Image: canva.com
In today’s digital age, scientists and engineers are more interconnected than ever before, thanks to the power of social media. If you’re a scientist or engineer working in the regenerative medicine field who’s not yet using social media to engage with other professionals, these platforms can provide a huge untapped network for you to build and engage with. Surveys have revealed that over 70 per cent of both life scientists and engineers use social media, and since these results are pretty dated, I would expect that these metrics have stayed consistent or increased.
Professional networking on social media platforms offer numerous advantages to the careers of scientists and engineers. It can enable you to:
- foster global connections with international researchers, experts and organizations;
- engage in a rapid exchange of knowledge, ideas, research findings and industry insights;
- increase your visibility and recognition by sharing your public work, career achievements, and thought leadership; and,
- create avenues for collaboration, new clients, and even job opportunities.
One platform that played a pivotal role in fostering social media connection amongst scientists and engineers was Twitter, now X. Founded in 2006, it quickly became a powerhouse in social media with its concise, 280-character limit for tweets. Scientists and engineers embraced the platform to share research findings, engage in discussions, and connect with colleagues worldwide.
However, following Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter in October 2022, and by the time it was rebranded as X in July 2023, users had shifted away from this platform. For example, the results of an August 2023 Nature survey reveal that thousands of scientists have cut back on it.
While X remains a valuable tool, the digital landscape has evolved, leading to a diversification of platforms. Scientists and engineers are exploring other platforms, like LinkedIn, ResearchGate, and even TikTok and Instagram, to reach different audiences and engage in professional networking. Some platforms also provide a great opportunity for science communication, which is the ability to explain complex science in a simplified and engaging way that’s suitable for different audiences, including the public, as a bonus way to build your professional brand. (Learn more in a Signals post about science communication by Ben McLeod, my colleague at OmniaBio Inc.)
Below, I’ll outline some of the alternative platforms that scientists and engineers can consider for professional networking. I’ll also provide five principles for effective professional networking that scientists and engineers can consider to succeed in today’s ever-changing digital climate.
Navigating the new social media landscape
If you’re one of the professionals who’s moving away from X, read about some other options to connect with your peers.
LinkedIn: LinkedIn has gained traction as a preferred platform for professional networking and it’s set to soon have a billion users. In recent years, users began flocking to LinkedIn to share information and updates that go beyond what one might consider “professional,” and this could be due to the turmoil on other professional platforms like X, and algorithms on other common platforms like Facebook and Twitter that limit exposure to content posted by people that you actually know. That said, scientists and engineers can leverage LinkedIn’s features, such as LinkedIn articles and specialized groups, to share research insights and connect with peers. LinkedIn is an excellent choice for building a comprehensive professional profile and expanding your reach in the industry.
ResearchGate: ResearchGate provides its users with an opportunity to “access over 160 million publication pages and stay up to date with what’s happening in your field.” This platform focuses on the academic community, allowing researchers to share their work, collaborate on projects, and interact with experts in their field. It provides a space for in-depth discussions and facilitates the dissemination of scholarly work, making it a valuable addition to the professional networking toolkit for scientists and engineers.
Threads, Mastodon and Bluesky: These three social media platforms are based on text, and have similar appearances to X (formerly Twitter). However, there are some differences between the numbers of people using each platform, as well as how the platforms themselves operate, which scientists and engineers should be mindful of if they’re considering using one (or more!) for professional networking.
Bluesky Social was launched in 2021 as a spin-out from Twitter, and it reached a million users in September 2023. It is an invitation-only platform that also offers a decentralized model, which provides transparency into how the app was built and works. Scientists and engineers exploring new networking avenues may find Bluesky to be a promising platform, given its commitment to open protocols and interoperability.
Mastodon, also known for its decentralized and open-source nature, appeals to those valuing data privacy and ownership. At the start of 2023, this platform had approximately 1.8 million users. Scientists and engineers might find Mastodon’s model attractive, as it allows users more control over their information, has no algorithms or ads, and provides users with more control over their audiences.
Threads was launched by Meta in July 2023, and it now has over 130 million users. Threads distinguishes itself by emphasizing structured discussions, providing a platform where users can engage in thoughtful and detailed conversations. This could be particularly beneficial for scientists and engineers looking for focused discussions on specific topics within a well-organized framework.
TikTok and Instagram: TikTok and Instagram, while not traditionally associated with science communication, offer a unique opportunity to reach younger audiences through short, engaging videos. Scientists and engineers are embracing these platforms to simplify complex concepts and spark interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, making science more accessible and fun. Plus, since many scientists and engineers may already be using TikTok and Instagram for personal use, there’s an opportunity to request connections and spark professional networks on these platforms as well.
Maximizing impact: Five tips for effective professional networking on social media
No matter which social media platform(s) you use for professional networking, the following principles will be helpful for guiding your engagement and building your network.
- Tailor your content: When selecting a social media platform, understand its audience and ensure it is a good fit for your message, and understand how to tailor your content to suit the platform’s format. Also, keep the demographics of a platform’s users in mind. A post that trends on TikTok, which generally has younger users who may appreciate a more casual tone, might flop if it were also posted to LinkedIn, as its users skew relatively older and its content is more professional in tone.
- Engage authentically: Build genuine connections by engaging with your audience through comments, discussions and collaborations. Authenticity fosters credibility, so talk about what you know and cite your sources whenever possible. While errors in posts can happen, transparently correcting an error as soon as you’re aware of it helps to build trust.
- Prioritize visual storytelling: Adding a compelling visual to your social media post, such as an infographic, image, or a video, can help ensure that people in your network stop scrolling and read your post. They can also enhance your message’s impact and accessibility. Design tools like Canva, which is user-friendly and offers a free version, can simplify the task of creating relevant visuals for your posts.
- Stay informed: Keep up with emerging trends on social media by bookmarking Social Media Today and reviewing its headlines and relevant articles every week or so. Spend time on your preferred social media platforms and understand how other scientists and engineers use them by following their posts, reviewing their comments, and even engaging with them. Be sure to adapt your professional networking strategy on social media if and when the digital landscape changes.
- Uphold ethical responsibility: When communicating about research or news, ensure that you abide by ethical standards. For example, include accurate representations of research findings, and engage in discussions responsibly. This approach will ensure that there is as little room as possible to misinterpret something that you post as sensational or inaccurate, and you will signal to others in the field that you possess professionalism and integrity.
While the Twitter that scientists and engineers once knew and loved might be a thing of the past, the evolution of professional networking using social media tools continues. Scientists and engineers now have a myriad of platforms to choose from, each with its unique advantages. By tailoring your content, engaging authentically, embracing visual storytelling, staying informed, and maintaining ethical responsibility, professionals working in the cell and gene therapy field can navigate today’s dynamic digital climate effectively, connect with other professionals, and foster meaningful relationships.
Laine Bodnar
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