Blogging

There are hundreds of science blogs being written all over the world, as well as a growing number of blogs specifically by and for women in SET.

Not entirely sure what a blog is? Click here for an explanation.

So, why blog?

Here are just some of the ways in which blogging can be beneficial:

• Spark discussion
  Blogging is interactive. If you post about something other people are interested in, it can start a discussion about that topic. Likewise, if you see something on someone else’s blog that interests you, you can comment on it and engage in debate.
• Make connections
  By engaging in discussions on your and others’ blogs, you can connect with other women in science, or other researchers in your field, with whom you share common interests. It offers the potential to create communities across institutional, national and international boundaries.
• Make discoveries
  Becoming part of the blogging community connects you to a wealth of information. You can share your own thoughts and discoveries, and in turn read about what research is being carried out elsewhere. In this way, it can help you to stay current, and even stimulate your own work.
• Raise your profile
  Because the internet is global, blogging offers the potential to reach an almost infinite audience. You can publicise your research, your interests, or anything at all, to people you may never otherwise have a chance of encountering in your day-to-day environment. Used well, blogging can be a valuable career-advancement tool. It can even create interest in things you’re trying to get published.

How do I blog?

There is lots of information on the web about how to create a blog, tips to make the most of your blog once you have it, and how to increase your readership. Below is a selection of links to useful resources. Two of the main blog hosting sites, Wordpress and Blogger, have simple instructions on how to create a blog using their (free) services:
Wordpress: http://support.wordpress.com/getting-started/
Blogger: http://www.blogger.com/features

• Learning about blogging & How to blog
  Very comprehensive source of tips and information on all aspects of blogging
• Can Science Blogging Enhance Your Research Life?
  Slideshow of a talk by Dr Katherine Haxton, a chemistry lecturer at Keele University, UK, on science blogging for researchers
• Nature Network
  There are numerous science blogs at the website of the journal Nature
• ScienceBlogs
  This site hosts a collection of science blogs, including a number by women in SET.
• Research Blogging
  Gathers together blog posts about peer-reviewed research into one place. Bloggers can submit posts from their own blogs, and other users can browse the site to find discussions about particular research
• Creative Commons
  Provides a free service for scientists, authors and others to assign the appropriate licenses to their work with the freedom each creator wants it to carry.

Know of another good link you’d like us to add here? Email wiser@tcd.ie to let us know.