Conference offered by David Dickson, editor and founder of SciDev.net, in Barcelona on 12 July 2012

1. New science communication:
research and innovation in the
era of the Internet
David Dickson
Editor and founding director, SciDev.Net
Barcelona Centre for International Health Research
Centre Esther Koplowitz , Barcelona, 12 July 2012

2. Summary
Why communicate?
Communicating with scientists
Communicating with non-scientists
SciDev.Net: science communication and
development
Social media
www.scidev.net

3. Why communicate?
www.scidev.net

4. Communication has two main functions:
To inform
To engage
www.scidev.net

5. It can also be used to entertain
An example from YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BI2m3QoaS8&feature=share
www.scidev.net

6. Science communication:
This has two dimensions:
With scientific colleagues
With the non-science community
www.scidev.net

7. Communicating with scientists
www.scidev.net

8. Internal science communication:
2.Scientific papers
3.Pre-prints
4.Seminars
5.Informal communication
www.scidev.net

9. Each has been revolutionised by the
arrival of the Internet:
2.Scientific papers
 Electronic publishing
 Open access movement
3.Pre-prints
 Open archiving
www.scidev.net

10. 3. Seminars:
 Video-conferencing (Skype, etc.)
4. Informal communication:
 Social media
www.scidev.net

11. Communicating with non-scientists
www.scidev.net

12. External science communication:
Practitioners
Policy-makers
Funders and funding agencies
General public
www.scidev.net

13. Science communication with the public
is increasingly important
It facilitates the contract between science
and society and a time of demand for extra
transparency
It reflects the new status of science,
creating a “culture of science”
www.scidev.net

14. Cultural context:
Loss of expertise and authority of scientists
Change in the nature of knowledge
production (e.g. CERN/LHC)
Improved communications and a proliferation
of sources of information
Democratic deficit
(Science for All, 2010)
www.scidev.net

15. Scientists have a responsibility to communicate
“It is an important responsibility for the scientists to
communicate research results and viewpoints to the
public, especially in cases of publicly funded research.
“This responsibility is exposed to challenges by both
enormous opportunities and new threats for effective
science communication provided by new information
technologies.”
ICSU Advisory Note, December 2010
www.scidev.net

16. Scientists’ response:
Survey of 1485 UK research scientists showed that
the main reasons for engaging in science
communication related primarily to perceived external
needs.
The most popular motivation (35%) was given as “To
ensure the public is better informed about science and
technology”
(People Science Policy, 2006: 28)
www.scidev.net

17. SciDev.Net and its activities
www.scidev.net

18. World-wide web has:
 Eliminated the transaction of costs of
communicating information
 Opened up new opportunities for science
communication in general, and science
journalists in particular.
www.scidev.net

19. SciDev.Net’s premise:
The communication of accurate and
accessible information about science and
technology, and their contributions to innovation,
is essential to the objectives of:
achieving economic growth
reducing poverty, and
enabling environmental sustainability
www.scidev.net

20. Policymakers at all levels need accurate,
timely and reliable information about
role of science and technology in
meeting development objectives.
www.scidev.net

21. At the same time …
The public understanding of science and
technology ensures open and democratic
debate about the promises they offer – as well
as how to handle their potentially negative
consequences
www.scidev.net

22. As a result:
The demand for both improved science
communication and improved science
communication skills is increasing
rapidly in the developing world
www.scidev.net

23. Our activities
Operating a free-access website
(www.scidev.net) containing news, views and
analysis about science and technology in the
developing world
Organising workshops and other activities to
enhance the capacity of both professional science
communicators – such as journalists – and
researchers to provide reliable and authoritative
information on such issues
www.scidev.net

24. Our website …

25. The website contains
 News
 Feature articles
Opinion articles
Bi-weekly editorial
Regular ‘spotlights’
Notices (including lists of meetings, grants and jobs)
Links (e.g. to scientific organisations and journals)
Comments from users
www.scidev.net

34. Current situation
 In operation since 2001
 > 60,000 registered users
 Almost ¾ (73.2%) are in developing countries
 > 50,000 hits per week
 > 120 freelance contributors around the developing
world
www.scidev.net

45. Science communication and social media
www.scidev.net

46. How do you use social media?
(AstraZeneca study of 382 scientists)
4.Read/watch online content: 61 percent
5.Post comments: 18 percent
6.Join conversations: 17 percent
7.Update status online: 10 percent
8.Generate content: 7 percent
www.scidev.net

47. What is the value in social media?
3.Information sharing/collaboration: 62 percent
4.Knowledge building: 61 percent
5.Networking: 61 percent
6.Participating in discussion: 33 percent
7.Getting the message out/thought leadership: 10
percent
www.scidev.net

48. How much value does social media deliver
to scientists?
• Absolutely essential: 6 percent
• Very valuable: 18 percent
• Valuable: 33 percent
• Somewhat valuable: 35 percent
• Minimum value: 8 percent
www.scidev.net

50. Guidance from AAAS on the use of social
media
 Be social and network.
 Use social networking sites to announce your
latest discovery and be ready to discuss your
work.
 Link to others whose interests you share and
ask and answer questions.
www.scidev.net

53. Be legal
 It is illegal in most countries to make false
claims against another person or organisation
in print (libel)
 If you're not sure you're reporting the truth, it
may be better to leave some things out if they
could be damaging to someone.
www.scidev.net

55. Be discreet
 Don't reveal preliminary information that
scientific competitors could exploit, possibly
damaging your career (or those of your
colleagues).
 Wait until publication is imminent
 Never reveal your colleagues' research without
their permission.
www.scidev.net

56. Be politically aware
 Before criticising your government's scientific or
environmental policy, for example, consider
whether you might endanger your funding, your
position, or your university.
www.scidev.net

57. Be sensitive
 An issue that may might be acceptable within
your profession, such as sacrificing animals for
research, may not be as acceptable to others.
 Consider rephrasing sensitive topics.
www.scidev.net

58. Be moderate
 Social media can be mildly addictive.
 Use it a little bit each day.
 If you find it impairing your research time,
scientific reputation or real-life social life, you're
probably using it too much.
www.scidev.net

59. Above all, be active!
www.scidev.net

60. For more information, and to register to receive
free weekly email alert, visit us at
www.scidev.net
Or contact me at:
david.dickson@scidev.net
www.scidev.net