# Notes ## instagram instead of google image - very small thumbnail - text about 125 characters, 5-10 hashtags ## fromthelabbench (advice from open science mooc.) ### instagram http://www.fromthelabbench.com/?offset=1541656610425 - instagram for science:#scicomm - self-expression motivations dominate. - Motivation (scholarship, https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.1345026.v2): - contribute to scientific discussion - get feedback - share/promote research - test-bed for ides - excuse to explore papers outside of own area - keep in touch - bring together different areas of science - *brung things to light people don't normaloly talk about* - *communicate through fun cool content* http://www.fromthelabbench.com/from-the-lab-bench-science-blog/2016/7/19/the-art-of-knowing-when-you-are-in-over-your-head-with-science-communication ### Communication tool Perhaps most importantly, scientists need to be good writers. This includes the ability to build a narrative or story around scientific research, the IMRAD story structure (introduction, methods, results and discussion) being no exception. Being able to tell a story, which involves being able to boil a scientific project down to its key problem(s) and solution(s), also helps scientists become better presenters and speakers. And all scientists should have a working knowledge of effective presentation slide design and visual communication basic principles. I would argue that the minute a scientist or researcher considers communicating with a broader audience, or an audience outside of their scientific peers, they should consider collaborating with professional creatives. Because when it comes to communicating with non-scientists, most scientists are in over their heads. - the abt method: http://www.laseagrant.org/wp-content/uploads/LaDIA-Katrina-blog-AC.pdf: exposition (AND), problem (BUT), solution (therefore). - story telling: implicate human, personal change in the story ### random ideas -find out what people already know about that issue - Don’t just rely on self-selection – go seek out and recruit your desired audience. - it is about getting the echo chamber stronger, not reaching out of it. - Avoid jargon. Don’t write a textbook – the people you are trying to reach probably ran away from science textbooks in school. Tell stories. - Write headlines so good they get clicks, and lead paragraphs so entrancing they turn clicks into at least half-reads. - Appeal to your target audience’s interests, values and curiosity. -Speak in their language. Focus on the impacts of science, not the boring details. - Don’t underestimate people’s intelligence or overestimate their familiarity with technical terms. Hook people with beautiful images and gut-grabbing visual representations of the data. - Merge science with sci-fi, art, film and popular culture - "focus on what makes you unique" as an advice for people who would like to reach the the rest of the sfb.