Academics and particularly scientists do not have time to blog or read newspapers or be on Instgram. They are in the libraries, labs, at high-end conferences where they discuss the latest equations or microbiology discovery. True or not?
It is a matter of choice, after all, but nowadays, Science Blogging is a reality and sometimes all you need in order to proceed to the next practical step - like opening your blog - is a little bit of encouragement and acknowledgement of the results already achieved by other professionals in your domain. This essential guide reunites articles written by famous scientists bloggers, who are explaining in a very simple yet encouraging way what science blogging means, what are the advantages, how to manage the various technical choices - Tumblr vs. Blogger vs. Wordpress; if you ask me, I keep being a faithful Blogger follower and practician- how to use visual content or keep in mind copyright issues. There are also tips about how to read your blog metrics and how, eventually, one can make money out of it, although this should not necessarily be the main aim of the project.
Instead of being dismissed as futile activity, mostly a waste of time, science blogging offers to the scientists several noticeable advantages: practising writing on a daily basis, personal branding, networking with other scientists, creating a platform for further academic contacts and freelancing work, to mention only few of them. 'Blogging is a marathon, not a sprint', mentioned one of the authors, as a warning that, similarly with the academia, science blogging does not guarantee a blitz-success. Science blogging improves teaching skills and social skills in general, can help testing concepts and ideas and, what I think it is very important, offer to scientists a voice against pseudo-science.
Addressing the beginner and skeptical science bloggger, it is well written with good references and many good tips. Personally I think blogging can tremendously make a difference in the life of a PhD student that needs to polish his or her writing skills permanently, but also constantly test and confront various conclusions and results of the research. Wish I had used this opportunity more often during my doctoral research.
Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher via NetGalley.com in exchange of an honest review
Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher via NetGalley.com in exchange of an honest review
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