So, as you might have seen from the picture, I crashed PZ Myers' recent talk at the Society for Developmental Biology. He said a lot of good things - about science communication and the need to make a more direct connection between scientists and the general public, among other things. But the one thing really stuck with me was his direct call out for scientists to blog and tweet.
I feel the exact same way, but moreover, I think graduate students need to take on the challenge. Why grad students? Well, a number of reasons. For one, let's be honest: our generation is just more tech savvy than the generation of scientists that came before us - such is the nature of technology - so we're going to have that advantage. But perhaps I said it best in a previous post:
As students, you are the future of science. Before long, you will be lead authors on the papers that everyone blogs about. You, more than any science writer out there, know the business. You are trained to see with a critical, scientific eye, and because of that, you automatically have a unique and important perspective on science.You understand the methods used in your field; you are so well versed in the basic principles you can teach them in your sleep; and you, more than anyone, are 100% qualified to act as a bridge between practicing scientists and the rest of the world.Your voice is not only valid, but necessary to bringing the science back into science communication.
But as PZ said, it's not just about blogging - it's about engaging the public audience across platforms, and in particular, through twitter. So what I want to do is put together a twitter list of science grad student bloggers so that everyone can easily find them.
So know any? Or are one? Add twitter handles in the comments, and I'll add them to the list.
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I've been blogging for the past year and a bit and joined the twitter army a few months ago (@BioInFocus). The science blogging community is deep, and I'm happy to add another voice to the conversation. Just finished grad degree #1 and am looking forward to sharing science and my future graduate experiences with anyone willing to listen!
Ive been blogging in various places since Nov 2009 but always about the same sort of thing, medicine, disease, infectious disease and history of medicine. I'm currently doing a PhD in Microbiology in Australia but think communication and education is my future. I can be found easily on twitter @JB_Blogs. Thanks for updating the list :)
Madness_dreams
Microbio and immuno grad student at ucla
I fear you're slightly reinventing the wheel here: http://blog.fejes.ca/?p=412
CW: Yes, sort of - but I don't want just grad students who tweet. I want grad student BLOGGERS who tweet - see, I know lots of grad students who just tweet personally, like having a facebook, or who just tweet science news. I want those that write as well as tweet - a much more elite list ;). Though thanks for that link... I'm going to go poach all the ones with blogs...
I'm a grad student (entomology), blogger (focus on entomology, particularly aquatic entomology - coming up on 2 years now), and twitter user (since Sept 2010). I tweet about insects, water issues, and other science that amazes me @dragonflywoman2.
As you know I blog (and tweet) in Portuguese, but sometimes I link to stuff in English as well. Don't know if this makes the cut, but if yes, then you can add me in the list as well: @luciamalla - from CellMolBio/UHawaii (aloha!). :)
hey dude,come n learn from the master him self
I blog, but I don't have a twitter account. Does this mean I need to get one? :/
I'll get back to you if I can be bothered with Twitter just for the sake of becoming more integrated with the blogging community.
Its a great thought to joining them. Science decide our future's development. So If we interested in science although we are not from science field also should join networking sites which can very useful from the point of knowlege.
I have been blogging since 2005, and I write mostly about personal and family matters, once in a while I throw in some turtle-y posts too :D
I lead a freshwater turtle research and conservation NGO in Malaysia, and apart from research (mark-and-recapture study, setting traps, etc.) and conservation (incubate turtle eggs, raise hatchlings, release them), I also carry out public awareness campaigns and turtle camps in rural schools.
And yes, the way I see it, it's not so much how much we achieve in terms of science, but how much of this knowledge and experience can be conveyed to the general public.
I have just started my Ph.D. in December 2010, and I will be studying the nesting ecology of the turtles in their natural habitat (in the river).
My Twitter handle is @pelf81 :D
I blog, but I don't have a twitter account. Does this mean I need to get one? :/
I'll get back to you if I can be bothered with Twitter just for the sake of becoming more integrated with the blogging community.
And yes, the way I see it, it's not so much how much we achieve in terms of science, but how much of this knowledge and experience can be conveyed to the general public.
I blog at sarcozona.org about school, science, doing research, and being queer, feminist, and fantastic. And I'm on twitter as sarcozona.
Right, so I joined Twitter. I'm @WhatBehaviour, which is also the name of my blog.
My blog is mostly on Behavioural Ecology and I tend to write about scientific articles I've read, sort of "translating" them to normal English as well as a bit of postgrad life blogging. I've not been going for long (only a couple of months if even that) but I tend to update at least once every week.
Here's for being involved!
My blog is called Until the Robots Conquer Us and my twitter handle is @jwlevis. I discuss solid waste, energy, climate change and environmental policy, when I get the chance.
I'm @EmpiricalZeal which is also the name of my blog. I'm a grad student that started off in physics and became a biology convert, now studying evolution. I started blogging recently to try to articulate and share what it is about science that totally gets me off.
Science/general life and post-grad humour @BeardyNerd http://billhinchen.wordpress.com
Highy factual and relevant molecular genetics @LukeJostins http://www.genetic-interference.co.uk/blog
Ph.D. Candidate in Optical Science in Engineering at UNC Charlotte -- my Twitter name: AaronJPung (address: http://twitter.com/AaronJPung)
I originally posted @15, but I just wanted to update my twitter handle. It is now JimLevis. This is a great resource you've built Christie. Thanks.
I couldn't agree more! I'm so glad to come across this page. I also agree that we have a responsibility to carry on the information we have to undergrads and I created a website & blog @ www.thecurlyaccidentalscientist.com. I'm also @CurlyScientist on Twitter and The Curly Accidental Scientist on Facebook.
I recently a postdoc: do I qualify? I've been tweeting for a while but have just started blogging to make obscure insect research more accessible, and love it...
Apologies for unfinished comment above! I'm recently a postdoc: do I qualify? I've been tweeting for a while but have just started blogging to make obscure insect research more accessible, and love it... Blog is Tiny Monsters, http://jdjgilbert.wordpress.com. Twitter handle is @james_gilbert.