This is me and my digital circumstances

Miquel Duran @miquelduran http://miquelduran.net [email protected]

This is me and my digital circumstances

Miquel DURAN Institute of Computational Chemistry and CatalysisCàtedra de Cultura Científica i Comunicació Digital

Universitat de [email protected] @miquelduran

Doctoral School, UNavarra – 15/1/2016

This presentation is available at http://slideshare.net/quelgir


Key photo yesterday at @cienciabar


This is me

• MicroCV at twitter: University professor. Research in Quantum Chemistry. Digital Science Communication, Magic and Science, MOOCs, TEDx events, Open Knowledge

• Full Professor of Physical Chemistry at Universitat de Girona. Research in quantum Chemistry - Nonlinear optical properties of molecules, two-electron densities, and weak molecular interactions.

This is me too

• I like magic, railways, lateral thinking, food markets, humour, mountain biking, languages, …

• Best friend: our cat Auri https://twitter.com/arnauduran/status/441597227241177088/photo/1/large

And this is even me

https://twitter.com/arnauduran/status/441597227241177088/photo/1/large




Did you know that today…

• Wikipedia turns 15!• http://15.wikipedia.org


Many keys and ways for digital communication of knowledge


#Selfie: it’s all about reputation

(Not a CC image)


Little Quantum Red Riding HoodIs she taking the rational lane or the emotional one?

Is the wolf eating her grandma?Answers: Both and both (quantum wolf too!)


What has changed recently in (y)our neighborhood?

• Almost everyone has now a smartphone (mobility)

• High bandwidth (video consumption)• Ease of video production and streaming

• And the Internet of things


This is me…

• And my archive…

• And my laptop• And my tablet• And my smartphone • [And my smartwatch]

• i.e., …


This is me and my digital circumstances

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebabcock/3600077025/


But…

This is also memy batterymy plugsmy WiFi

and my 3G

Is it sustainable?


On Social Networking and Academics

• We would like scientists to – understand wholly that communicating their

research and taking care of new knowledge (content curation) is a key feature towards their future,

– because of its intrinsic interest and social service, – but also as a requisite to new project calls places

by the different research agencies


@LSEImpactBlog http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/


Warwick Knowledge Centre http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/knowledge/


There are two kinds of rankings: (1) bad, and (2) very bad

• Metrics unknown• Metrics perhaps useless• What about Klout, Kred, PeerIndex, …?• What about simpler outcomes?• New: Altmetrics (open publishing)


Disruptive change at universities? Maybe not (yet)

• The web 2.0 must transform the university, rather that be added to its routine activity

• Strategic attitude – changing University via conversations, via social networking– Professor-researcher 2.0– Professor-researcher: director, actor or secondary

person?

Innosfera, Vilanova i la Geltrú, 12/6/2010


Indeed, ther is a quadruple level in branding and reputation

• Institutional / university level• Departmental / Research Institute level• Research Group level• Personal level

• Different brands• Reputation hindered by current economic

downturn


Science Communication 2.0• Communicating Research – 4 levels at least

– Refereed Papers– Communications in General Science Journals– Dissemination of Science and Research– Talking to young people

• Different formats:– Classical article– Video (YouTube Generation)– Website / mobile / Social (the newest generation)

• Socialization through facebook, twitter, flickr, instagram, youtube, tumblr, pinterest and any other system that may appear right today


But we also have facebook, youtube, flickr, etc etc

• Our blog/website shoud be our main asset• Facebook and other social networks are used to

amplify our website, to engage in conversations and to share content

• The Web 2.0 Culture spreads fast amont students, but not so much among researchers (I don’t have time for that)

• Days should be longer than the current 25 hour limit!


Do research groups communicate?• The 3 worlds (individual, group and

isntitution) communicate differently!• Everythink depends too much on

individual attitudes.• The Web 2.0 Culture is an attitude!• The current economic difficulties prevent

enthousiastic involvement in communication, e.g. in Science Outreach activities


What about academic units (departaments and institutes)

• Departments, even though they gather most part of research force, are too focused on teaching. Communication of research is scarce

• Research Institutes communicate slightly better, but few of them use English as their primary language

• Use of English and amount of communication is related to Internationalitzation


What about researchers?

• Almost no one communicates his/her current research

• Some communicate key aspects of their academic/research life

• Much easier if related to Social Science• Hard Science is difficult to communicate• Struggle in Humanities: yet thinking in a move

toward Digital Humanities


Responsible Research and Innovation: How do we receive feedback?

• RRI: Key element of Horizon 2020• Meetings with Research and Innovation stockholders

(i.e., companies, private sector)• Meeting parents and families at outreach activities• By means of online activities• Bringing young students to the University/Research

Center, practical activities• Formal interaction with other Public Institutions,

government officials, elected citzens• Above all: be active!


So let’s try 8+ ways to communicate in the Net!


Blogging• My blog Edunomia http://edunomia.net• My mesoblog edunoming http://edunoming.wordpress.com• My microblog (twitter) @miquelduran

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cambodia4kidsorg/267060150/


Perhaps blogs (short texts+images) are currently losing appeal


Social networking

• General and specific (scientific)


Science dissemination


Magic (->personal skill)

The Magic of the Periodic Table of the Elements, G4G11 Atlanta 3/14Magic, Science and Confessable Secrets, new MOOC at #MiriadaX


Open Science• Sharing, Collaboration, Cooperating

http://www.flickr.com/photos/100477638@N03/10204741904/


TEDx-style talks

Marcel Swart (ICREA): “I’m a chemist – and proud to be so”


Video as a new basic personal skill


MOOC• Another way of Science Communication

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mathplourde/8620174342/


(1/2 way!) make others communicate

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisperriman/9276563408/


• Communicating, disseminating, promoting Science and Research should be one of the keys taks of a Senior Researcher

• Junior Researchers should acquire those skills and attitudes during their Ph.D. period

• And do not forget: Content is king! Without content, there is nothing to share


And now what?


In Search of Lost Time(Why do academics work so much?)

• Inside Higher Education 3 March 2014http://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2014/03/03/essay-why-faculty-members-work-so-much

• As I am writing this article, I should be writing something else: an email to an editor, an email to an author, a letter of recommendation, notes for tomorrow’s classes, comments on students’ papers, comments on manuscripts, an abstract for an upcoming conference, notes for one of the books I’m working on. I cannot remember the last time I ended a day having crossed everything off my to-do list.

http://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2014/03/03/essay-why-faculty-members-work-so-much





Matt Cutts’ TEDTalk: Try something new for 30 days

• Is there something you've always meant to do, wanted to do, but just ... haven't? Matt Cutts suggests: Try it for 30 days. This short, lighthearted talk offers a neat way to think about setting and achieving goals.

http://www.ted.com/talks/matt_cutts_try_something_new_for_30_days






Why don’t you … ?• Why don’t you blog once a week? You’ll be surprised about its

value after some time!• Why don’t you shoot a #selfie every now and then? • Why don’t you start a Scientifc Insragram, Tumblr, Flickr… or

Youtube. Your Science city. Your trips.• Why don’t you tweet about an article or idea on your field of

knowledge found in the Internet?• Why don’t you tweet about your Group? Group meeting,

congresses, conferences, talks, papers…• Why don’t you attend “Ciencia en Redes”, Madrid, 8 May

2014?


ISCiCo• Scientific Communication Course (master level), in English.

Wiki http://iscico.wordpress.com• Hey… We got 30K views of the 5 PPT files in Slideshare!

Our most-viewed file: >9.000 times, cf. my most-cited paper >900 times.

• Content:– This is me and my digital circumstances– Let's communicate!– Let's collaborate!– Metrics and outreach– Good practices

http://iscico.wordpress.com/


Investigación Científica 2.0.1:Claves para una sociedad digital

• MOOC to start its second edition in the forthcoming weeks at #MiriadaX. In Spanish• 2500 registrants one year ago, 400 completed• https://www.miriadax.net/web/sociedad_digital• Promotional video:

– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= Up_LcDkBzSY

• Módulo 0: Presentación.• Módulo 1: Elementos del proceso investigador.• Módulo 2: Reputación en el ámbito investigador.• Módulo 3: Nuevos espacios de publicación digital.• Módulo 4: Eficiencia y eficacia del proceso colaborativo y comunicador.

Impacto académico y en la red• Módulo 5: Divulgación y diseminación del conocimiento.• Módulo 6: Ejemplos de buenas prácticas en el uso de Internet.

https://www.miriadax.net/web/sociedad_digital

https://www.miriadax.net/web/sociedad_digital

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up_LcDkBzSY




Small personal plan

• Personal communication environment (PCE)• Communication plan• Task list• Easy goals• Simple metrics• Share with the public


Cards as an analogy for science communication

• So many games and tricks!• So many ways to

communicate science!


Stephen Macknik and Susana Martínez-Conde in “Sleights of Mind”

• Clarke’s 3rd law: Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic

• Agatha Heterodyne paraphrase: Any sufficiently analyzed magic is indistinguishable from science

• Girona’s corolary: “any sufficiently complex social network is indinguishable from magic”

Stephen Macknik and Susana Martínez-Conde, “Sleights of Mind. What the neuroscience of magic reveals about our brains”. Profile Books, London 2011


I’d love to talk about, but did not have time to…

• Storytelling• Branding• Leadership• Common goal• Social networks clone Social classes at the

University!• One must fight against the digital divide!


OK - and now what?

• Let’s movilize• Let¡s change• Let’s move• Let’s do thinkgs well• Let’s concentrate• Let’s keep freedom• Let’s catalyze a positive attidude• Let’s (place here your favourite call to action)


Some ideas to take away

• Web 2.0, Social Networking, Communicating Research – is just an attitude

• There is a paramount task yet in involving and motivating (good) researchers, research groups and academic units in communicating (well!) Research and Science.

• Dissemination of Research and Public Outreach is hindered by current issues.

• There is a high pressure (Publish of Perish, Transfer or Die, etc.) that does not free time enough to get involved in Public Outreach and Dissemination activities

• A proper system of Rewards could be established to catalyze and promote Science and Research communication.


Key ideas to (tweet and to) take away

• Key idea: Education is not a preparation for life. Education is life itself

• Let me introduce you to my favourite chemist – Panoramix

• Thank you!

• This presentation is available at http://slideshare.net/quelgir

http://slideshare.net/quelgir


MORE ON …


Tweetable quote Social networks are…

Twitter: good text (danger: >140!?) with bad images

Instagram: good images with bad text


Let’s do thinkgs simple and sustainable, slowly

Primary sources: twitter and instagramAggregators: Facebook, linkedinPortal: an attractive landing page, blog with

relevant content, mostly useful for oneselfRepository: slidesahre, google docs, dropbox...

Future utilitiesEdit wikipedia (today 15yo)Be open, or separate open accounts from closed

ones. Use Creative Commons licenses


Note:

There is not something like digital communication. There is just communication

You may find other presentations on this subject in my slideshare account, also in my blog


And now, some advice:Write posts for yourselvesTag, tag, tag, hashtag… SHARE!Make things be relevant, interesting and attractiveDo not be monothematic. Do combine social

networksBe singularBe efficient. Work faster and more intensively, but

do not work more time! (e.g., google docs)


So you may be singular...Follow blogs and websites via RSS with Feedly, as a source

of DIFFERENT ideasExit you CONFORT ZONE… or BOREDOM zoneDo little CHANGES, and do them oftenGet a unique available identifier which make you

confortableAnd very important: state a MID-TERM goal and path the

way to reach itAh! And most important of all: go to the STREET, get to

MARKET, rike your BIKE, WALK, involve in CONVERSATIONS, DISCUSS, ENJOY your meals…


So here are 5 reasons not to communicate Science... especially in the Net


I don’t have any good idea

Why don’t you consider Science dissemination as

an opportunity for expanding your research activity into teaching and

leaving your usual expertise field, while adventuring into new

areas?


I don’t have any moneyWhy don’t you consider Science dissemination as

an opportunity to get some funding through

calls, international collaboration,

transdisciplinar work?


I don’t have time nor energy left

Why don’t you consider Science Communication

as an opportunity for task cleanup and lean time management?


I don’t have enough digital skills

Why don’t you consider Science Dissemination as an opportunity to enter

the amazing world of the Internet, online learning, open knowledge, social

networking, …?


I get no recognitionWhy don’t you consider

Science Disseminaton as an opportunity to recharge your personal batteries?

(personal note: the number of cycles is limited – like

actual chemical batteries)


I don’t/I am not …I’m alone

I’m shyI don’t know how to start with video

I don’t have technical supportI’m not fluent in English

I hate computers and/or computers hate meI’m underpaid/nonpermanent/part-time

I’m tiredI’m not young anymore


Now some commercials

What is a quantum chemist like me doing in a the Science & Internet battlefield?

MOOC on Magic & Science http://magcimooc.net

MetaMOOC “How to build a MOOC on a budget”

http://magcimooc.net/


Science does not need digital skillsScientists only communicate research or disseminate plain knowledgeScience makes sense with no public communicationReally everyone must have scientifc background and intellectual basisEveryone must know what an atom is, and what the Periodic Table of the Elements is

Further unlikely clues


Citizens must be aware of the importance of Science views in all political discussions. Science helps with policies, yet it is not politics.

Scienticic citizenship brings about an informed public, i.e., a more democratic society

Further likely clues


But I have got a special question

• Do social networks hinder rational discussion – and hence hinder Scientific Citizenship?


and I have got another clue• Every day we wake up with a new digital

application of mobile app – or new functionality

• Is this contributing to a sustainable science?


SOThere are many reasons to communicate science in the Net, they are

APPEALINGCommunicating Science means having the right attitude, rather than

having the suitable resources.

WHY DON’T YOUStart a blog, open a twitter account or set up instragram photostream

ANDTackle an idea, talk about an event, deal with a moment in history,

criticize science in newspapers and media, curate content

AND PLEASE COMMENT my blog post at http://edunomia.net


Caution

Your attitude is a choice!Continued, strong and stressful involvement in Science Communication may cause adiction. Do Clicks & bricksDo MOOCs, books & cooks

This presentation and others at http://slideshare.net/quelgirText licensed CC-BY-SA

http://slideshare.net/quelgir


Key ideas to (tweet and to) take away• The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the

one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' (I found it!) but 'That's funny ...‘ (Isaasc Asimov) (also “Oh My God!, as noted by Nobel Prize S Glashow)

• Education is not a preparation for life. Education is life itself

• Thank you!!!!!