The document discusses the pros and cons of using social media for science communication. It acknowledges that while social media can be effective communication tools, there are also issues with the time commitment required. The document analyzes several common fallacies around social media use and provides lessons on picking the right tools to meet objectives and measuring outcomes. It recommends blogging as a good starting point for most groups and provides tips on best practices for blogging as well as automation tools to reduce time spent on social media.

1. To social media,
or not to social
media?
(That is a question!)
& a disclaimer: OPINION, not science!

2. Why me?
Current:
• Sciblogs.co.nz/just-so-science
• @kaiwhata (Twitter handle)
• Wgtn Branch RSNZ (Blog)
• Chalkle (Meetup)
• Chiasma (Eventbrite)
Past:
• Sciblogs Podcast
• Videos
• Prezi
• And more…

3. What got me thinking…
“So what’s YOUR social media strategy?”
“9 reasons you MUST be on …..”
“Blogs are a good communication tool but there are IP issues...”
“If you don’t use social media you don’t exist…”

4. Where (or whether) to start?

5. Fallacy #1
• “72% of internet users are on facebook…”
• “There are over 200 million tweets per day…”
• “Google+ reach 20 million users in 24 days…”
• “…[if] he doesn‟t have a web
presence…Something must be wrong, right?”
Everyone else does,
so we should too!

6. Lesson #1
• Pick the right tool
• Use it when and where is appropriate
• Decide what you want
• Measure those outcomes

7. What’s the right tool then?
• “Twitter has attracted the greatest and
quirkiest minds in science so contains the
mother lode of fascinating science tidbits -
and by developing a style and following
some of the road rules, you too can
generate a following for your science.”
• “Facebook - examples like i Fucking Love
Science which has millions of followers
shows how the public delights in the
wonder and beauty of science. One of
the most successful science
communication tools in social media to
date.”

11. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCobcWsYOS8&feature=youtu.be
“Youtube - video is the fastest growing format on the web - if
you are not thinking about how your science can fit into a
compelling 90 second video you will be left behind...”

12. Blogs
Peter Griffin:
“for scientists who are compelling to write and
express their ideas, this is a powerful format and one
that has meant exposure for scientists that eclipses
their contributions to the peer-reviewed literature.”
Shaun Hendy:
“Blogging has helped put me in touch with
important industry clients. It is an excellent way of
advertising what you can do and it signals a
willingness to engage that industry will respond to”

14. Fallacy #2
“….there‟s so many other people doing similar things
there‟s no way I can possibly compete…”

15. Blogs – best practice
• Weekly/fortnightly posts of 300 words with an image
• Get human. Get personal. Get emotive.
• Pick a topic.
• Stick to it.
• First person.
• Post on weekends.
• Post 6-8pm local time
• Learn about creative commons.
• Examples: Ed Young, Carl Zimmer
• Ref:danzarella

16. http://patrickherd.blogspot.co.nz/

17. Fallacy #3
• “…we‟re going create this website where everyone
goes for information about…”

18. Lesson #3
• It takes time and work.
• If you want to ensure you‟re not wasting time,
measure outcomes.
• Get social

19. Automation
• Step #0: have a plan
• Step #1: blog with Blogger or
Wordpress
• Step #2: automate cross-posting
• Step #3: IFTTT

20. IFTTT

21. Hootsuite
(http://hootsuite.com)

22. http://wellington.rsnzbranch.org.nz/wp/

23. So…
For:
• Adult Education
• Interactivity
• Transparency
Against:
• Time
• Competition
• Evaluation

24. In summary
• Should everyone „social media‟?
o God No – that‟s a waste of time
• Should every lab group?
o Yes – they should blog at the very least
• What tools?
o Depends what you want to achieve. Know that before you start.
• How much time?
o Monitoring ~2 hr/wk
o Blogging ~1-2 hr/wk
o Other ~1hr/wk
o Set-up ~1 day
• Who can you ask?
o Me or any of the scibloggers
o Science Media Centre (SMC)
o Large literature base (just ask)

25. So after all that…
• Email: kaiwhata@gmail.com
• Twitter: @kaiwhata (I don‟t use it)
• Science Blog: just-so-science (seldom updated)
• Wgtnbranch Blog (bi-monthly)
• Website: wellington.rsnzbranch.org.nz/wp/
• Facebook: wgtnbranch (automated)
• Flickr: wgtnbranch (automated)
• Twitter: @WgtnBranchRSNZ(automated)
• Meetup: Chalkle
• Podcasts: TWiV,