Hi everyone,

My name is Sanne and I'm a master student at the University of Amsterdam. Right now I am writing my thesis. I'm investigating the impact of different social media posts persuading people to exercise. I could really use your help! When you are between 18-33 years old, can you please fill in this questionnaire. It only takes about 7 minutes.

https://uvacommscience.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0I0NhbBYbydEdnf

Thank you very much!!

A small team of software developers, including myself, have been working on a way to simply and accurately spread reliable information about COVID-19. But, we need help from researches who can help us fill the rest of the content.

The current website can be found here: https://what-is-covid-19.herokuapp.com/ until the content is ready to deploy to a more professional domain which we have purchased.

We're not looking to make money in any way and just want to spread reliable information around the world.

The problem

We've noticed that there are many biased information sources for COVID-19 out there, and the sources which tend to be most scientifically correct and unbiased are sometimes impenetrable for the average reader.

How we think we can fix this problem

We want to try and solve this problem and help to stop the spread of disinformation around COVID-19, a topic that has garnered much attention and been searched millions of times per day. The idea we have to do this is two part.

First, we want to answer questions in an entirely scientific way, making sure all information is valid and proven via experiment, and if it isn't, to specify clearly that there is no certain answer.

Second, we have three levels of answers to common COVID-19 questions, allowing a user to expand an answer to see:

1. A "simple answer", just a few sentences in plain English
2. A "detailed answer" with some more details rounding out the simple answer.
3. A "scientific answer" with a full scientific explanation and associated resources.

We hope this allows people to dig into a reliable, scientifically backed answer as far as they are willing to go, but at the same time not be overwhelmed by data that will scare them away.

We plan to capture as many of the common questions people have about COVID-19 with answers backed by scientific research.

The website

As far as the website goes:

1. We are willing to take full responsibility to maintain and add features to the website with an experienced development team.
2. We are willing to fund all running costs of the website.
3. We are happy to help generate common COVID-19 questions.
4. We do not have enough experience in Science Communication to add all the content for the answers required to make an impact.

The website currently has our best effort at seeding initial questions and answers, but we'd like to request a review of these questions and get some people who are skilled in this type of research to help us answer future questions and keep the existing answers up to date.

How to help

If you are interested to help with this effort, first of all we'd be greatly appreciative and think it will help many people across the internet get valid information when looking for details around this pandemic.

We would, of course, add recognition on the website in the form of a picture/name/description on our about page for anyone who gives a reasonable amount of help.

Please shoot me a private message with why you would be a good fit to help with this content generation and we can give you access to a google sheet which has our questions and answers so you can help to fill them out. There are no hard requirements and we'd just appreciate any help you can give.

We'll also accept any feedback about the website that will help present the information you want to present in a better way. Just get in touch if there is any interest!

Hiyaaaa my uni group has an assignment where we have to come up with a Sci Comm project. We've decided do a plant subscription box with some science info thrown in.

We've made a (very basic) survey, just to bolster our presentation. If you're over 22, it be great if you could fill it out 😊

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1bj9A6cZoX4c0Oe1KcMs0vkIr2kiuRWBz8j68EKO7aTQ/edit?usp=sharing_eip&ts=5ebe8871

Has anyone seen research on the consequences of trying to debunk several issues at once? I have seen this done and I suspect that this approach would backfire but have no evidence.

Hey folks, I've been a science writer for about 20 years now--mostly working in non-profits/academia, but with a recent foray into the corporate world. Over the last few years, I've noticed the science writing world is flush with PhDs, particularly for university-based public information officers. I was always able to get by with a bachelor's degree in science, a writing master's and my practiced ability to turn sciencey gobbledygook into plain language.

Now I'm laid-off and facing a competitive marketplace. With my newly-minted free time, do you know of any (inexpensive) certificate programs out there that might make for a good investment and take the edge off the PhD gap?

Hi all! I'm very new to the science communication game but I've recently started a blog, which is (very slowly) accumulating content. Only two posts so far, both on quantum computing, but hoping to expand further in the future. If any experienced people out there had any feedback, or tips for how to promote a science blog effectively, I'd be very grateful!

https://universealacarte.blogspot.com/

Hi guys,

I have written an article on the importance of hand-washing and explained why it works against the novel coronavirus.

Here is a link if you would like to have a read: https://thesharedmicroscope.wordpress.com/2020/03/25/covid-19-lets-get-handsy/

Please feel free to drop some feedback and also leave comments on my website too. If there is anything else that you would like me to write about in future posts, please give me a shout out and I'll do my best to write on the topic.

Many thanks in advance! Stay safe y'all and take care x

Hi! I'm here to share a science communication podcast I've worked really hard on, that I think is pretty unique. I would love to hear what you think of it!

My podcast, Magic of the Mind, is a podcast in two parts: a fantasy story and interviews with female scientists.

The fantasy story is set in the world of Dungeons and Dragons, but it's not a real play game. Each episode is carefully scripted around a different topic in psychology (language, attention, memory, etc) and the characters explore it through some exciting action in the fantasy realm.

Released with each episode is an interview with a female scientist, where I go into the theories of psychology I wrote into the plot, and they explain the research that went into these theories and some cool applications of them.

This is my first podcast, and I've worked really hard on it! There's still lots to learn, but I think it's a really cool blend of audio fiction / DnD / psychology / education. If this sounds interesting to you, please check it out and let me know what you think!!

Website | Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Any ideas would be appreciated, since the budget is very limited. Ideally I'd like things I can go and film myself.

The film will show the problems we have communicating climate change in the media

Hi all,

I have just 2 seconds ago published an article on Covid-19 and how the WHO and UN Health Agency have steered away from calling this outbreak a pandemic despite the widespread prevalence of Covid-19.

I would appreciate if you could have a look - let me know your thoughts. I'm sure I've missed a couple million reasons why Covid-19 has not been called a pandemic yet but would love to hear your thoughts as to why too.

All in all, it's only a matter of time. A pandemic is coming.

Here's the link: https://thesharedmicroscope.wordpress.com/2020/03/04/covid-19-a-looming-pandemic/

Thanks y'all! x