Social Networking

Is collaboration and collective intelligence via dedicated online communities the way forward for scientists? Lyndsey Fairweather investigates.

A web revolution?

Blogging on the impact the internet can have on science, writer and Open Science Foundation advisory board member, Michael Nielsen says, "There are two useful ways to answer this question, the first is to view online tools as a way of expanding the range of scientific knowledge that can be shared with the world. there is a second and more radical way of thinking about how the internet can change science, and that is through a change to the process and scale of creative collaboration itself, a change enabled by social software such as wikis, online forums, and their descendants.."

Nielsen is referring to a new dynamic movement on the internet, the "web 2.0" movement: a shift in people's attitudes towards the use of technology. Social networks and online communities are both integral to web 2.0. They've been seen as an innovation which is not purely about new technology, instead it's focused on the way people are beginning to use existing technology.

Do scientists need social networks?

Social networking sites share a user-generated approach to content; they highlight how the internet has changed from websites that produce one voice to sites with multiple voices. The concept behind these online networks isn't new; BioInformatics LLC has operated its Science Advisory Board online for over 10 years and currently boasts 40,000 members. What is new however, is the sheer number of scientifically focused online communities emerging over the last three years. These networks present a unique platform for members of the scientific community to easily connect with like-minded people within their specialist area. 2Collab, ResearchGate, Nature Network, Labmeeting, SciLink, and Sci-Mate are just a few examples of social networking sites created specifically for the scientific community, soon to be joined by MyRSC. Within these networks, members can make new contacts, connect with colleagues, share findings and documents, and discuss relevant research with their peers.

Dedicated online communities for scientists present a sharp contrast to the traditional methods of conferences and research publications that scientists have previously used to network, collaborate and exchange ideas. As the number of these specialist networks proliferates, the choices open to an individual are daunting: which network is right for me? Inevitably natural selection will prevail, with only the stronger sites with the most engaged audiences surviving. The advice for now is to experiment and find a social networking solution that works for you. Individuals that currently use networking sites are evangelical about how quickly they can have a positive impact on their work.

YouTube

Whilst science networks provide a focused and specialist approach, more mainstream social networks can also be useful. YouTube is a great example of this and RSC journal Lab on a Chip has recently started a YouTube channel.

"The channel provides and excellent platform to intrigue a broad spectrum of scientists and a network to view videos of research within a similar field"
- Dr Joerg Baumgartl on Lab on a Chip's YouTube channel

This offers a platform for authors publishing in the journal to share their videos with a wider audience. YouTube users interested in miniaturisation can now search for and view great video content online. This channel has been extremely successful; research published in Lab on a Chip lends itself particularly well to video format as it's able to capture intricate activity which can sometimes be difficult to communicate in words alone.

Facebook and LinkedIn

Mainstream social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn also offer collective and collaborative opportunities. Once merely considered the realm of school friend banter, Facebook is growing into a platform for connecting people on both social and professional levels. The RSC journal Energy & Environmental Science launched a Facebook page last year. It's a space where the editorial team can highlight articles of interest and conferences they're attending, members of the Facebook page can share articles, news stories, videos and much more.

Already established as a site for professional networking, LinkedIn offers similar opportunities to connect with others in your industry. Members of LinkedIn can search for other individuals with shared professional interests or expertise, and join interest groups. Chemistry World recently set up a group on LinkedIn where members can contribute to discussions, read article highlights, find or post job opportunities and increase their LinkedIn network of connections by linking up directly with other members of the group.

Twitter

The examples mentioned so far show how social networking is revolutionising how people receive information, but how can we stay on top of this deluge of information from growing numbers of sources? Aggregator services allow individuals to streamline the number of websites they read daily, emails they check and forums they view. Twitter is a great example of this: it delivers short updates and enables individuals to stay constantly up-to-date with developments. RSC supplements Highlights in Chemical Technology, Highlights in Chemical Biology and Highlights in Chemical Science now "tweet" new articles of interest and significant developments across the chemical sciences. This type of micro-blogging puts internet users in control of the amount and frequency of information they receive from their favourite websites. Via Twitter you can receive updates via twitter or email, select "quiet times" when you aren't updated or you can use an RSS reader to collate a range of twitter updates, blog posts and news articles. It's this type of communication that is empowering users to decide what information they receive, in which medium, when.

Log on or lose out?

Exciting developments are taking place in the world of social networking. The new movement is flourishing and its future looks promising as it develops against the backdrop of a generation that are growing up with the internet.

The scientific community has an opportunity to contribute to building a new internet. Only by embracing these powerful online tools will the community keep pace with new collaborative styles of learning, where students, researchers in academia and industry, and publishers can connect via virtual communities to create new knowledge, establish networks and break boundaries.