Brown Bag Talk: Social Media and Academia

“Social Media and Academia: Opportunities, Risks, and Best Practices”

Jennifer Bernstein, Ph.D., Lecturer, Spatial Sciences Institute, moderator

Speakers:
Jacqueline Gill, Ph.D., Professor, University of Maine
Teresa Lloro-Bidart, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Liberal Studies Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Alex Trembath, Communications Director, Breakthrough Institute

Livestream by Bluejeans: https://bluejeans.com/899202030

Today, scholars and students alike engage with one another and the general public on social media. Obvious benefits include the ability to promote one’s work within a community of like scholars; side benefits involve camaraderie, information sharing, and even humor. However, establishing a social media presence as an academic has its risks. In many circles, academics are expected to keep their political and personal views separated from their professional work. Further, vitriol and hostility runs rampant on social media, and an individual with an agenda can publicly attack an academic’s work without following established protocol.

This panel features academics and professionals who have effectively used social media to promote scholarship and engagement. Topics covered will include professionalism, how to promote one’s research, building a network of scholars, common mistakes, dealing with trolls, and more.