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But now, how do you organize science communication with other people?
To get started, you may team up with friends or join junior sections of scientific organizations to experiment and learn together.
While a group provides many advantages, a few challenges also appear. Among those, how do you actually organize yourselves?
Since I work as an advisor helping research organizations improve their science communication, here are a few helpful experiences.
General Organization
Let's start with the basics: yes, every helping hand should be welcome.
The most important step early on is assigning clear responsibilities. That means you should be clear about who does what and when.
Even if you have a strong gut feeling, you cannot say who will fit your team best (research confirms that). Generally, those who are ambitious, open to learn, and ready to dedicate some time are the most likely to stick around. Still, excitement can wane quickly. Therefore, don’t get frustrated if you have a high churn rate early on. Just don’t put too much faith in someone you haven’t worked with for 1-2 months, no matter how excited they seem. Yet, those who will stay with you will become amazing allies!
Also, define clear expectations from the start. Don’t say “one piece of content” or “take care of this channel.”
Be very precise about what each responsibility involves. This avoids misunderstandings and automatically prompts you to identify challenges early on.
Unless you want to focus on a single channel, in my experience, it makes sense for one person to take ownership of one platform.
As we have discussed, you don’t need to create content on all platforms. Start with LinkedIn, Instagram, or YouTube.
Sparking Excitement
To my mind, it’s essential to give people a feeling of owning an exciting project instead of creating chores.
Being responsible for a channel shouldn’t feel like a heavy obligation.
So, beyond posting necessary updates, people should be encouraged to explore formats they find genuinely interesting.
We talked about different styles - explore which type of content fits you best. Over time, you'll develop a better understanding of what makes posts successful, allowing you to expand your repertoire.
If there is a more experienced team leader, it's their job to direct and unite others, creating a feeling of purpose and contribution.
If people feel like they contribute to a larger cause, they will be more motivated and dedicated.
Communicating with Each Other
This one sounds obvious. But it is rarely followed. Initially, it's better to communicate too much than too little.
Let people know about exciting ideas, coordinate larger projects, check in on each other, and tell others when you're going on vacation.
While WhatsApp is not the best platform for organizing content and files, it is excellent for continuous communication. Tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams are alternatives, but if participants do not already use them for work or studies, adoption can be challenging. My recommendation: create one main WhatsApp group for the community and several smaller project-specific WhatsApp groups for focused discussions. For file storage and organization, use a shared Google Drive.
These small moments of communication keep everyone aligned and prevent confusion that slowly kills momentum.
Onboarding & Integration
Two things I've seen go wrong most often when running a team are failing to integrate people and losing them over time.
To avoid the former, always give people (and yourself) something to work on. Momentum disappears quickly when you have nothing to do. Keep everyone engaged with a running project, even a small one.
To avoid the latter, don’t overwhelm people. Give them a clear outline: what to do, how to do it (with a small introduction to Canva, PowerPoint, or whatever you use), and some content ideas.
If no such guides exist, work on them together and train each other. Little kills momentum as much as insecurity and overwhelm.
Self-Orchestration and Leadership
Doing SciCom for an organization is amazing because it provides you with channels, resources, and a sense of responsibility.
However, an important point to mention is coordination with the leadership.
When leadership has ideas or expectations, have an open mind and, especially in the beginning, follow them.
This is the organizational structure of the IUBMB - many committees, many people, and many opinions. My personal advice: only get involved in organizations such as the IUBMB that give you enough freedom to explore nonetheless. Otherwise, the experience can quickly become frustrating (and yes, I have encountered organizations like that too). One thing I have appreciated about the IUBMB is the balance it strikes. You receive input and guidance when needed, helping you stay on track, but you are also given the freedom to explore your own ideas and initiatives.
However, don’t treat them as sacrosanct.
Ideas that sound good are not always the ones that perform well, especially when they come from people who are not active on social media.
Once you've gained some experience yourself, you should feel comfortable respectfully pushing back and proposing a better alternative.
You are the one managing the account. You carry the responsibility.
> If you have a plan and abandon it every time someone suggests something new, you introduce inconsistency and confusion.
My recommendation: agree early on which topics to post about, establish a code of conduct, and clarify what's off-limits.
Be creative within those boundaries, but if you're uncertain about something sensitive, consult others before you publish.
Bonus: A Strategic Tip
I can only encourage you to truly spend time on the platform you post on.
Don't use it for personal purposes, but to observe what works. Scroll not from your perspective, but from that of your audience.
That shift in perspective can make everything so much more exciting, because it turns it into an exploratory project.
At the same time, it allows you to see social media as a channel for communication, not an addictive tool for procrastination.
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