Meeting Abstract
Science communication and outreach are becoming integral components of the modern scientist’s toolkit. Social media platforms now provide researchers with the means to disseminate their work to broader audiences. Maintaining a steady, ongoing research narrative through social media is an excellent way to develop community connections, given its prevalence and easy accessibility. Social media platforms, however, are not interchangeable: they require different types of content, and cater to different audiences. This disparity is fertile ground to develop new ways of communicating science which draws from different disciplines within the arts and humanities. We recently hosted an online discussion focusing on social media and interdisciplinary modes of science communication via the @IAmScicomm Twitter account, which has >11,000 followers and is curated by different science communicators every week. Presented here are conclusions from this discussion, including takeaway points for all science communicators. Notably, a recurring theme was one of flexibility. To appeal to broader audiences, approaches which mix-and-match artistic media with various social media platforms have the most potential to generate interest. We briefly highlight pros and cons offered by different social platforms for science communication, and provide insights as to the benefits of using a group platform to increase the reach of science communication projects. We will also discuss the importance of showcasing the people behind research when telling a science story. Making use of the many resources available will enable scientists to share their work with their community in new, fun and engaging ways.
