This document discusses how social media can be used to improve scientific research, communication, and outreach. It notes that internet and social media usage has increased dramatically in recent years. Many people, especially younger individuals, now get their news and information about science from the internet and social media sites like Facebook and YouTube. The document provides examples of how government agencies like NOAA and individual researchers have successfully used Twitter and other platforms to raise awareness, share their work, and increase website traffic. It emphasizes that scientists need to be creative when utilizing social media and accept that they cannot see all content given the large volume of information available online.

1. Casting a Wider Net
Using Social Media To Improve Scientific
Research, Communication and Outreach
Christie Wilcox
PhD Student, Cell and Molecular Biology
Science Writer/Blogger

2. The Connected World
of Americans use the internet
78%
more than

3. The Connected World
In 2000…
360,985,492 users
In 2012…
2,405,510,175 users
…an increase of more than 660%!

4. Internet = Information
Where do you get most of your news about national and international issues?
PEW Research Center, Dec 2010

5. Internet = Information
Where do you get most of your news about national and international issues?
(< 30 yrs old)
PEW Research Center, Dec 2010

6. Internet = Information
University of Chicago, National Opinion Research
Center, General Social Survey (2008)
Where do you get information on specific scientific issues?
The Internet is the main
source of information for
learning about specific
scientific issues such as
global climate change or
biotechnology

7. Social Media = Internet on Steroids
15,358
tweets per second when
Italy lost to Spain in the
2012 European
Championship
684,478
pieces of content
shared every
minute
on Facebook
of video is uploaded to
YouTube every second
1 hour

8. 57% of Americans say they
talk to people more online
than they do in real life

9. 17% of all time spent
online is spent on
social networking sites

10. In 2011, social media overtook looking at porn as the
number one online activity.

11. 50%

12. All The Kids Are Doing It
Close to 90% of 18-30 year olds have at least one social
media account…
… and almost a third
will check their
networks
before they even get
out of bed.

13. Internet = Communication
Do you use social media?
PEW Research Center, Feb 2012

14. Digital Water Coolers
• Chat
• Discuss
• Share
• Gossip
• Debate
• Connect
• Keep In
Touch

15. The Internet is Yours!

16. One Size Does Not Fit All

17. One Size Does Not Fit All
≠ ≠
≠
What works for others may not be right for you!

18. Social Media Landscape

19. Social Media Success Stories: NOAA
Website Traffic
Statistics:

20. Social Media Success Stories: Roberts Lab

21. Social Media Success Stories: Roberts Lab

22. Social Media Success Stories: Roberts Lab

23. Twitter Success Stories: Live-Tweeting An Expedition
“We had arranged a text to donation
number, and I tweeted that every dive in
PNG cost us about $5USD and that $5
donations to support the expedition could
be made by texting the number. That
single tweet raised a couple of hundred
dollars.”
Joshua Drew, lead scientist

24. Be Creative

25. Filtering The Deluge
You have to accept the fact that you cannot,
and will not, see everything.

26. Christie Wilcox
PhD Student, Cell and Molecular Biology
Science Writer/Blogger (Science Sushi)
Twitter: @NerdyChristie
http://christiewilcox.com