Science and Social Media

I was kindly awarded an academic bursary during my MSc in the History of Physical Sciences at The University of Manchester's CHSTM by the British Society for the History of Science. As per the conditions of that bursary, I was employed to write about my experiences during that year. I've been wanting to share that article for some time (other than proudly displaying it on my fridge when wanting to impress visitors... the Pokemon magnets holding it aloft detract from it somewhat) and thought if you've got it, blog it (or some similar catchy, go-getting phrase). It focuses on what I had learnt over that year, coursing my intellectual tantrums and conceptual dilemmas over my understanding of the authority and standing of science in society.

It was published in the BSHS's Viewpoint publication in June 2009.

I thoroughly enjoyed writing this and I'd be interested to know of other people's opinions on science the changing perceptions of its role in society. And since starting work for a digital media company, I've been increasingly wondering what kind of role social media will have in shaping the future of science. Social media platforms like Twitter and Academia.edu are changing the way in which all people, from your average physics undergraduate to your University professor, share, critique and consume knowledge. But the classic peer to peer circle has been blown wide open by the open source sharing of information through blogging by scientific journalists, science enthusiasts and its critics. The huge growth in the use of social media has given a voice to every man and his proverbial dog. And this ability to share and access information is changing the face of just about everything in society, including ecomonics and politics (just look at wikileaks...).
Where social media once may have been seen by some as the refuge of the self-indulgent (and those who like to tell everyone what they had for breakfast), there are now highly influential people from all walks of life heavily engaging with the public via social media platforms such as Twitter. Manchester's own Prof Brian Cox and American physicist Michio Kaku both have a significant presence on Twitter with large followings. So how, and is, their presence on Twitter altering the public perception of science? How does the way in which scientific communities generally engage with social media influence the public perception of science? Does social media engagement make science more accessible to the layman? Or could it damage the autonomy of science through its dissemination via more casual and nontraditional formats? The debate around the relationship between science and the public, and the responsibility of scientists to communicate effectively was more recently taken up by eminent Sir Paul Nurse in Horizon: Science Under Attack, of which I could write a whole other blog post around (and probably will) but I'll wrap it up for now. Although... what's your view of the future of science and social media?

Every Journey Has A Beginning...

...and classically a middle, although if I am feeling impatient I will just skip to the end. So this is where we start.

What be the purpose of this blog? I have a personal diary which I scrawl illegibly and unintelligibly into. I otherwise spend most my time rambling about my thoughts aloud anyway. So why the blog? Why the blog not, I say.

So I will blog on with little initial purpose and direction and see what monsters evolve during the process. Greetings and Good day to you.