How to Build an Online Profile as a Scientist

It is never too early, or too late in your scientific career to start to build a profile as a scientist. The web has revolutionized the manner by which we can represent ourselves online by providing us the ability to expose our data, experiences and skills online via blogs, wikis and other crowdsourcing venues. As a result it is possible to contribute to the community while developing a social profile as a scientist. While research scientists are primarily still measured by their contributions to science using the classical method of citation statistics a number of freely available online tools are now available for scientists to actively manage and develop their online profile. This is particularly important at a time when alternative measures of contributions to science are being developed – the so-called world of AltMetrics. This presentation will provide an overview of the myriad of tools available to you at any stage of your career. The workshop will take you outside of the world of Twitter and Facebook into the social networking tools for scientists. The workshop can be as interactive as you wish it to be so bring along your computer and hopefully during the presentation and discussions you are actively visiting, registering and seeing the value of the various sites in terms of enhancing your online profile. The resume of the future will likely be a summary of your activities online.