The Utterly Amazing and ExcitingWorld of Science Communication

Online!!!!!A Few Suggestions from the Science Online

2009 Conference

Miriam C. GoldsteinScripps Institution of Oceanography

January 20, 2009

Moving Beyond Cat Captions(not that there’s anything wrong with that)

Four Aspects of Online Communication1. Your online persona2. The internet in the classroom3. Diversity outreach online4. Strange & exciting future directions for

science online

1. Your online persona: professionalism• You already have an online persona• Make sure YOU control it

– Google yourself frequently– Adjust Facebook privacy settings

versus

Your online persona: self-promotion

Promote your expertise:

Low commitment: professional webpage

Medium commitment: build an resource

High commitment: write a blog

Persona Demo

• Googling the teeming hordes of MiriamGoldsteins

• Miriam’s invertebrate video collection

2. Using the internet in the classroomIntroducing Miss Baker’s

biology class

• “I think TV will be wack in 20years.”

• “We can’t imagine what itwas like for you all [beforethe internet].”

• ““Thank god for older peoplewho are able to accesscomputers and contributeonline materials.”

Classrooms online: methods

• Twitter and AIM– Questions on homework

• Skype– Video-chats with scientists

• Ning– Private social networks with message

board, walls, real-time chat• Wikis

– Webpages that all members can edit

Classrooms online: uses

• Blogs– Field trip blogging (high-stakes for students)– Summarize peer-reviewed papers

(ResearchBlogging.org, video podcasts)• Wikis

– Create project or resource, (e.g., guide to field triplocation)

• Message Boards– Discuss controversial matters privately (e.g.,

evolution)

Introducing the Creepy TreehousePower dynamics on the internet

– Keep personal lives separate• Love those Facebook privacy settings!• Can be in same Facebook group without being

Facebook friends– Students should always initiate online

contact, never teachers

Classroom Demo

• Miss Baker’s class blog

• Ning - a class page and the Synapse

• ResearchBlogging.org

3. Diversity Outreach Online

Problems:• Low student recruitment• Feelings of isolation in pasty white

science-land• Lack of mentorship

Online Solutions

Online communities can supplement whatis lacking in real life communities

• Compile list of minority-authoredscience blogs

• Blog “carnival” about minority academicissues

Offline Solutions• Mentorship

– You can reach out/mentor someone wholooks different than you

• Get more undergrads involved– Bigger net = more minority recruitment– Invite undergrads to attend seminar, to

volunteer, to go tidepooling, etc.

Demo: Diversity Resources Online

• Urban Science Adventures!

Strange and exciting future directions forscience online

• Open Notebook Science– Putting primary record online as it is

recorded• Multimedia methods

– Journal of Visualized Experiments (JOVE)– SciVee Pubcasts and Postercasts

[DEMO]

A final caution• Possible conflict with employer or

stakeholders - and it won’t be what you think• Negotiate blogging agreement AHEAD of

time– Privacy issues– Verboten topics– The occasional crazy stalker and your workplace