Science can be pretty interesting. But when scientists try to market their work to the youth and public, it can often come across as dry and dull. As a result, more and more students are being steered away from getting involved in the scientific field.
In 2016, STEM education advocate AmGen Foundation shared the results of an online survey run across 1,500 teens from the United States. The findings showed that teenagers tend not to enjoy their science classes despite being interested in physics, biology, and engineering.
Aside from students, the public often struggles to get interested in science. Sometimes, people have a hard time connecting with scientific concepts if it’s not something they can see or touch.
But with digital marketing, scientists can bridge this gap and help make science more engaging and exciting for students, young people, and the public. With creative content and an enthusiastic approach, scientists can use digital tools to share their work with the world.
Here are five ways digital marketing can be used to make science more interesting:
1. Use social media to reach out to new audiences.
Science has always been a part of society. Still, only recently has social media become a significant factor in how the public consumes and interacts with scientific content.
For students, social media provides a new way to learn about the world around them. By following the accounts of scientists and science communicators, they can stay up-to-date on the latest discoveries and developments.
Social media offers the public a convenient way to access accurate and reliable scientific information. In an era of fake news and alternative facts, social media can help people to sort through the noise and find trustworthy sources of information.
As we continue to use social media in our everyday lives, science communicators must use this powerful digital platform to reach out to new audiences and share the latest insights from the world of science.
2. Create informative blog posts.
It’s no secret that science is sometimes seen as a daunting or even boring topic by students and members of the public. However, there are ways to make science more accessible and interesting to people of all ages.
In the past, scientific journals were the primary way researchers communicated their findings to the public. However, with the advent of the internet, there are now many other ways to reach a wider audience. Blogs are one such example. By writing blog posts tailored to specific audiences, scientists can more effectively communicate their work to the public.
For instance, students may be interested in learning about the latest research in their field. At the same time, the public may be interested in reading about how science affects their everyday lives. By creating targeted content through digital marketing for each of these groups, scientists can ensure that their message reaches the people most likely to be interested in it.
3. Launch a website dedicated to science.
In the past, scientists who wanted to share their work with the public had to go through traditional channels such as print media or television. However, by launching a website dedicated to science, researchers can bypass these traditional channels and reach people interested in learning more about their work.
A website can be a great way to share information about ongoing research projects and provide background information on the latest discoveries. In addition, a website can be used to promote public engagement with science.
To make science more attractive to the students and the public, it is essential for the website to be both accurate and reliable so that students and individuals can trust the information that is being put out there. In terms of the website’s design, utilizing interactive and engaging content will also help draw people in.
An effective website will make complex scientific concepts more accessible to a lay audience and can also be a powerful tool for engaging with potential supporters and donors. With a bit of creativity and thought, a website can be an invaluable instrument for communicating science to the world.
4. Use media content to explain complex concepts.
Video content can be an excellent digital marketing strategy for helping students and the public understand complex scientific concepts. By providing a visual representation of the idea, videos can make difficult topics more accessible.
In addition, videos can supplement traditional texts and lectures, providing another avenue for students to gain a deeper understanding of the material. Video content can also help engage viewers in a way that may not be possible with other media types.
Using infographics is also an innovative way to communicate science to students and the public. In particular, students often respond well to infographics because they can help to break down complicated concepts and can be used to highlight key points that make information more memorable. For the public, on the other hand, infographics can be a helpful way to raise awareness about important issues and encourage people to take action.
5. Offer free resources.
People are always looking for free resources, and there are a number of ways that “freebies” marketed digitally can help science reach more students and the public.
For one, free resources make it easier for people to access scientific information. They can also help to propagate science-related topics and encourage more people to get involved in scientific research. Additionally, free resources can promote scientific literacy and further the public’s understanding of the academe.
Digital marketing can be used in several ways to make science more engaging. Scientists can use social media to reach out to new audiences, create informative blog posts, launch websites dedicated to science, use media content to explain complex concepts and offer free resources such as online courses, quizzes, and articles. The public can also use media content, such as infographics and videos, to learn about it. By using digital marketing techniques, scientists can easily make science more accessible and interesting to a broader audience.
