Twitter: What Is It, How to Use It and Why Fisheries Scientists Should Care about a Tweeting Little Blue Bird

Science communication has changed dramatically in the last decade as new communication tools have proliferated in this age of electronic connectivity. After an initial blackout of these communication channels by many science organizations and agencies, the light is finally coming on. New government policies and an administration that looks favorably on both science and transparency are helping drive a rapid expansion of communication among scientists and between scientists and the public. One of the most widely used new communication tools is Twitter, a microblogging site that enables users to read and send 140 character (or less) text-based messages called tweets. But with more than 250 million tweets per day worldwide and counting, how can scientists sort through and find useful information, let alone interact with others or communicate their science directly to the public in a useful way? Using specific examples, I present insights, tips and lessons learned on how to glean useful information from Twitter, stay productive and connect with other scientists and the public in meaningful, two-way dialog.