For researchers still on the fence about using social media tools to engage with colleagues and the public, a recent post on Active Scientist offers a short primer on ways Twitter can prove useful in monitoring relevant content about developments in your field.
Among the guidance on using Twitter to filter science news, the piece offers tips on who to follow, topics to tweet and lists the following benefits for researchers:
- Keep track of developments in your field and in touch with distant colleagues.
- Alert the media when you are about to publish or have made significant progress toward a scientific goal.
- Develop an online presence as someone who cares about scientific progress in your field.
- Present your scientific ideas and interests to a general audience. Twitter is a great tool for public outreach.
- Join campaigns to increase government funding of science, make scientific publishing open access, or whatever your interests are.
In a Q&A published this week on Scope, Stanford physician Leah Millheiser, MD, discussed her motivation for using social media to raise awareness and foster discussion about issues relating to women's sexual health. Millheiser recently launched her own blog and Twitter feed.
Additionally, the School of Medicine feed (@SUMedicine) currently maintains Twitter lists of organizations affiliated with the medical center and Stanford physicians and biomedical researchers.
Previously: Social media advice from a physician-blogger, Advice for physicians when interacting with patients online, 33Charts’ Bryan Vartabedian talks about physician blogging and How can physicians manage their online persona? KevinMD offers guidance
Photo by Steve Garfield
