Social media for engagement
About the Author
Sam Langford is an award-winning science communicator, presenter, comedian, trainer and performing monkey, based in Glasgow. With a background in science communication stretching back ten years, his work has seen him present at festivals, science centres, up mountains and even in the rainforest.
Usually found glued to his phone, Sam is a keen user of social media and uses this vast wealth of “experience” as an excuse to talk to others about how to get started on the internet. He is the co-founder of Science is a Drag!, a celebration of the queer side of STEM, and the Global Science Show, a monthly virtual science festival which encourages science communicators of all ages and backgrounds to share a video about their work on social media.
His proudest moment is his effort to send a Tunnock’s Teacake to the edge of space, in an effort that he is sure was the inspiration for Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos’s recent space race. Seen by more than 25 million people as part of Glasgow Science, this video was Sam’s first foray into the world of science film making.
Twitter: @scottishscicomm
Website: www.scicommwithsam.com
In this section
In this video Sam talks about the benefits of using social media for engagement with research, what makes good content and how you can get started. He'll also discuss the top four social media platforms (Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Facebook) and what each of their strengths are. If you've ever thought "I'm too old to learn what TikTok is" then this video is for you!
Further Resources
Buffer: Why is social media engagement important?Link opens in a new window
NCCPE: What works engaging the public with social mediaLink opens in a new window
TikTok Creators included in film
- @astrokirsten
- @sciencemaven
- @hankgreen
- @particleclara
- @jackgwood
- @abrahampiper
- @scottishscicomm
- @TheMERL
- @blackcountrylivingmuseum
Other ways to access
Download a transcript of this videoLink opens in a new window
Examples of Public Engagement on Social Media
This person has used the r/scienceLink opens in a new window subreddit to post their published paper and their data set. They have then used the comments section to interact with people asking questions. You can view the full thread on RedditLink opens in a new window.
About r/science: "This community is a place to share and discuss new scientific research. Read about the latest advances in astronomy, biology, medicine, physics, social science, and more. Find and submit new publications and popular science coverage of current research."