GDB5 | Is social media outreach?
Is social media outreach?
Convener: Jenny Turton | Co-conveners: Simon Clark, Nazimul Islam
Mon, 24 Apr, 14:00–15:45 (CEST)
 
Room E1
Mon, 14:00
Is social media a worthwhile vector for communicating science and reaching non-expert audiences? Proponents of social media highlight its ability for bringing otherwise inaccessible research to a global network, spreading research to new audiences whilst cultivating a following. The public can be updated with discoveries in real-time, without the potentially modifying lens of traditional media. And with content under the control of individuals or small groups communicators can flex and nurture their creativity. But communicating through social media often requires sacrificing nuance and accuracy for the extremely short time-frames of attention and engagement. Critics also state that it requires a considerable time-investment and money, which may otherwise distract from core research activities. Amongst this is also the fear that social media exposes communicators to the possibility of derision and hateful conduct. In this Great Debate, our panellists will be asking if effective communication on social media is possible or whether scientists are better investing their efforts elsewhere.

We are thrilled to welcome the below panellists to this great debate: 

-Dr Bethan Davies, Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography, Newcastle University.

-Dr Solmaz Mohadjer, Interdisciplinary Geoscientist, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems.

-Prof Stuart Lane, Professor in Geomorphology, University of Lausanne.

Session assets

Session materials

Speakers

  • Bethan Davies, Newcastle University, United Kingdom
  • Solmaz Mohadjer, University of Tübingen, Germany
  • Stuart Lane, Université de Lausanne, Switzerland