Twitter for Scientists
Inspired by Science Online 2011 and in preparation for my talk at Bioconference Live on Monday, I put together the following Twitter basics for scientists.
The world of Twitter is a big place, and it isn’t easy in the beginning to find your interests. Here are a few pointers in the right direction. Check out, “What is Twitter and Why Scientists Need to Use It” by Craig McClain if you aren’t sure Twitter will be useful.
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Tip #1 – Use twitter as a human news feed
A few of my scientist friends use Twitter solely to receive information. One remarked “If I can see that a story appears several times from different sources, I’ll know that’s one I want to read.” Here are some people to follow for starters.
- Start with the major funding agencies. NSF, NIHforfunding, HHMINews are some starters.
- To find more scientists who share your interests, use SciencePond.com.
- Use Twitter lists to group Tweeters into the right categories. Follow other people’s lists as well.
- Follow @BoraZ, (thanks to Pascale Lane for the tip!) He is the most celebrated online science communicator for a reason! Bora and Anton Zuiker host the annual Science Online conference to discuss ways to improve science communications.
- And here are a couple to follow for fun: @PHDcomics, @ScienceComedian
Tip #2 - Ask questions!
Find the right people to talk to, and you have just expanded the # of minds at your disposal. A simple example is the question
I chose to start with asking this question to the #scio11 community. I got responses from Twitter experts, science writers, and others who have been using Twitter since it’s inception. They all provided me with great materials and information that I used to create this blog.
Tip #3 – Seek and ye shall find.
Use Twitter search, and search the things you are most interested in learning about. Then follow people that are interesting to you, and post comments and/or questions to posts you see on the topic.
Tweet to the world that you are learning about Twitter…I suggest one of your first tweets look something like this “Hello #scio11! I’m a scientist who is new to Twitter. I work on ____.”
Tip #4 – Learn the language
RT’s, HT’s, @Wherebiobegins, #hashtag
There are some simple shortcuts and rules that make Twitter such an efficient communication tool.
Here are the basics:
- RT means “ReTweet”, or that the tweet came from another source on Twitter. If you get some information from another Tweeter and change it, you can also use “/via @Wherebiobegins” at the tail end of the tweet.
- @Wherebiobegins – Twitter links the letters after the “@” symbol to http:/twitter.com/wherebiobegins
- #biomarkers Putting “#” in front of a word creates a link to all tweets with that phrase, or a hashtag. Hashtags group tweets that have something in common.
@DrCraigMc goes more in depth on ways to tweet and on much more in his article “What is Twitter and Why Scientists Need to Use it.”
Tip #5 – Ask #scio11 for input/help
There are a number of passionate science writers, journalists, bloggers, and communicators currently using Twitter. They meet annually in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina for Science Online and are always willing to answer questions tweeted to #scio11.
Tip #6 –Talk to Ocean Scientists: Fun and functional use of social networking
I want to point out the ocean science network Southern Fried Science. They have created a highly functional scientist community and actively discuss findings, and news from across their disciplines. Arthropod studies, Cephalopods, Sharks, and Dogfish are just a few of the blogs that exist on ocean science.
They also use their blogs as an opportunity to educate each other and the public on their field, like this article explaining that crayfish have a light sensitive neuron on the underside of their tail. Follow #DSN (short for Deep Sea news) to follow the conversation. If you tweet a question about ocean science with “#DSN” in the tweet, I guarantee you will get an answer.
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Let me know how it goes with Twitter by tweeting to me at @Wherebiobegins!
Learn more about Twitter, LinkedIn, Science communities, and even Facebook for Science on Monday March 21 at 5pm ET during Bioconference Live.
Happy Tweeting!!
