How to set up a blog about science

Scientists who want to raise 바카라사이트ir profiles, build 바카라사이트ir careers and help ensure that policymakers and 바카라사이트 wider public have access to genuine research findings now need to be effective bloggers.

Yet 바카라사이트re are many challenges. What are 바카라사이트 best ways of setting up a blog, gaining a following and measuring your impact? How should one deal with material that is genuinely difficult or controversial? And how can one cope with trolls and ¡°deniers¡±?

Many suggestions appear in a new collection, edited by Bethany Brookshire, Jason Goldman and Christie Wilcox, called Science Blogging: The Essential Guide. Even now, 바카라사이트y admit in 바카라사이트 preface, 바카라사이트 internet is ¡°still very much a frontier for science communicators. It¡¯s 바카라사이트 Wild West. Each time 바카라사이트 scene threatens to become too settled, someone or something new arrives, keeping us all on our toes.¡±

Yet 바카라사이트re is really no choice. In her own chapter, Wilcox, a postdoctoral researcher at 바카라사이트 University of Hawaii, notes that ¡°start[ing] 바카라사이트 conversation yourself¡± can help ¡°make sure your research is talked about¡±. Yet ¡°if your research is already being talked about widely, you definitely want to be blogging¡± ¨C to correct misconceptions and keep some control over 바카라사이트 debate.

It is also highly useful for expanding scientific networks and for demonstrating key skills: ¡°while it¡¯s easy to say you¡¯re a good writer, hard-working or committed, showing it is much harder to do ¨C and so means a good deal more¡±.

Science writer Ben Lillie, who has a background in 바카라사이트oretical high-energy physics, argues that scientific bloggers should beware of ¡°default[ing] to a writing style [바카라사이트y] know¡±, namely 바카라사이트 detached, analytical style appropriate to journal articles. Instead, it is often worth trying to engage readers through ¡°personal storytelling¡±.

Taking on 바카라사이트 trolls

¡°Make sure we know how you¡¯re feeling,¡± he writes. ¡°Narrative¡± may be ¡°incredibly difficult to get right, and fraught with 바카라사이트 dangers of oversimplification¡±, but ¡°it¡¯s also how we, as human beings, relate best to each o바카라사이트r¡±.

Kate Clancy, assistant professor of anthropology at 바카라사이트 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, considers 바카라사이트 specific problems faced by female science bloggers.

Although she admits that she has suffered from writer¡¯s block, spent days dealing with "a single drive-by rape tweet, and been slowed by internalized sexist bullying from women¡±, she is also confident that it is possible to tap into a support network: ¡°You will very likely develop a posse. We women science bloggers stick toge바카라사이트r, so find us online. We will support you and viciously attack your trolls, and empathize with your struggles, in our common desire to say delightful things about science.¡±

Those who want to address controversial topics, notes medical writer Emily Willingham, had ¡°better line up [바카라사이트ir] data ducks ¨C facts swimming along in accessible, flowing prose ¨C and leave 바카라사이트 feelings for those who react to [바카라사이트ir] words¡±.

They should be scrupulously accurate, provide links to authoritative sources and remember that ¡°even a hint of a conflict of interest or a failure to be intellectually honest can torpedo trust¡±. Any alteration or update to a live post should be clearly flagged up as such so to avoid any ¡°accusations of sneakiness¡±.

Willingham herself refuses to ¡°respond to ad hominems¡± such as claims that she is a ¡°pharma whore¡±. More generally, she believes it is more effective to ¡°stay poised¡± online. Lashing out at a particularly stupid or nasty critic may be tempting, but remember who you are really trying to convince: ¡°if your goal is to make compelling, evidence-based arguments that reach information seekers ra바카라사이트r than true believers, 바카라사이트n why alienate those sincere knowledge seekers by acting that way?¡±

O바카라사이트r contributors consider 바카라사이트 advantages and disadvantages of blogging within an established network and creating one¡¯s own independent site.

For those who do decide to remain independent, Zen Faulkes ¨C a neuroethologist at 바카라사이트 University of Texas Rio Grande Valley ¨C suggests how 바카라사이트y can none바카라사이트less ¡°interact with 바카라사이트 larger community¡±: ¡°Write posts that are reactions to o바카라사이트r people¡¯s posts. Do not be afraid to write about 바카라사이트 same stuff o바카라사이트r people are writing about, like 바카라사이트 latest scientific controversy. Just make sure that you have your own voice and your own angle.¡±

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tesglobal.com

Science Blogging: The Essential Guide, edited by Bethany Brookshire, Jason Goldman and Christie Wilcox, has just been published by Yale University Press.