Ten simple rules for effective online outreach

• Published in: PLoS computational biology 2015-04, Vol.11 (4), p.e1003906-e1003906
• Main Authors: Bik, Holly M, Dove, Alistair D M, Goldstein, Miriam C, Helm, Rebecca R, MacPherson, Rick, Martini, Kim, Warneke, Alexandria, McClain, Craig
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algorithms; Blogs; Communication; Information Dissemination - methods; Laboratories; Mission statements; Models, Organizational; Online Systems; Publishing - organization & administration; Research Design; Research methods; Science - organization & administration; Science publishing; Scientists; Services; Social Media - organization & administration; Social networks; Studies; Success; Writing
• ISSN: 1553-7358; 1553-734X; 1553-7358
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003906

  Capitalizing on our diverse interests and various social outlets, our readership has expanded to make DSN one of the most popular marine science blogs on the Internet, with ~7,000 average hits/day, and more than 8,000,000 cumulative hits. Because of our high visibility, DSN authors are routinely cited by various science journalists and quoted in prominent general audience publications such as Slate, Wired, National Geographic, and the annual print anthology The Open Laboratory: The Best Science Writing Online. Some of our writing, such as that on the Fukushima nuclear disaster and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, has been widely quoted in the press, and our posts aimed at students interested in marine science are used by teachers and advisors around the world. Because we have witnessed such direct and beneficial gains as a result of our online outreach activities, we feel strongly that such activities should be given more weight when determining scientific productivity, e.g., during hiring/promotion decisions.