Scott Gardner is on a communications placement at CCRM to complete his post-graduate program at Centennial College. He has experience in corporate communications for educational institutions in Ontario. A former journalist in Belleville Ontario, you can find Scott avidly following and tweeting local news, politics and business @gardner_pr.
JaneTheLabRat is fictional and comes from the mind of CCRM’s intern Scott Gardner. If you like the handle, grab it while you can!
The landscape of digital communications can be an intimidating one. Always demanding and always changing with extraordinary speed. But there is an advantage to be gained for those brave enough to ride the social media waves in science communication (“scicomm”).
The task is to be seen (more boldly, to be remembered) and not simply to be present, nowadays 70 percent of all posts to Instagram are never even seen by the audience. The strategy then, among scientific communicators, is to find a way in which to stand out, coming at the audience in a way they aren’t used to or ready for.
Instagram as a platform is famously visual, notably artistic, and subtly an absolute necessity for any brand either personal or professional. Yes, there is an audience on Instagram for what you want to publish; I say assuredly, yes.
One billion people are on Instagram (Billion, with a B), and more than 500 million of them use the platform each and every day. Again, I’ll say with confidence that some of them are definitely interested in what you have to say.
Recently, Instagram updated the algorithm it uses to suggest posts and pages to individual users. Now, the algorithm favours quality of the post, not just quantity. So, a science communicator can take their time to create something unique, interesting and dazzling, and not have to worry about success being defined by when you post content.
There has been controversy in the science community that scientists, especially those who self-identify as science communicators, should have more important things to do with their time than share their status, day-to-day activities or post selfies on Instagram, and that maintaining this presence online is taking time away from doing meaningful science. Nonsense. What they are doing is good for society in a myriad of ways.
So, whether you’re new to Instagram or you’re a pro, share avidly, share with excitement and with passion and watch others react and join in with vigour. Here’s a few things to keep in mind:
- Keep it Simple: Scicomm at its core is meant to create a space where science is made accessible for a non-scientific audience. Avoid being too technical or you may find yourself sounding like an online textbook.
- Embrace the Hashtag #: Hashtags are what keep social media posts connected under category or style. Be consistent when you use yours so that you always stay within the same audience and have a chance to really grow within it. Some popular ones to consider in our field are #scicomm #cells and #engineering.
- Be Personable: The audience on Instagram doesn’t want to learn about science, they want to be taught about science. The big difference between the two is you! You’re a human being, so smile, joke and selfie — be your wonderful self. Here are a few examples of scientists who do this well: Samantha Yammine, Joel Sartore, Interstellate, and Wyss Institute.
By the way, CCRM has just launched its own Instagram page. Please have a look and give us a like. We hope you’ll decide to follow us as we build and develop our page. Feedback is welcome!
It takes more than just sharing information to be heard and more importantly understood. Now more than ever it is essential to communicate well, with purpose, strategy and intent. Science is the study of the world around us, and that world is undeniably visual and stunning, don’t hide it.
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