Connect with other researchers and develop yourself

Including professional networking sites and social media.

Professional and networking sites

There are a range of networking sites available to promote your research and connect with others. However it is important to check copyright restrictions required by the publishers of any article that you post on these sites.

Academia.edu allows you to follow the latest research in your field.

MethodSpace allows you to network, and share research, resources and debate.

ResearchGate is a professional network for scientists and researchers, providing opportunities for making connections, plus information on conferences and jobs.

For those who don't enjoy networking, take a look at Sacha Chua's blog post Shy Connector, or Susan Cain's TED talk The Power of Introverts.

Using social media to make connections

Social media (for example, blogging, micro-blogging, social citation tools) are becoming increasingly visible and valuable in the research world.

Blogging

Blogs are used to share ideas, both individually and collaboratively.

For more information on why blogging can be a positive academic activity, have a look at the University World News article Academic bloggers everywhere, or this blog post on the value of academic blogging. For a professor's point of view, try Why do I bother?, by Steve Wheeler from Plymouth University. 

The Research Whisperer also has a blog post on how find researchers to collaborate with.

Micro-blogging

Twitter is the best known form of micro-blogging. If you are unsure about Twitter, try reading Dorothy Bishop's blog post A gentle introduction to Twitter for the apprehensive academic.

"Can anything of academic value ever be said in just 140 characters?" LSE have produced a helpful guide Using Twitter in university research, teaching and impact activities.

Social citation

These services offer a means of storing and sharing citations, and facilitate academic networking. Citeulike and Mendeley are two of the best known resources of this type.

Ariadne has a good article outlining Citeulike, A researcher's social bookmarking service. You can read a review of Mendeley in this blog post from Library Sphere.

To use or not to use social media

For advice on the use of social media, read Social Media: a guide for researchers, produced by the Research Information Network.

Vitae have produced a Handbook of social media for researchers and supervisors and run social media events for researchers. More information from Vitae can be found via Digital Researcher.

There is also a useful JISC resource: Web2Practice: emergent technologies and innovative practice.

More information

For more ideas about how social media technologies can help you, try this online guide to Web 2.0 for researchers, developed at Newcastle University for Arts and Humanities researchers, for some useful tips.

Researcher development

Research Business and Innovation (intranet only) is the central UWE Bristol support for research and related activities.

Vitae provides personal and professional development for researchers.
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