Pushing the banes of social media aside, an article published by Bik and Goldstein reaffirms that using online networking sites could indeed be beneficial, especially for science. And for anyone, who is clueless when it comes to using the tools of internet, or in need of guidelines to maximize their benefits from online resources, the article could easily serve as a good reference.
Do you cringe when you hear the words like facebook, twitter, and linkedin? I myself am averse to the use of social media for the singular purpose of propagating one’s banal activities. I, however, do humbly acknowledge the power of internet - the grand flow of information across vast oceans never ceases to impress me. As a PhD student, I wrote a blog to vent out my frustrations with science. I inadvertently found an online support group (so to speak) in the form of blogs maintained by fellow students. A sense of understanding and liberation that I had obtained through this unusual channel of communication was indeed one of a kind.
But how much of an impact does an account with twitter, facebook, or any other social site really have on scientific research? For a researcher, online forums can indeed be very resourceful: be it finding research articles, protocols, or troubleshooting guides; getting information about jobs and events; or even finding people of common interests. Thanks to the internet, it has all been simplified. Thus, one would assume that online presence amongst scientists would have become a norm by now.
“In academia, there is often a particular stigma attached to online activities. Actively maintaining an online profile and participating in social media discussions can be seen as a waste of time and a distraction from research and teaching duties. We believe this perception is misguided and based on incorrect interpretations of what scientists are actually doing online. When used in a targeted and streamlined manner, social media tools can complement and enhance a researcher’s career.” So state the authors of ‘An introduction to social media for scientists’ published on Plos Biology.
Using varied real-life examples, the authors point out how the tools of internet have revolutionized the efficacy of research, the standards of publications, and improvised contacts between researchers. And by providing a comprehensive overview, the authors introduce the readers to the diverse tools that are commonly accessible via the internet and how they can be used to one's advantage. There is also a flowchart provided in the article - which I personally found very interesting - that guides you through various means of communicating science online, based on your personal goals and requirements. You can find the complete guide here
Interestingly, I found the above article via a tweet!
References
Bik and Goldstein, An introduction to social media for scientist, Plos Biology (2013)
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