"Science Communication on Social Media" with Sarah Winnicki, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign,

1-2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9. 

Winnicki, who earned a master's degree from K-State, is a doctoral student in the University of Illinois' ecology, evolution and conservation biology and an evolutionary ecologist investigating how birds grow and develop. Winnicki has an extensive track record in science communication through bringing research to the general public via outreach at schools, libraries and zoos, as well as through social media campaigns. Winnicki was recognized for public outreach efforts with a Science Communication Award by the Kansas Science Communication Initiative in 2019.

Winnicki will provide an overview of how to use social media to communicate science and engage members of the broader public, including discussion on how effective science communication depends on communicators' understanding of their audience’s level of interest, preferred communication style and previous knowledge. Winnicki also will shed light on commonly asked questions, such as how do Twitter lists differ from Facebook groups and what are the needs of individuals participating in each, why do most tweets reach their maximum engagement in hours while YouTube videos acquire views years later and how should you adjust your messages accordingly, what are the benefits and drawbacks of scheduling tweets or linking social media platforms, and more. 

Please register to attend by 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8.

This event is part of the fourth-annual Science Communication Week presented by the Kansas Science Communication Initiative.