SciCom at BINUS runs through two channels: social media content tagged with #binusresearchpoint (for research) or #binusempowerment (for community empowerment work), and mass media articles published in reputable Indonesian and international outlets. Both count. Both matter. And with modern AI tools, both are easier to produce than ever.

Citations & Impact

Papers shared on social media get cited more — consistently

Research on ecology and conservation papers found a strong association between science communication on social media and citation rates — and this signal held even accounting for the time lag between a post going up and citations accumulating over months and years. The logic is simple: papers shared on social media have more citations, and scientific journals are increasingly requesting authors prepare shareable content when they submit articles.

Collaboration

SciCom opens doors that grant applications can’t

Research published in the Journal of Computer Information Systems found that a researcher’s social network presence is positively correlated with academic citation rates — the higher the scholar’s presence across academic, professional, and microblogging platforms, the higher their scholarly success. A survey of UK academics found that online encounters included tweets that led to paper requests, posts that sparked new scientific collaborations, and blogs that produced invitations to public lectures or panel discussions.

Brand & Policy

Public research builds public trust — and institutional reputation

When BINUS researchers publish in The Jakarta Post, The Diplomat, or 360Info, they signal to industry partners, government bodies, and international collaborators that BINUS produces research with real-world relevance. Every article, post, and video is a proof point for the institution. The #binusresearchpoint hashtag is now actively presented to partners during partnership meetings — it is a living portfolio of BINUS research culture.

Misinformation Counter

If you don’t communicate your research, someone else will — and probably get it wrong

In an era of AI-generated content and viral misinformation, credible researchers communicating their own work are a public good. Your voice as an expert — in plain language, on accessible platforms — matters more now than at any point in history.

✅ What makes good SciCom content

• An engaging title — sparks curiosity without using complex jargon. “Why Do We Feel Scared in Horror Films?” beats “Psychophysiological Response Patterns to Fear-Inducing Stimuli.”
• Minimal scientific jargon — if a term needs three sentences to explain, use a simpler word instead.
• Relevant, real visuals — actual product photos, field work images, or simple infographics outperform generic stock photos every time.
• A clear “so what?” — every post should answer: why should a non-expert care about this finding?
• Researcher name visible — builds personal academic brand, not just institutional brand.

❌ Common mistakes to avoid

• Copying and pasting the abstract as your caption — this is not science communication, it is just publishing a summary
• Using unreadable text on slides (tiny font, too much content)
• Posting only trip/conference documentation without communicating the research itself
• Forgetting the hashtag — untagged posts cannot be tracked or counted

AI prompt to draft your mass media article:

“You are a science educator tasked with writing a popularized scientific article for top Indonesian media. Create an SEO and GEO-friendly article based on this research that can be easily understood by the layman. Keep it between 650 to 800 words and use the international journalistic standard.”

Paste in your abstract or full paper, then edit the output to add your voice, local context, and any details the AI missed.

Best practices for mass media articles

• Lead with the human story or social problem — don’t open with your methodology. Open with why anyone should care today.
• Keep it 600–900 words — most op-ed editors have strict limits. Editors at Kompas, Tempo, and The Jakarta Post prefer concise submissions.
• Avoid passive voice and academic hedging — “It was found that…” becomes “We discovered…” Mass media readers want a clear voice.
• Link your findings to current events or policy — the more timely your angle, the more likely an editor accepts it.
• Include your full name, title, and BINUS affiliation — this is required by most outlets and builds institutional credibility.
• Target the right outlet for your audience — policy research → The Jakarta Post or The Diplomat; science/tech → 360Info or The Conversation; Indonesian general audience → Kompas.id or Tempo.

Ready to share your research with the world?

Use #binusresearchpoint for research content and #binusempowerment for community impact. Consult RTT anytime for support.