Top Tech Tips #1:Academic Social Networks

Adam Moore14th November 2012

• “Facebook for academics”• Social networks focusing on

connecting researchers• Growing niche

What?

• Discover people working in similar fields• Find related research• Look for collaborators• Share publications and data

Why?

• http://www.academia.edu/• “Share Research - a platform for academics to share

research papers”• Oldest in market – most established• Analytics for search terms• Features Questions prominently on front page• USP: Usually amongst top search returns on your

name

Academia.edu

• https://www.researchgate.net• “built for scientists, by scientists, with the idea that

science can do more when it's driven by collaboration”

• Relatively new• Focus is on research, rather than researcher• Has a feed – most similar to Facebook• USP: Discovery of related researchers

ResearchGate

• http://www.iamresearcher.com/• “an intelligent networking platform that connect researchers

from around the world using the cutting edge technologies”• Currently in Beta• From e-Science group• Allows publication of data and other related outputs from

research• Allows creation of project groups• USP: Data sharing / OER

iamResearcher

• http://pushpin.cs.upb.de/• “Supporting Scholarly Awareness in Publications and

Social Networks”• Currently in Alpha• Focus on publications• Recommends relevant publications based on your

own• USP: Direct link to Mendeley

PushPin

• LinkedIn• Mendeley• Connotea• Digg• Tumblr• Del.icio.us

Others with Academic/Social Aspects

• Growing communities of practice• Particular features for academic life• Useful for career• More you use, more you benefit

Summary