Dana Nourie

Join the Science Community via Social Networks

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I recall how excited I was 15 years ago when I first signed up for NASA’s press releases online. I still get those press releases, but because of social networks, I also get to talk directly with scientists online through Twitter, Facebook, various chat tools, and scientific sites. Even more exiting, I get to be a part of discovery!

Neil deGrasse Tyson has become a household name over the last few years, not just because 3rd graders were angry for his placement of Pluto away from the planets in the Hayden Planetarium, and not just because he has hosted so many wonderful Nova specials. But Neil has taken the time with his Twitter account to educate the public with fun astronomy facts, his personal take on people’s perceptions, as well as responding directly to curious minds.

Like Neil, many other scientists are taking advantage of Twitter to educate and mingle with the public. I was seven years old when astronauts went to the moon, and not in all of our imaginings did we guess that one day we’d be able to follow and interact with astronauts as they work!

I now Follow seven different astronauts who tweet from their journeys in space, which is wildly fascinating, and connects us in a way that no other medium has.

YouTube has allowed us to watch talks that we would not otherwise seen because they weren’t televised. When Neil deGrasse Tyson goes to talk to University students, we often get to view those talks on YouTube. Physicists like Lawrence Krauss has been invited to give special talks, and thanks to YouTube, we also get to watch. No longer to you have to be plugged into the schedule of your TV.

Lawrence Krauss

Facebook is another social network that has been a boon for connecting the public with high profile scientists. Just this morning the Quantum Physics Facebook page hosted a Q&A with physicist Brian Greene. This was so exciting to me, as I had questions I’ve wanted to ask him when I’ve watched his talks on YouTube. Now here was my chance! I voiced concerns to Brian about some of the weirdness of String/M theory. Brian personally and publicly responded to my concerns, answering that he has that same concern and is extra careful with his language because of it.

Facebook has allowed many of us to connect with our favorite scientists and become Friends. I have been especially grateful to have theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss respond to my comments on his page. I have a favorite quote from Lawrence: “Forget Jesus! Stars died in order for you to be here.” I saw him say that in a YouTube video in a talk called A Universe from Nothing. I adore that quote, and had to find him on FB. Luckily he had a page, and has been very responsive to my comments to him. BTW, he has authored some wonderful books too!

Every Saturday morning I log into Second Life, the virtual world, and attend talks at the Meta Institute for Computational Astrophysics (MICA) amphitheater in SL. These are talks on astrophysics given by various professors, some professional scientists, and science writers. These talks are well attended because they are so chalk-full of valuable information, demonstrations, and presentations. For a long while I’ve worried about the future of our science program, and this morning Alan Boyle gave a talk, which answered my questions. Additionally, he personally answered some of my questions at the end of the talk during the Q & A.

Most exciting for me recently was discovering a project NASA has created that allows non-scientists, the general public, to help in astronomy discovery! I’ve joined a site called Zooniverse: Real Science Online, where you can join a project of your interest. NASA provides the data from some of its best space and ground telescopes, provides easy-to-use tools for you to make judgements and provide data, and collates that information into a helpful format for them to make assessments about discoveries in space. It’s a wonderful way to learn about the universe, and to help advance science even though you are not a professional scientist!

Social networks have provided wonderful means for the public to learn directly from the science community, and to get to know the scientists as people. The interaction I’ve had with scientists online has been wholeheartedly exciting, fulfilling, and educational. It delights me to no end to see how Neil Tyson inspires young people and sparks their interest in the universe. The no-nonsense style of Lawrence Krauss is re-freshening, and I am so grateful he is taking the time to thrust facts and evidence in the faces of people who are trying to force myth into our schools. And what a delight to have scientists like Brian Greene answer my concerns directly about String theory interpretations.

The information age is not static and boring. On the contrary it is lively, dynamic and includes us all!