Being “social” how scientists can find their way in a 24-hour digital world:

Why and when would scientists want to be social?

Gregory D. MillerNational Dairy Council@drdairy50

Media Environment

• Consumers get most of their nutrition information from media

“The media doesn’t report the truth, they report what people say is the truth.” Elanor Rudolph

Consumers Search Online and Watch Local TV for Info on Food System Issues

Ranked First as Info Sourceon Food System Issues

Websites 20%

(Highest % of Top Source

Mentions for Early Adopters)

Local TV Station

16%

Friends-Not

Online12%

Family-Not

Online 12%

Google10%

Online Communication is Tribal/Insular

Consumer

Consumer

Consumer

Traditional Communication

Model

Expert

FamilyOnline Friends

Neighbor

FamilyFriend

Tribal Communication

Model

FamilyOnline Friends

Blogs

NUTRITION SCIENCE

Publication / Presentation

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES FOOD INDUSTRY

MEDIAINTERNET

MEDIA INTERNET

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

HEALTH PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

SCHOOLS

CONSUMER:

Environmental Factors:

Social Economic factors

Cultural Issues

Food Availability

EATING AND NUTRITION

WHAT CONSUMERS SAY AND DO

COURTS OF LAW

MEDIA INTERNET

If you don’t translate your science, someone will do it for you

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Nutrition in Media

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Social way of translating or communicating the science

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Disparity between scientists and consumer

Why the disparity between scientists and consumer?

• The Internet has democratized information

• People live in a “filter bubble” that lets in only the information with which you already agree

• Scientific knowledge is used to reinforce beliefs that have already been shaped by their worldview

• Throwing more facts at them doesn’t help, people need to hear from believers they can trust, who share their fundamental values

Why Do Many Reasonable People Doubt Science? http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2015/03/science-doubters/achenbach-text

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Who are the online nutrition experts or where does truth come from?

The 100 Most Influential People in Health and Fitness

http://greatist.com/health/most-influential-health-fitness-people

• When you have information to share• When you want to challenge or clarify a

point of view• When asked

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When to be social

“If not us, then who?

If not now, then when?”

― John E. Lewis

• Communicating science through media can affect public health and public opinion

• Well-designed and publicized research will influence development of health and nutrition policy

• Awareness of a scientist’s research findings can affect continued support of research funding

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Why you should be social with your science

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Thank you!