Social media are a critical part of any modern researcher’s toolkit, helping them to disseminate their research and reach new audiences. At the same time, this helps to enhance your career potential by diversifying your skillset and raising your public profile. Jon Tennant outlining the top social media platforms for researchers, and how to use them to maximise your research engagement and online presence. More information on the OpenUP Training Workshop on Innovative Dissemination & video presentations: https://www.openuphub.eu/community/blog/item/report-on-openup-innovative-dissemination-training-workshop-20th-june-2018-graz More information about OpenUP Website: http://openup-h2020.eu OpenUP Hub: https://openuphub.eu Twitter: https://twitter.com/ProjectOpenUP Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectopenup/

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Using social media to get a career boost
Jon Tennant
Innovative Dissemination Training Workshop,
Graz 20th June 2018

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Who am I?
• Procrastinate way too much on Twitter
• Extensive blogging and media experience
• Worked for a stint in science policy
• Freelance science journalist/consultant

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So what is all the fuss about
• Science communication is at a tipping
point. For decades, we’ve making the
case for broader engagement. Whether
it’s framed as a moral imperative, a
financial obligation, or a pragmatic
undertaking, the question is settled.
“Should we?” Yes. The hard question
remains “How?”
http://blogs.nature.com/s
oapboxscience/2013/05/1
5/science-communication-
at-a-tipping-point

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The key question
• What roles can social media play in the digital age
of science communication, while..
Enhancing your academic experience
Diversifying your skill-set
Furthering your career

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What is social media?
• Whatever you want it to be
• A way to mobilise the power of networks
• Where everything happens
Not this..

6. Benefits
• Opens up research –
access and accessibility
• Communication with
different audiences
• Impact case studies
• Feedback and
discussion about your
work
• Natural development of
online profile
Drawbacks
• Time. Never enough
time.
• Privacy issues and over-
sharing
• Viewed as ‘self-
promotion’ by some
• Not peer-reviewed so
seen as low quality
• Can be viewed as a
waste of time
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Pros versus cons

7. How to reconcile these?
Two key points:
1. Think strategically
2. Don’t be stupid
2018-03-27 OpenUP OPR Workshop, London 7

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More positive points
• Open science and collaboration
• Networking, 21st Century style
• Virtual conferences, chats, webinars
• Jobs, grants, events, opportunities
• Fast and dynamic – stay ahead
• Build your digital profile, advance career

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Blogging
• Does blogging enhance your profile?
• Aidan Horner: Views on blogging are polarised, a lot like
marmite..
• Chris Chambers: Being anti-blogging is “narrow ivory-
tower hypocritical b*ll*cks.”

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Not just for hipsters
• Guest blogging and group blogs
• Practice writing skills
• Collect and share thoughts
• Science communication outlet
• Feedback and discussion forum
• Open up research
• Become recognised more

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Twitter
• Contacts!
• Opportunities
• Up to date & fast
• Customisable
• Information source
http://www.andfaraway.net/blog/2010/06/
21/the-four-stages-of-getting-twitter/

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Other potential outlets
• Academia.edu and
ResearchGate
• Figshare, Zenodo, Open
Science Framework,
ScienceOpen
• LinkedIn, ORCID
• Altmetric, ImpactStory,
Publons
https://twitter.com/SWoolzie/status/1008
999400696246272

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ImpactStory

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Publons

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What does it all mean?
• As the open science movement is demonstrating,
the solitary genius of individuals is rarely superior to
the speed and power of expert networks. We are
stronger, wiser, and more creative as a community.
And we are going to need all of that. – Liz Neeley.

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How to know if it’s worth it
• Impact assessment
• Blog statistics (hits, comments, shares)
• Altmetrics (social media shares)
• The stories and anecdotes
• Being part of a community
• Define your own path in life

17. Bilbo said it
best
It’s a dangerous
business, going out
your door. You step
onto the road, and if
you don’t keep your
feet, there’s no
telling where you
might get swept off
to.
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Pro-tips
• Be patient. Don’t expect to become an expert or
viral overnight.
• This is a skill and takes training.
• Don’t self-promote, let your work do the talking.
• Be strategic.

19. Homework
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http://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.1001535