Social Media and ScienceDuration: 9 am - 11:30 am | Cost: $25 With substantial technological advancements over the past couple of decades, the ways in which people communicate have drastically changed and the outlets by which information is shared and obtained (often simultaneously) have branched in many ways. As such, the landscapes of academia and science have shifted and continue to shift in new and exciting ways. How scientists interact with one another, the ways that scientific information is disseminated, and methods of scientific outreach/education have changed, in many ways becoming more efficient. One way in which scientific networking and outreach have changed is through the advent of social media. The use of social media has not only allowed scientists to engage in more efficient public outreach and education, but has provided a unique platform for communication and networking within the scientific community. However, although often positive, there are negative implications of social media as well. For example, keeping social media sites up-to-date can be time consuming and distracting. Given the increasing interest and expansion of social media among the scientific community, this workshop will provide researchers, scientific professionals, and students with the skills and tools to enhance their professional outreach through the use of social media. In general, this workshop will introduce various social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, blogging, etc.) and provide tips on how to utilize them to enhance outreach and networking. The workshop will also explore how to optimize the use of social media for the research needs and goals of both early-career (students and recent graduates) and well established scientists. More specifically, the workshop will address these aspects of social media and science in the following structure: Examples of how scientists are currently using social media will also be explored along with “dos and don’ts” of using social media for science. |