USING SOCIAL MEDIA FOR SCIENCE COMMUNICATION: WHY, WHERE AND HOW

There are currently ~7.7 billion people in the world and 3.5 billion of those people are active social media users. This potential reach, as well as the low overhead cost and versatility of social media, makes it a powerful tool for science communication, engagement, and education. While many of the rules and best practices for general science communication translate directly into the digital environment, certain aspects of social media science communication are unique and require special consideration. This talk will address the potential functionality and rewards of using social media (including how social media can be used to change the perception of science and scientists and how digital spaces can help cultivate communities of support), the most appropriate platforms to use to meet individual or organizational science communication goals and broader impacts, and best practices and rules of engagement for effective online communication.