Interactive Science

Social network sites (SNS) have not only become a fundamental part of the Web, but also increasingly offer novel communicative and networking possibilities for academia. Following a short presentation of the typical functions of (science-specific) SNS, we firstly present the state of knowledge regarding academic usage practices, both in general purpose SNS and in science-specific SNS. Secondly, we assess potential impacts by addressing identified key issues such as privacy, the role of pseudonymity, and the specific form of informal communication in question. In particular, we focus on the issue of network effects and the challenge of multiple channels, which presents itself as a major hurdle for an effective implementation of SNS in academia. Despite hese difficulties, we come to the conclusion that SNS are, in principle, functional for scholarly communication and that they have serious potential within academia.

-> Today, the Internet is an important working environment for all scientists and researchers. They also increasingly use Web 2.0, mainly on an experimental basis. There are also research-specific services with special features for closed groups. By now, some of these platforms have more than a million members worldwide.
-> Web 2.0 has the potential to change science and research: the relationship with the public is redefined; written micro-communication is intensified; web activities affect the standing of the scientists.
-> Using Web 2.0 services intensively leads to par- tial loss of control over information input and a possible information overload for the individual.

-> Das Internet ist heute eine wichtige Arbeitsumgebung aller WissenschafterInnen. Auch das Web 2.0 wird bereits mit steigender Intensität, zumeist experimentell genutzt. Es gibt auch wissenschaftsspezifische Dienste mit speziellen Angeboten für geschlossene Gruppen. Einige dieser Plattformen haben mittlerweile mehr als eine Million Mitglieder weltweit.
-> Das Web 2.0 hat das Potenzial, die Wissenschaft zu verändern: Neudefinition des Verhältnisses zur Öffentlichkeit; Intensivierung der schriftlichen Mikrokommunikation; Einfluss der Web-Aktivitäten auf das Renommee der WissenschafterInnen.
-> Die intensive Nutzung von Web 2.0-Diensten führt zu einem teilweisen Kontrollverlust des Einzelnen über den Informationsinput und möglicherweise zu Informationsüberlastung.

Social network sites (SNS) have become a fundamental part of the Web. These sites offer novel communicative possibilities; above all they link-up its members and map their offline networks. This paper discusses their potential for academic communication. First we focus on academic usage practices both in general purpose SNS, such as Facebook, and in science-specific SNS, such as Research-Gate. Second, we assess potential impacts by addressing issues such as privacy, the role of pseudonymity, the impact on informal communication, and the need to observe multiple channels. Our case study shows that SNS are, in principle, functional for academic communication and that they have a serious potential in academia, despite some hurdles and as yet only cautious use by researchers.

Das Internet mit seinen Potenzialen an digitaler Vernetzung, Publikationsmöglichkeiten und Kommunikationsformen verändert die Forschung und ihre Ergebnisse nachhaltig. Wissenschaftler und Wissenschaftlerinnen twittern und bloggen, arbeiten in spezialisierten digitalen Netzwerken zusammen und nutzen Wikipedia. Zugleich dringen große Internetakteure wie etwa Google immer mehr in den akademischen Sektor ein. Das Buch analysiert die aktuellen technisch-sozialen Entwicklungen im Internet sowie ihre Auswirkungen auf die Arbeit von Wissenschaftlern.