Blogs: A New(ish) Niche in the Scientific Communication Ecosystem

Blogging is a relatively new way for scientists to communicate with scientific and non-scientific audiences. Or is it? Drawing on my own experiences as a leading ecology blogger, I'll argue that blogging is just a new and (sometimes) better way to communicate certain things that have long been communicated via other means, such as advice and opinions. I'll address common questions and misconceptions about scientific blogging, including those held by some bloggers. Finally, I'll offer some tentative predictions about the future of scientific blogging. And there will be zombie jokes.