Science Communication Tools
and Platforms
Dr Umut Yildiz
Recap last week:
• What is science communication?
• Why is understanding the audience important? How
does it bridge the gap between science and society?
Because if scientists want information to be reliable and trusted
within a broader community, they need to communicate with that
community by themselves.
Most people don’t know any scientist in life!
NASA's Science Communication Success
Sputnik 1, 1957 Explorer 1, 1958
Apollo 11, July 1969
Yuri Gagarin, April 1961 Alan Shepard, May 1961
NASA's Science Communication Success
• NASA's global recognition
• Branding and iconic imagery (e.g., moon landing, Mars
rovers)
• Consistent and transparent communication
• Large Outreach Office
• Social media strategies
• Use of multiple platforms to reach diverse audiences
• Engaging content: behind-the-scenes looks, mission
updates, educational resources
• Memorable campaigns and hashtags (e.g.,
#JourneyToMars, #Hubble30)
• Send your name to Moon, Mars, etc.
When was the last time a full-page science news article
was published on the front page of a Turkish newspaper?
https://umutayildiz.com/turk-gazetelerinde-en-son-ne-zaman-1-ve-tam-sayfa-bilim-haberi-yayinlandi/
https://journo.com.tr/gazeteler-bilim-ay-yolculugu?utm_source=chatgpt.com
When was the last time a full-page science news article
was published on the front page of a Turkish newspaper?
https://umutayildiz.com/turk-gazetelerinde-en-son-ne-zaman-1-ve-tam-sayfa-bilim-haberi-yayinlandi/
https://journo.com.tr/gazeteler-bilim-ay-yolculugu?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Science Communication (Before)
• Books are graveyard of knowledge
Science Communication
Astronomy on Tap
https://astronomyontap.org
Perception Between
Science Paper News Article
Introduction Flash
Literature Body and Explanations
Methods Methods
Discussions Background
Results Details
"Why do I need to set aside three hours for filming and interview for a three-minute
item on TV?", he asked. So I asked him, "Why do you need to do three years of
research for a three-page article in a science magazine?
Science Communication (Shortly Before)
https://astrobites.org
SciComm on Social Media
• Science communication is not just about communicating your thoughts to
others
• It is about listening as well
• Mutual communication, how does that take place?
• Social media rules our time today.
SciComm on Social Media
• Why are you on Social Media?
• What do you want to do?
• What is my final aim?
• What do I consider achievement?
• How can I use social media to benefit
myself and people?
• It is like getting friends. If you have
friends with someone for long years,
then you are doing something right.
• Harsh criticism? It is (usually) not
about you, it is about them
QUality and
Effectiveness in
Science and
Technology communication
What QUEST is
QUEST defines, measures and supports quality
in science communication. The project will
develop tools and guidelines for improving
effectiveness in dialogue between science and
wider publics.
How QUEST works
We are a team of experts, scholars and media
professionals across Europe who have come
together to investigate current issues in science
communication. We will develop tools,
recommendations and guidelines for
communicators and practitioners working in the
fields of journalism, social media, and museums.
Focus
We believe there is a particular urgency to
cultivate quality and effectiveness in the highly
contested areas of vaccines, global warming,
and artificial intelligence.
https://questproject.eu
European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme
QUEST identified three such aspects on effective science communication on social media
• Disintermediation: Direct Access to Science: Social media allows the public to access scientific
information without journalists or scientists as intermediaries, while also enabling scientists to
communicate directly with audiences.
• Infodemic: Information Overload: Social media is flooded with both reliable and misleading
information. An “infodemic” occurs when excessive, unreliable content makes it hard for people
to identify accurate facts, especially in times of crisis.
• Polarization: Echo Chambers and Polarization: Social media users often form like-minded
groups, ignoring opposing views. These echo chambers reinforce existing beliefs, sometimes
leading to extreme polarization and increased misinformation spread.
European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme
• Effect!ve sc!ence commun!cat!on on
soc!al networks requ!res a plan, a
commun!cat!on strategy, and per!od!c
evaluat!on.
• Soc!al med!a !s a place of d!alog and
l!sten!ng, not of transm!tt!ng
messages un!laterally.
• Soc!al med!a tends to feed
polar!zat!on and confl!cts, and
therefore !t !s best s!mply to prov!de
correct !nformat!on rather than be!ng
drawn !nto v!rtual arguments.
Rule 1: Start somewhere, but show up
Rule 2: Discover opportunities in academia
Rule 3: Tweet stuff
Rule 4: Learn the rules
Rule 5: Take care of yourself
Rule 6: Build your own community
Rule 7: Interface with real life
Rule 8: Spread your message
Rule 9: Be a real person
Rule 10: Great power & great responsibility
https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007513
Twitter for Scientists
Chapter 1: Why you should use Twitter
Academia is not a meritocracy. Good ideas and hard work
aren’t necessarily rewarded, and folks that already hold
positions of influence are the ones that tend to get handed
more opportunities. Small coteries of gatekeepers decide
what gets published in academic journals, who gets
selected to present their work at conferences, and which
research studies get reported in the media.
To build your academic career you need to grow your
reputation. But if you are not well-known already then
you’re at a distinct disadvantage. It’s certainly possible to
squeeze yourself into this “attention cycle”, in which
success begets success, but this typically takes a
consecutive string of lucky decisions with grant
applications and manuscript submissions. The corollary of
this is that many early career researchers are only one
decision away from losing their jobs.
https://t4scientists.com
Effective Social Media Strategies
• Be in multiple platforms, followers usually follow you in one platform,
cross platform transfer usually does not work.
• Visual storytelling: infographics, videos, live streams
• Engaging with the audience: Q&A sessions, interactive posts
• Collaborations with influencers and content creators
Emily is a great space
influencer, she was invited to
go to space with Blue Origin
for free!
We conduct interviews with METU researchers for METU account
Assignment 1:
Create 2 shorts/reels
• Explain your field/department/research
• Find a topic of your choice and make a 1.5 minute reel
• Image you are explaining your science to 12 year-old
• Interview a scientist/academic/another student
• Interview another person who will explain their research or
science, etc.
Conditions and rewards:
• You will collaborate with the @metuscicomm Instagram page
• You can use graphic design, motion graphics, AI, etc.
• You can show your face but not mandatory, however it must be your
voice. You can voice over to a video that you make and own.
• Write a good caption and #’s to receive attention.
• Add your student ID, tag @metuscicomm and @metu_odtu
• Top 10 best reel will be published at the official @metu_odtu
Instagram page.
• Every 50000 views will get you 5 points to the final grade up until
150000+ views and max 15 points.
