leisure and at one’s own pace and inclination just like a book
Hyperlinked and divergent. Enabling discovery of new related content like google search
Subscribed by self as per one’s expertise level, and thus not thrust-upon like emails
Updated regularly and thus relating to state-of-the-art as opposed to static websites
Opportunities for interaction/ feedback/ commentary thus enabling a two-way interaction

Blog as a media
Unbiased coverage as less financial interests involved as compared to Main Stream Media (MSM)
No compulsion to cover all types of content. A blog can focus on a niche area in its area of expertise. More authoritative.
Due to idiosyncratic interests, a collection of blogs covers wider range of topics than an MSM subject-area experts team. Content earlier ignored, now finds expression on blogs.
Multiple perspectives on the same issue, by multiple independent subject area experts.
Due to ease of creation and maintenance, attracts newer content-providers that earlier relied on journalist to get their message across.

Blog as a repository
Content archived and dated; though modifiable on a later date.
Content tagged, organized in categories and searchable; enabling sifting through what is relevant to self
Public commentary more rigorous, immediate and substantial than private anonymous peer review.
More and better (video) supplementary information can be placed on blogs than is typically present in academic journals.

Science blogging
A community built around carnivals, blogrolls, wikio lists, hosting sites (scienceblogs.com/ scientificblogging.com) etc.
A motley collection of working scientists, grad students, professionals, journalists, and enthusiasts.
Commentary on peer-reviewed papers (researchblogging.org) with app. references.
Aggregation of Science blog feeds/ prizes like 3QD prize
Open lab since 2006(collection of best science writings published by lulu.com) and science blogging conferences
Social networks: FriendFeed/ Twitter.

Blogs as lifelong learning
Interesting and diverse daily content
Expert opinion and commentary
Articles directed at newbies/ layman- just right to pick up a new subject
In-depth analysis and coverage with added interactivity
Online experiments, demonstrations etc.
Up to date and state-of-the-art information about a subject
Writing forces you to develop and mature your thinking
Comments move you out of your comfort zone.

The Mouse Trap blog
Focused on psychology, neuroscience, cognition
~500 subscribers, ~500 followers on twitter, google major driver of traffic
3yrs, ~350 posts, diverse range as well as focal areas (autism/psychosis/ stage theories)
International audience, mostly students from universities.

Challenges of niche blogging
Directed at layman/ experts?
Populist and controversial vs. sidelined, but important?
Too restrictive a niche/ too dilute a focus (and expertise)
Developing expertise/ exploiting existing knowledge?
Passion vs. social responsibility?
Peer niche bloggers- competitors or collaborators?

Emerging trends in Science2.0
Twitter and easy sharing of links
Feature length articles that can be converted into books (NERS)
Online experimentation (cognitive daily, Richard Wiseman)
Journalistic assignments in MSM –print-web symbiosis
Open access online publication with blog-style post-publishing comments and discussions.
Citing of blog posts in scholarly articles
Collaboration and online science databases etc

Tips for starting a niche blog
Passion , passion and more passion!
Offer something original – either in presentation (SciCurious) or content
Add value to the content provided by others
Connect with peers and audiences
Read a lot, think a lot and write a little – in that order.
Don’t be shy. Jump in and join the conversation!
Be prepared for a long haul!

Thank you! Questions, comments?

Science Blogging Sandeep Gautam

by Sandeep Gautam on Jun 29, 2009

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