For academic institutions, the internet is a largely untapped resource for shaping and sharing scholarly research. Professors may be worried about permanently penning their ideas into cyberspace, or about privacy, especially regarding social networking.
However, social media and the internet allow faculty to form powerful connections and reach new audiences. Social media is not just marketing for academic work. Social media platforms can inform every step of the research process: helping faculty get a pulse on movement in their industry, providing feedback during research and then assisting in the promotion of the published work. "We are also using our networks to better understand which issues are important to various stakeholders, to get feedback on our work, a faster and in more ways more effective form of peer review, and to meet other academics and other who are interested in our work," says Karen Grepin, an assistant professor of global health policy at NYU Wagner.
Grepin uses social media platforms like her blog and Twitter account both to better understand issues and to build a reputation in her area of research.
Learning through social networking platforms allows a researcher to be a lifelong student. Anthony Townsend, NYU Wagner adjunct assistant professor of planning and research director at the Institute for the Future, uses Twitter, Pinterest and Tumblr to find "signals" (up and coming trends or interesting projects for example) about topics such as smart cities. "As a forecaster, I'm constantly on the lookout for what early adopters, innovators and forward-looking people are doing and thinking. My Twitter feed is a torrent of high-value signals of trends that may grow in the future," said Townsend.As a platform, Pinterest serves as perfect space for academic research because it allows you to sort through the noise online and collect those selected nuggets on to pin boards so you can refer back to them later. Pinterest also has a comments feature on each "pin", adding a layer of collaboration and interactivity. The internet and social media allow researchers to turn reports into living documents. Social media also allows faculty members to spread their work beyond just academic circles. And by promoting across different platforms, researchers can bring their research to new audiences and can intentionally target specific readers.
Dan Smith, assistant professor of public budgeting and financial management at NYU Wagner said: "When I tweet a research finding, many people who normally wouldn't read academic journals are at least made aware of my work." Traditionally, once a report is released, research is laid to rest in archives on university websites. But we can revive research using social media. There are a number of tools that can help you extend the life of your research. Social networking allows faculty to pivot from promoting their own work, to promoting the school or program, providing a window into the soul of the academia.
As professor Dan Smith says: "Beyond research, Twitter enables me to connect with the public, including current and potential students. Because professors can be somewhat mysterious figures, I try to use Twitter not only to promote my research but also to express who I am as a person."
Source: The Guardian Image: SocialMedium
