Why Should Scientists be on YouTube? It’s all About Bamboo, Oil and Ice Cream
Scientific information is a key ingredient needed to tackle global challenges like climate change, but to do this it must be communicated in ways that are accessible to diverse groups, and that go beyond traditional methods (peer-reviewed publications). For decades there have been calls for scientis...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Communication |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2021.586297/full |
| _version_ | 1831740204801589248 |
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| author | Eric B. Brennan |
| author_facet | Eric B. Brennan |
| author_sort | Eric B. Brennan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Scientific information is a key ingredient needed to tackle global challenges like climate change, but to do this it must be communicated in ways that are accessible to diverse groups, and that go beyond traditional methods (peer-reviewed publications). For decades there have been calls for scientists to improve their communication skills—with each other and the public—but, this problem persists. During this time there have been astonishing changes in the visual communication tools available to scientists. I see video as the next step in this evolution. In this paper I highlight three major changes in the visual communication tools over the past 100 years, and use three memorable items—bamboo, oil and ice cream—and analogies and metaphors to explain why and how Do-it-Yourself (DIY) videos made by scientists, and shared on YouTube, can radically improve science communication and engagement. I also address practical questions for scientists to consider as they learn to make videos, and organize and manage them on YouTube. DIY videos are not a silver bullet that will automatically improve science communication, but they can help scientists to 1) reflect on and improve their communications skills, 2) tell stories about their research with interesting visuals that augment their peer-reviewed papers, 3) efficiently connect with and inspire broad audiences including future scientists, 4) increase scientific literacy, and 5) reduce misinformation. Becoming a scientist videographer or scientist DIY YouTuber can be an enjoyable, creative, worthwhile and fulfilling activity that can enhance many aspects of a scientist’s career. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T13:52:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-da187b749ccf475fabc087dd691b7d98 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-900X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T13:52:55Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Communication |
| spelling | doaj.art-da187b749ccf475fabc087dd691b7d982022-12-21T19:01:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Communication2297-900X2021-04-01610.3389/fcomm.2021.586297586297Why Should Scientists be on YouTube? It’s all About Bamboo, Oil and Ice CreamEric B. BrennanScientific information is a key ingredient needed to tackle global challenges like climate change, but to do this it must be communicated in ways that are accessible to diverse groups, and that go beyond traditional methods (peer-reviewed publications). For decades there have been calls for scientists to improve their communication skills—with each other and the public—but, this problem persists. During this time there have been astonishing changes in the visual communication tools available to scientists. I see video as the next step in this evolution. In this paper I highlight three major changes in the visual communication tools over the past 100 years, and use three memorable items—bamboo, oil and ice cream—and analogies and metaphors to explain why and how Do-it-Yourself (DIY) videos made by scientists, and shared on YouTube, can radically improve science communication and engagement. I also address practical questions for scientists to consider as they learn to make videos, and organize and manage them on YouTube. DIY videos are not a silver bullet that will automatically improve science communication, but they can help scientists to 1) reflect on and improve their communications skills, 2) tell stories about their research with interesting visuals that augment their peer-reviewed papers, 3) efficiently connect with and inspire broad audiences including future scientists, 4) increase scientific literacy, and 5) reduce misinformation. Becoming a scientist videographer or scientist DIY YouTuber can be an enjoyable, creative, worthwhile and fulfilling activity that can enhance many aspects of a scientist’s career.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2021.586297/fullscience communicationpublic understanding of scienceYouTubescience engagementvisual communicationstory telling |
| spellingShingle | Eric B. Brennan Why Should Scientists be on YouTube? It’s all About Bamboo, Oil and Ice Cream Frontiers in Communication science communication public understanding of science YouTube science engagement visual communication story telling |
| title | Why Should Scientists be on YouTube? It’s all About Bamboo, Oil and Ice Cream |
| title_full | Why Should Scientists be on YouTube? It’s all About Bamboo, Oil and Ice Cream |
| title_fullStr | Why Should Scientists be on YouTube? It’s all About Bamboo, Oil and Ice Cream |
| title_full_unstemmed | Why Should Scientists be on YouTube? It’s all About Bamboo, Oil and Ice Cream |
| title_short | Why Should Scientists be on YouTube? It’s all About Bamboo, Oil and Ice Cream |
| title_sort | why should scientists be on youtube it s all about bamboo oil and ice cream |
| topic | science communication public understanding of science YouTube science engagement visual communication story telling |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2021.586297/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ericbbrennan whyshouldscientistsbeonyoutubeitsallaboutbamboooilandicecream |