Everything you don´t learn in the lab

Social media for scientists – build your online visibility

Topic area
Science communication

Format
Online workshop

Workload
2-4 webinars of 2.5 h each (workload equivalent to 1-2 workshop days)

Target group
PhD students, postdocs, research group leaders, and science managers

In brief

Use social media strategically for science communication, networking, and career development – without becoming a full-time content creator.

Your research deserves to be seen. But by whom?

Social media can help scientists share their research, build professional networks, and reach audiences beyond academia. But do you really need to post regularly? Which platforms are worth your time? And what if you’d rather stay offline?
This interactive workshop isn’t about turning everyone into a social media enthusiast. It’s about finding an approach that fits your professional goals, interests, and available time. You’ll explore platforms such as LinkedIn, Bluesky, Instagram, and ResearchGate, and discover how to use them strategically – or when other forms of online visibility might be more effective.
You’ll learn to present your scientific expertise convincingly, communicate research to different audiences, and build professional connections. We’ll also explore how AI can support content creation without sacrificing accuracy or authenticity.

In this workshop, you’ll learn about:

Social media in science: opportunities and challenges

Choosing suitable platforms for your professional goals
Networking, career development, and research visibility
Time investment, digital well-being, and potential downsides
Active versus passive social media use

Building your professional online presence

Defining your goals and target audiences
Creating or improving your LinkedIn and other professional profiles
Making your research and expertise easier to discover
Exploring alternatives such as personal websites and institutional channels

Communicating research online

Turning research findings into engaging social media content
Adapting messages and formats to different audiences
Using AI tools while maintaining accuracy and authenticity
Developing a realistic, time-efficient communication strategy

Flexible workshop modules

For groups with different experience levels, we can offer the workshop in three separate modules. Institutions can book the complete workshop or select modules to match partici-pants’ experience and needs.

Module 1 – Explore & Decide (one webinar)

Compare platforms, opportunities, and challenges. Decide whether and how social media fits your professional goals.

Module 2 – Build Your Online Presence (one webinar)

Create or improve professional profiles, with a focus on LinkedIn, networking, and research visibility.

Module 3 – Create Engaging Content (two webinars)

Communicate research effectively, adapt content to different audiences, and use AI tools to support content creation.

Workshop format and materials

We offer this workshop online internationally and in-house at universities and research institutions in Germany and across Europe.

Online: Four interactive 2.5-hour webinars, combined with self-paced work on our learning platform. Alongside the webinar phase, participants have three weeks to deepen their learning and can receive individual feedback from the trainers.
In-house: Two interactive workshop days. All participants receive a PDF script of the course, allowing them to revisit the material afterwards.

Tailoring the workshop to your group

Different career stages call for different approaches. We adapt the workshop to partici-pants’ experience, professional goals, and responsibilities.

PhD students – Build your professional identity

Develop your online presence, make professional connections, and explore career opportu-nities inside and outside academia. No previous social media experience is required.

Postdocs and early-career researchers – Strengthen your visibility

Showcase your expertise, expand your professional network, and connect with potential col-laborators, employers, and funding opportunities.

Group leaders and professors – Make your research group more visible

Communicate your group’s achievements, attract talented researchers, and strengthen con-nections with collaborators, funders, and other stakeholders – without spending excessive time on social media.

Science managers and communication professionals – Communicate strategically

Develop or refine your institution’s social media presence, reach relevant audiences, and create effective research communication strategies.

More information and next steps

Do you want to see a preview of the Online Workshop?

Already interested in learning more about the workshop content? You might like our career columns The internet doesn´t forget or Social media.

We offer several talks about the effective internet presence of a scientist: LinkedIn for scientists and Social media for scientists – an added value or a waste of time?

Optional add-on:

A practical workshop on creating scientific videos for researchers who want to develop their multimedia communication skills: Film your science.