Jenny Rock

How Are Scientists Using Social Media in the Workplace

Social media has created networked communication channels that facilitate interactions and allow information to proliferate within professional academic communities as well as in informal social circumstances. A significant contemporary discussion in the field of science communication is how scientists are using (or might use) social media to communicate their research. This includes the role of social media in facilitating the exchange of knowledge internally within and among scientific communities, as well as externally for outreach to engage the public. This study investigates how a surveyed sample of 587 scientists from a variety of academic disciplines, but predominantly the academic life sciences, use social media to communicate internally and externally. Our results demonstrate that while social media usage has yet to be widely adopted, scientists in a variety of disciplines use these platforms to exchange scientific knowledge, generally via either Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or blogs. Despite the low frequency of use, our work evidences that scientists perceive numerous potential advantages to using social media in the workplace. Our data provides a baseline from which to assess future trends in social media use within the science academy.

Plastic and Heritable Components of Phenotypic Variation in Nucella lapillus: An Assessment Using Reciprocal Transplant and Common Garden Experiments

Assessment of plastic and heritable components of phenotypic variation is crucial for understanding the evolution of adaptive character traits in heterogeneous environments. We assessed the above in relation to adaptive shell morphology of the rocky intertidal snail Nucella lapillus by reciprocal transplantation of snails between two shores differing in wave action and rearing snails of the same provenance in a common garden. Results were compared with those reported for similar experiments conducted elsewhere. Microsatellite variation indicated limited gene flow between the populations. Intrinsic growth rate was greater in exposed-site than sheltered-site snails, but the reverse was true of absolute growth rate, suggesting heritable compensation for reduced foraging opportunity at the exposed site. Shell morphology of reciprocal transplants partially converged through plasticity toward that of native snails. Shell morphology of F2s in the common garden partially retained characteristics of the P-generation, suggesting genetic control. A maternal effect was revealed by greater resemblance of F1s than F2s to the P-generation. The observed synergistic effects of plastic, maternal and genetic control of shell-shape may be expected to maximise fitness when environmental characteristics become unpredictable through dispersal.

Documentary as a statement: defining old genre in a new age

Current definitions of documentary struggle to parallel the ability of the viewer to easily demarcate documentary from fiction. This is because these definitions generally attempt to distinguish documentary from fictional films based on the premise that documentaries are factual representations of reality. Here we argue that the two genres can be more clearly defined by focusing on the intent of the communication by the producer, rather than the content of the communication. Specifically, documentary versus fictional films may be best distinguished by the fact that one is produced as a statement of fact while one is focused on the art of storytelling. Notably, a story and a statement differ in the extent to which the intention for how the communication is interpreted is predetermined. Thus, a documentary may be understood as a series of visually and/or audibly expressed statements connected by narrative, and communicated from the author/authors to the viewer with the intention that it be received as fact.

The importance of Antarctica: assessing the values ascribed to Antarctica by its researchers to aid effective climate change communication

Abstract It is useful to gauge the relative importance of different values that are placed on Antarctica, in order to advance the communication of Antarctic science as well as to facilitate decisions regarding the management of human activity, in particular surrounding climate change. This study investigates the values ascribed to Antarctica by its researchers with respect to those held by the general public. We surveyed 76 Antarctic researchers and then compared our findings with the compiled results of nine previously published studies that investigated public perceptions about the importance of Antarctica. We found that its researchers most frequently valued: the Antarctic’s role as a component of the Earth’s climate system, its role as a science laboratory for the benefit of mankind, its role as a pristine wilderness, and as an environment for wildlife. Fewer researchers placed value on its role as a key part of the history of human exploration, as a tourist destination, or as a source of mineral resources. In general, there was congruence between researchers and the public in the values they ascribed to Antarctica, and in particular, both acknowledged its value as a critical component of Earth’s climate system. Our study suggests that the intrinsic values of Antarctica’s wilderness and wildlife, above and beyond its instrumental values to science, tourism and future mineral extraction, is a solid working frame for future science communication based on shared values.

Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Co-creation:

With its conceptual origins in marketing, design, and education, co-creation also has analogues in the fields of science and museology. Reviewing its development in these different disciplines highlights some common challenges (e.g., power relations) and benefits (e.g., joint knowledge production, critical thinking, and shared investment). Aligning this overview with conceptual models such as Arnstein’s ladder of citizen participation and Bakhtin’s carnival theory we aim to further inform the development of co-creation broadly within science communication.

Legitimizing Boundary Crossing for the Average Scientist: Two Cases Acknowledging How Arts Practice Informs Science

To normalize ArtScience, examples need to be shared of its average practitioners within the sciences, in addition to its historical exemplars. Described here are two cases of arts practice informing scientific research as experienced by early-stage researchers in postdoctoral or PhD work. Each case involves different arts approaches and yields different effects on the science; both inform ideas for how to better support and institutionalize ArtScience work.

Microprocessor-based prototype bycatch reduction device reduces bait consumption by spiny dogfish and sandbar shark

Microprocessor-based prototype bycatch reduction device reduces bait consumption by spiny dogfish and sandbar shark Sunkita Howard*, Richard Brill, Chris Hepburn, and Jenny Rock Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand Virginia Institute of Marine Science, P.O. Box 1346, Gloucester Point, VA, USA Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand Centre for Science Communication, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand *Corresponding author: tel: þ64 274875794; e-mail: sunkita.howard@outlook.com.