Read on Twitter
We’re here with @SarahMackAttack talking about #scicomm on her #squidsacrossamerica tour. Why is #scicomm important? Bc 57% of people say that science causes as many problems as it solves
#SciComm can help put a friendly face on science. Since facts can’t replace emotion, having a positive association & a story from an #ActualLivingScientist you know can make change.
3 questions to ask yourself: who do you want to reach, which should influence where you hold the event. Eg, a bar can exclude a lot of people. What do you want them to know? How will you earn & keep their attention?
What are the 2-3 pieces of information you want them to leave with? How do you want them to feel when they leave? As you plan your event, return to these questions and assess the fit.
Practical tips for scientists on social media: use your casual voice! It can be a good place to try out your stories or jokes and meet people! Keep content coming out regularly. If you’re posting pictures, include selfies! Use a scheduler. Use the tools available: memes, gifs etc
Remember that the most powerful way to communicate is to LISTEN. You need to have conversations not lecture. Don’t play into the pretentious ivory tower stereotype of academics & scientists. Use polls! Reply to responses. Make games. Ask questions.
In person, same as online: give people a way to play with science! Bring props, have trivia, have a science pick-up line! If you can get one person, they’ll bring their friends. Try pubs, farmers markets, schools, community centers, churches, retirement homes.
Entertain before you lecture. What would get you off the couch, especially after a full work or school day? Don’t be afraid to bring in the weird parts of your job “don’t be afraid to get weird”.
Also people at your event are connected to 100s of other people. Your hashtag or photo opp can engage other people on social media.
Not all SciComm is extroverted performances. All types of people can do #SciComm. Your skills can fit different areas.
Super important: make sure you check in at the end, was your event effective! Use online or printed surveys. Themed Postcards are a great way in person!
USE INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE. Sometimes it can be hard to keep track of what words are problematic. But it’s worth doing. It’s one of the great things about twitter, the opportunity to learn! Is your activity inclusive?? Is it wheelchair accessible? Can people without money attend?
Make sure you have representation of all groups BUT make sure you’re not overburdening the same people to do ALL the “diversity” work. ASK what your community cares about. What topics are relevant for their lives? Climate changes, opioid addiction, cancer, etc.
It’s 21000 classrooms now!
Skype a scientist “Live” sessions are aimed at areas with poor internet or schools in different time zones. Students can submit questions ahead of time and watch when and where works for them
Teachers & scientists both love the program (I know I do!). AND more kids say they think they could be scientists. This programs helps people realize science is for everyone.
Career benefits for scientists: Social media is great for finding collaborators! Getting your name out there! Visibility for your science & department. Broader impacts for NSF grants. More citations, more applicants, etc!
Q&A portion: how to handle anger on social media? It’s hard to get people to back down from their anger, but if you can figure out where the anger or fear is coming from and find common ground, you’re now communicating!
It can also be really powerful to hear a scientists validate someone’s concerns about “science”.
Everyone can contribute! Talk about what you’ve learned. Talk about a cool science experience. Ask questions. Your thoughts and comments are valuable.
How to keep up with the engagement? Besides using a scheduler, know your boundaries. Decide on your brand! Not just the content but WHO you are. Are you the expert? Are you the friendly scientist who’s always here and no question is too stupid? And try out different strategies.
How do you adapt in the fly if an event goes awry? Build your community. Think about scalability of the event or #SciComm score you start. What are the limiting reagent to your #SciComm? Build flexibility into your plan.
How do you know what will engage people?? Test it online but you have to be willing to flop. Also the community in person is different than that online. Ask patrons at your local coffee shop or grocery store what they want! Not everything you do has to be about what you work on
Tips on transitioning from lurking to engaging: just do it! Lower your bar for what you think will be engaging. Reply to tweets. Then inch into original tweets. Remember that you are interesting!
How do you engage with problematic stories or content? Eg how do you handle a person who has a wild primate as a pet or someone who has unethically collected artifacts. You should engage! But don’t preach. Find common ground for explaining why it might be a problem.
