In a seminar, some non-fiction writers offered skeptical views on the suitability of social media for researchers. I decided to compile a list of researchers who are actively using Twitter in their work. I asked for help on Twitter, which led to a flood of tweets. In fact, it took a couple of days to sort through all the responses. Twitter once again turned out to be a useful tool.
As I create my list, I’m also collecting comments on the advantages and disadvantages of using Twitter in research work.
Pros
- Latest science news
- Leads for articles
- Real-time discussions about research
- International networks
- Communication between researchers
- Collaborative creation of new knowledge
- New perspectives
- Popularization
- Media attention
Cons
- Twitter can take time from research.
- The information is fragmented.
- The format hinders reasoned argument.
- Results are broadcast when only half-finished.
- Discussions are too multifaceted.
- Trolling and hate speech spoil conversations.
My list so far consists of 200 Finnish researchers. You can pick it up as a whole, or search for a suitable contact in the list. Thanks to all commentators.