The (potential) impact of AI on the individual research process and  science in general
Elephant in the Lab
by Sascha Schönig
5d ago
AI has the potential to change research. There’s a lot of positive potential, but at the same time, there are also fears associated with the influence on academic activity. In your impression, how enthusiastic are researchers at the moment about future effects of AI? That’s hard to say because I don’t know all fields of research and I think that different parts of the community will have to expect very diverse types of changes. In the very start of the AI hype researchers of all disciplines had very high hopes; not only the computer sciences, data science or natural science who already have a ..read more
Visit website
A Journey from researcher to influencer: TikTok as a methodological tool
Elephant in the Lab
by Elias Koch
3M ago
Introduction In this blog post I dive into the integration of TikTok as a methodological tool for doing ethnographic research on social media influencers. TikTok has skyrocketed in popularity, boasting 672 million downloads in 2022, making it the most downloaded entertainment app globally (Statista). Beyond just entertainment, it has evolved into a go-to search engine for younger generations seeking information about products, services, and explanations (Kalley, 2022). TikTok’s wide appeal stems from the fact that it is an algorithmic media. Its algorithms smartly curate, personalise and serv ..read more
Visit website
Do you dare? What female scientists expect when communicating
Elephant in the Lab
by Sascha Schönig
4M ago
The expectation to communicate In 2019, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research called for a cultural shift toward communicating science (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, 2019). The former Federal Minister of Education and Research, Anja Karliczek, urged scientists to communicate their research continuously and classified communication as a central task for universities and research organizations (Karliczek, 2020). The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the fact that scientists who communicate with the public face not only enthusiasm, but also hostility, especially from a ..read more
Visit website
What happens to science when it communicates?
Elephant in the Lab
by Sascha Schönig
5M ago
What actually happens to science when it opens up? From your perspective as a science researcher, can you describe why this perspective is important? I believe that science takes place in a social environment and certain images of science emerge or have emerged, which are questioned in many respects in a digital and now increasingly open context or are subject to tensions. In this respect, it makes sense, especially in the context of crises and challenges to question how the image of science changes in such situations. Scientists are now interacting more intensively with the public and scienc ..read more
Visit website
Science and Society need more interaction instead of mere communication. An Interview with Volker Meyer-Guckel
Elephant in the Lab
by Sascha Schönig
5M ago
Science communication is often considered equal with public relations or media coverage. However, the phenomenon is significantly more complex, and its most important aspects are not given enough attention. For instance, science includes how science can not only communicate but also interact with societal groups, and the potential impacts this can have on the perception of research in the public eye. Dr. Volker Meyer-Guckel, Chair of the Donors’ Association, explained in an interview with “Elephant in the Lab” why our understanding is outdated and how effective science communication can be ac ..read more
Visit website
Populism, Science and Public Discourse: An Interview with Niels Mede
Elephant in the Lab
by Elias Koch
6M ago
So, Niels Mede, tell us: who are you? And what do you do?  I am a post-doctoral communication researcher in the Department of Communication and Media Research at the University of Zurich, and until recently, I was a visiting research fellow at the Oxford Internet Institute. My research centers around science communication, with a focus on public attitudes toward science and communication about science on social media and beyond. A particular focus of my research are critical, sceptical and populist resentments against science, scientists, expertise and scientific methods and how these ma ..read more
Visit website
Gender Disparity in Science
Elephant in the Lab
by Elephant in the Lab
7M ago
Why are women underrepresented in China’s most distinguished academic committees? From the election data of these academic committees over a decade, Bao and Huang revealed that fewer women entered the recruitments of these committees, and social connections disproportionately influence male candidates’ success compared to their female counterparts. This revelation calls for an urgent reevaluation of recruitment practices. China had a long history of male preferences and stereotypes against women, especially intellectually. There is also a lack of reforms in the science sector to enhance gende ..read more
Visit website
Between societal relevance and autonomy
Elephant in the Lab
by Elias Koch
8M ago
Academic research enjoys a high level of trust among the society in Germany, not least because of its autonomy that is granted by the constitution. At the same time, the public expects research to leave its “ivory tower” and take on a more active role in addressing complex societal challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic or climate change. Engaging in public debates and political decision-making constitutes a conflict of interests for researchers: How far can they go and when is their scientific autonomy threatened? Elephant in the Lab talked to Prof. Dr. Peter Weingart – a prominent mind in ..read more
Visit website
How good science communication can support researchers in cases of hostility
Elephant in the Lab
by Elias Koch
8M ago
The question of how researchers engage in public communication or political decision-making processes has gained unprecedented attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many scientists experienced hostile attitudes when going public. Threats and science hostility are no new phenomena, but gain more importance as science is increasingly embedded in public debates. Elephant in the Lab talked to Julia Wandt and Matthias Fejes, who both work in the field of science communication and are involved in the set-up of Scicomm-Support, a support structure to protect researchers in cases of hostility. Juli ..read more
Visit website
Using RSS to keep track of the latest Journal Articles
Elephant in the Lab
by Elias Koch
10M ago
What’s the matter? Keeping track of the latest articles published in the leading journals in one’s field of expertise can be challenging. But even if it is impossible to know literally every newly published paper in a field, having an overview of its recent, most prominent research agendas might be both inspiring and helpful to contribute to discussions with fellow scholars or students.  To find recently published work, some scholars choose to skim through the websites of their favorite journals every now and then. Of course, this approach ensures that you have an overview of the latest ..read more
Visit website

Follow Elephant in the Lab on FeedSpot

Continue with Google
Continue with Apple
OR