Science-based Information Research Articles

High Impact Extension Programming with Instagram

The social media service Instagram is a popular public platform, but often underused tool to reach new demographics, reduce barriers, and perpetuate science-based information in extension. In the U.S. Intermountain West, Instagram was the top-rated platform for sharing information by predominantly new and female farmers. This article provides recommendations on key behaviors, goal setting, and quantifying impact on Instagram for extension programming. Accounts should target one niche or market, a consistent and personal voice, and regular communication (new content at least three times weekly). Unique and productive connections between extension personnel, community leaders, farmers, students, and public influencers expands programming. Tracking program accounts, including the number of followers and engagement rates, can assess program impacts and target market needs.

255 President Oral Presentation Pick: Exposing Undergraduate Students to Extension: Delivering Producer Education Presentations

Abstract Recent communications with livestock industry employers suggest that students seem to be prepared to publicly deliver scientific information to peers, but struggle to present comprehensible science-based information to lay audiences. Based on this premise, a producer education presentation at local Extension offices was incorporated into the Beef Cattle Science Course. The course has four core areas (health, nutrition, reproduction and genetics) with supporting instructors from meat science, forages, agricultural economics and biosystems/agricultural engineering. Students are presented a case study in each of the four focus areas and are required to submit a written report addressing the issues in the case study. At midterm, students are divided into groups of four or five and assigned to a local county. Students are required to contact the county agent and develop an educational program, with one student presenting on each of the core areas, with environmental stewardship as a fifth option. Each student must first prepare an outline and send it to the corresponding faculty member for feedback prior to developing a 15-minute PowerPoint presentation. Each student is required to deliver their presentation to instructors to receive feedback prior to the Extension meeting. Each student group must develop a promotional flyer for the agent’s use. The producer educational programs are delivered in the evening to 15–50 producers, followed by audience questions. Additionally, students are tasked with developing, administering and summarizing an assessment tool. On the last day of class we have an informal discussion of this experience. For the five years that we have incorporated this into the course, the consensus is that students initially hate the concept but love the experience and appreciate the value after presenting. Agent and producer feedback have been positive.

PSIV-4 Program Chair Poster Pick: Determinants of red meat exclusion from diets in Canada

Abstract Production of red meat including beef, pork, and lamb, has been associated with climate change and high intakes of these foods have been linked to risks of several leading chronic diseases. Reducing red meat consumption has been suggested as an option to address important health and sustainability challenges. Characterizing the sociodemographic factors associated with red meat consumption is an important first step in identifying strategies to translate information regarding sustainable food choices into policy and national dietary guides. The objective of this study was to characterize the demographic factors associated with the exclusion of red meat in consumer diets. Mixed-effects probit regression that accounts for the hierarchical structure of individuals clustered in ten provinces in 24-hr dietary recall data from the 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey (n = 10,117) was used to identify factors associated with dietary choices. Despite growing public discourse regarding the elimination of red meat, the results indicate that fewer than 5% of Canadians reported excluding red meat from their diet. Sex, education level, and race/ethnicity had a significant effect on red meat exclusion with single females (P < 0.000), individuals with at least a Bachelor’s degree (P < 0.001), and individuals who self-identified as African (P < 0.001), Asian (P < 0.001), and Oceanian (pP < 0.001) origin more likely to eliminate red meat. In contrast, households with children under age 25 (P < 0.001) were less likely to do so. The disparities in consumption patterns of red meat by sex, race/ethnicity, education, and family status can inform public education and policy initiatives using science-based information to improve the health and environmental sustainability associated with the Canadian diets.

Role of academic institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic

A novel coronavirus first reported from China has resulted in a formidable outbreak globally threatening millions of human lives with unprecedented challenges. Society needs effective information source to combat this pandemic. Academic institutions would play an important role in disseminating science-based information and planning pandemic crisis. This study aims to examine how academic institutions around the world have been working in combating COVID-19 pandemic. Two hundred and thirty three high ranking universities representing 44 countries from six continents, viz. Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania were selected and their websites visited. Any information on COVID-19 updated in the websites were noted and classified. Universities from developed world (North America, Europe) and Oceania were found to be actively disseminating up-to-date information on COVID-19 with compared to those from developing world. All universities in Oceania, 96.66% universities in North America, 96.55% in Europe, 83% in South America, 61.25% in Asia, and 56% in Africa had information regarding COVID-19 in their websites. The high income coutries were facing high casulaties of the disease, and majority of their universities (85.71%) were disseminating up-to-date information through their websites. There exists a gap between the universities of developed and developing world in disseminating COVID-19 pandemic information.

Local experience, knowledge, and community adaptations to environmental change: the case of a fishing village in central Vietnam

Local ecological knowledge (LEK) represents an important link between resource users and their social-ecological system and plays a key role regarding the sustainable planning of environmental resources. This study investigates the nature of LEK in the case of a fishing village at the Tam Giang Lagoon in central Vietnam by applying an ethnographic participant observer approach. The research demonstrates a means to understand a complex, self-organized local network with a multitude of actors with different interests and adaptive behaviors, interfering in diverse and sometimes contradictory ways in the same environmental context. It concludes with two understandings about LEK. (1) It is important to recognize it as a concept that is not fixed in time and space as it is coevolving with broader system changes. (2) Only if approached through careful immersion and participation at the local level can it provide a valuable source of science-based information for improved decision-making.

Natural attenuation as a decontamination approach for SARS-CoV-2 on paper-based library and archives materials

This document synthesizes various studies and data; however, the scientific understanding regarding COVID-19 is continuously evolving.In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and OCLC are working in partnership with Battelle to create and distribute science-based information designed to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 to staff and visitors who are engaging in the delivery or use of museum, library, and archival services. This REopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums (REALM) project is studying how long the SARS CoV-2 virus (the virus that causes COVID-19) survives on common materials and methods to mitigate exposure.This material is being provided for informational purposes only, and readers are encouraged to review federal, state, tribal, territorial, and local guidance. The authors, sponsors, and researchers are not liable for any damages resulting from use, misuse, or reliance upon this information, or any errors or omissions herein.

The use of web analytics combined with other data streams for tailoring online vaccine safety information at global level: The Vaccine Safety Net’s web analytics project

The Vaccine Safety Net’s Web Analytics Project (VSN-WAP) was launched in October 2017 to monitor the behavior of users visiting websites belonging to the VSN, a global network of websites providing science-based information on vaccine safety. Participating websites could provide web metrics in two ways: through a Google Analytics (GA) script, which automatically forwarded metrics to a central account and through manual input (MI) of a reduced subset of metrics (Sessions, Page Views, New Users, Bounce Rate, Views/Session and Average Session Duration), which were pooled with the metrics obtained through GA. Additional metrics were obtained from websites providing data through Google Analytics (Country, Age, Sex, Device). We report results from February 2018 to March 2019. In March 2019, 32 websites were participating in the project (21 through GA, 11 through MI). From February 2018 to March 2019 we recorded 22,471,535 sessions, with 38,307,349 page views. Sessions, New Users and Page views progressively increased, Views/Session, Bounce Rate and Average Session Duration remained stable. Most users were female (68%) and belonged to the 25–34 age range (37%), followed by 35–44 (22%) and 18–24 (19%). Fifty-four percent of users connected from a mobile device, 42% from a desktop and 4% from a tablet.Digital media monitoring techniques can provide insights on the characteristics of users with a specific interest in vaccines. These data can be exploited to improve the performance of websites providing information on vaccines to the general public.

Rapid Resource Change and Visitor-Use Management: Social-ecological Connections at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Parks and protected areas are complex, and managers often need integrated social-ecological science-based information that illuminates the dynamic interactions between the biophysical and social processes. However, modeling and determining social-ecological connections are difficult due to disciplinary paradigms, divergent research questions, and data sets representing different scales. During this investigation, researchers sought to evaluate social-ecological linkages at a large salt pan (Bonneville Salt Flats) in western Utah (US). Specifically, the investigation evaluated how the changing level and location of salt-crust moisture and ponding water influenced visitors' spatial distribution of use and important elements of their experience. The findings indicate that visitors travel more distance, spend more time recreating, and use the Salt Flats in higher densities during dry conditions. However, the results also highlight that importance levels ascribed to specific aspects of the visitor experience remained relatively stable regardless of changes in salt-crust moisture and ponding water. Illuminating such linkages is important because most natural resource issues in society, including resources at the Bonneville Salt Flats, are not solely ecological or social in nature but characterized by deeper enmeshment between the two.

Model Multilayered Website for Varied Audiences: Dairy Sustainability "Virtual Farm"

A "virtual farm" website with science-based information about dairy sustainability topics was created for a variety of audiences. A key structure of the website is layering of information. At the most frequently used entry level, a site visitor explores by looking and learning. As interest evolves, the visitor finds links to technical levels, and those with a deep interest in a topic will find peer-reviewed documents at the research resource level. Process-based model scenarios include climate change mitigation practices targeted at dairies. Anecdotally, users have appreciated the professional looking access to technical information and depiction of modern dairy farming practices. Extension educators can use the site to inform themselves, for referral of clients, and as a model.

Phytochemistry, Toxicology and Therapeutic Value of Petasites hybridus Subsp. Ochroleucus (Common Butterbur) from the Balkans

Petasites hybridus (Common butterbur) is extensively used in traditional medicine, and is currently gaining interest and popularity as a food supplement and for its medicinal properties. It contains a large number of active compounds of potential therapeutic activity, but also toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Science-based information is needed to support the developing modern use of this plant, and to direct continued safe practice in traditional medicine. The present study focused on the essential oils from leaves and rhizomes of the understudied P. hybridus ssp. ochroleucus from the Balkans, and evaluated its phytochemistry and potential therapeutic activities (antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-cholinesterase and anti-inflammatory), as well its toxicology potential (acute toxicity in insects and mice). We studied the essential oils, which are not commonly used in traditional practices, but have a potential for safe use since the toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are non-volatiles, are usually not present in the distilled essential oils. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids were indeed not detected in the essential oils; ingestion of the essential oils did not induce toxicity signs in mice, and topical application did not elicit skin irritation in humans. The essential oils had no antimicrobial properties against 20 pathogenic bacterial strains, but demonstrated good local anti-inflammatory activity in a Carrageenan-induced paw edema test. An insect toxicity test demonstrated that the leaf essential oil is an efficient insect repellent, and the demonstrated anti-cholinesterase activity suggests a potential for the treatment of neurological conditions. Isopetasin, a sesquiterpene found in plants of the genus Petasites, known to have anti-inflammatory effects, was present only in the rhizomes essential oil (3.9%), and sesquiterpene lactones concentrations were high, likely contributing to the antioxidant activity.

Vaccine acceptance: How to build and maintain trust in immunization.

In Canada, over 80% of parents choose to vaccinate their children. Although this may appear positive, it is one of the lowest vaccination rates in the western world, and does not meet the 95% coverage rate needed to prevent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles. A recent national immunization survey showed approximately 50% of parents are concerned about potential side-effects from vaccines, 25% believe that a vaccine can cause the disease it was meant to prevent, and 13% think alternative practices could eliminate the need for vaccines. In addition, vaccine hesitancy-defined by its determinants: confidence, complacency and convenience-is on rise. To address the complacency and trust (confidence) components of vaccine hesitancy, four best practices to optimize trust in vaccines and promote vaccine acceptance are presented. The first best practice is to understand the concerns; this is done at a population level via research and at individual level via motivational interviewing. The second best practice is to address these concerns by effectively presenting science-based information. This is done at a population level by communicating research and at an individual level by applying this research to the specific concerns, values and norms of the individual. Third, present immunization as a social norm, both in educational materials and in conversations. Finally, resilience is fostered by planning ahead (both at a population level and for individual practitioners) to manage events that can undermine trust and drive negative vaccine concerns, such as a new vaccine being added to the routine schedule or the emergence of an unexpected adverse event. Building and maintaining public trust in immunization takes time. Healthcare practitioners must keep in mind that while trust is a key element in vaccine acceptance, it is not the only element; convenience and access can also impact vaccine uptake. Nurturing trust is but one part of increasing vaccine acceptance and this brief will focus on strategies to build and nurture trust.

COVID-19 Research Communications (Editorial)

The goal of the series is to provide a platform for rapid communication and exchange of ideas concerning the COVID-19 epidemic. It is new and unlike the known virus-induced diseases. There is a significant research effort, including mathematical modelling, to understand the characteristics of the virus SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) and the epidemiological dynamics of COVID-19, the disease caused by it. Due to their novelty, the research is often likely to produce results only on specific aspects of the disease, provide just partial answers to research questions, or collect evidence for formulating hypothesis yet to be tested. We believe, however, that the significance of the pandemic for the human population makes it essential to share even such partial results as soon as they are available to facilitate the advancement of the research on this disease. While eventually, a more comprehensive picture of both the virus and the disease will emerge, even incomplete but timely and scientifically-based information will help the authorities to make sound decisions on the course of action during the epidemic.For the series, we invite publications on any aspect of the COVID-19 epidemic. Specifically, the series aims to cover (i) the biological research, providing an understanding of the relevant structures and causal relationships in the epidemiological environment, which can facilitate mathematical or statistical modelling; (ii) mathematical models of the structures, causal interactions and epidemiological data, and their analysis; (iii) mathematical models and analysis of the socio-economic aspects of the pandemic; (iv) any new mathematical methods, applicable to the study of any of the mentioned topics.All submissions to the series will be prioritised for a fast peer-review.

Recreation-related disturbance to wildlife in California—better planning for and management of recreation are vital to conserve wildlife in protected areas where recreation occurs

Expanding levels of authorized and unauthorized non-consumptive recreation increasingly threaten sensitive biological resources in areas protected primarily or solely to conserve them. As California’s human population grows, recreational use in protected areas grows commensurately. The majority of the documented effects on wildlife from non-consumptive recreation are negative; they include detrimental changes in behavior, reproduction, growth, immune system function, levels of stress hormones, and finally, to the survival of individual animals and persistence of wildlife populations and communities. This paper provides insights from the recreation ecology literature into these recreation-related disturbances to insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals from hiking, jogging, biking, horseback riding, boating, and off-highway/ all-terrain vehicles. The documented evidence of these disturbances to wildlife reveals the flaw in the prevalent assumption that recreation is compatible with biological conservation, the dual-role protected areas’ core function. This assumption usually rests on the expectations of (1) allowing only ecologically sound siting of recreational areas and ecologically acceptable types, levels, and timing of recreation, and (2) providing sufficient monitoring, management, and enforcement of recreation to ensure the perpetuation of viable populations of focal sensitive species. However, it is rare that these expectations are met. The ultimate essential outcome of the information provided in this paper is the cessation of the extant recreation-related exploitation of dual-role protected areas. This calls for a societal course change involving: widespread, long-term, and continual multimedia dissemination of the science-based information about recreation-related disturbance to wildlife; application of a science-based approach to siting recreational areas and allowing only ecologically acceptable types, levels, and timing of recreation; and, perpetual personnel and funding explicitly for management at levels commensurate with recreational pressure. These measures would also improve the often cited economic, educational, and recreational/health benefits of dual-role protected areas.

Reflections on Odor Management for Animal Feeding Operations

Most animal feeding operation owners recognize that they need to manage odors from their operations as part of their social relationship with their neighbors and local community. That was not always the case. Odors, whether pleasant or unpleasant, can evoke strong emotions and physiological responses. Odors from animal feeding operations are normally considered unpleasant and offensive if strong smelling and smelled often or for long periods of time. Animal feeding operation owners need to be aware of their odor emissions and the impacts the odors have on their neighbors and community. Good neighbor relations and effective communications can help identify odor problems and communicate what is being done to manage them. Odor management research and education includes odor basics, key processes including generation, emissions and dispersion, impacts, community and neighbor relations, and numerous mitigation practices. Animal feeding operation owners considering practices to reduce odor emissions or their impacts need to weigh the costs, expected effectiveness, and how the practice fits into the overall operation. Policymakers need science-based information to make informed decisions that balance the concerns and needs of neighbors and the community and the businesswomen and men that own and operate the animal feeding operations. This paper provides a broad overview of animal feeding operation odors and odor management.

COVID-19 infodemic: More retweets for science-based information on coronavirus than for false information

The World Health Organization has not only signaled the health risks of COVID-19, but also labeled the situation as infodemic, due to the amount of information, true and false, circulating around this topic. Research shows that, in social media, falsehood is shared far more than evidence-based information. However, there is less research analyzing the circulation of false and evidence-based information during health emergencies. Thus, the present study aims at shedding new light on the type of tweets that circulated on Twitter around the COVID-19 outbreak for two days, in order to analyze how false and true information was shared. To that end, 1000 tweets have been analyzed. Results show that false information is tweeted more but retweeted less than science-based evidence or fact-checking tweets, while science-based evidence and fact-checking tweets capture more engagement than mere facts. These findings bring relevant insights to inform public health policies.

Yield and Berry Composition of Cold-climate Grape Cultivars and Advanced Selections in Iowa Climate

Increasing interest in grape (Vitis sp.) and wine production in the upper midwest region of the United States has created a need for science-based information that characterizes the potential of cold-climate cultivars to produce quality grapes with acceptable yields. We evaluated the yield and quality (composition) of grapes from 12 cold-climate, interspecific-hybrid grape cultivars (northern hybrids) grown in a randomized and replicated field plot in central Iowa. The grape trial was planted in 2008, and crop performance of cultivars was evaluated from 2012 through 2017 (yield) and 2014 through 2017 (berry composition). The trial included two established cultivars, five newer cultivars, and five advanced selections. The established cultivars included in the study as controls were Frontenac and St. Croix. The newer cultivars evaluated in this study were Arandell, Corot Noir, La Crescent, Marquette, and Petit Ami, and the advanced selections were MN 1189, MN 1200, MN 1220, MN 1235, and MN 1258. Yield and productivity were characterized by measuring yield per vine, number of clusters per vine, average cluster weight, and pruning weight. The fruit composition indices were soluble solids concentration (SSC), pH, titratable acidity (TA), and sugar:acid ratio (SSC ÷ TA). On the basis of their strong results for both yield and fruit composition measures, ‘Marquette’, MN 1235, and MN 1220 ranked as the top-performing cultivars in Iowa’s climate, followed by Petit Ami and St. Croix. ‘Petit Ami’ had slightly lower yield consistency and slightly lower results for SSC than did the top performing cultivars, and St. Croix had among the highest and most consistent yields of the trial but showed lower results for SSC and sugar:acid ratio than many of the other cultivars. ‘La Crescent’ had midrange yields and high SSC, but the high TA of ‘La Crescent’ fruit resulted in a low sugar:acid ratio at harvest. Two cultivars (MN 1258 and MN 1200) had relatively low yields in Iowa’s climate but achieved good results for composition indices. ‘Frontenac’ had high, consistent yields and achieved high SSC, but the very high TA of ‘Frontenac’ fruit resulted in a very low sugar:acid ratio compared with most other cultivars. The remaining three cultivars (Corot Noir, MN 1189, and Arandell) performed poorly in Iowa’s climate, showing both low yield and undesirable fruit composition indices compared with the other cultivars in the trial. An itemized summary of the relative ratings for yield and fruit composition is provided to aid growers in selection and management of grape cultivars for use in Iowa and other areas of similar climate.

Responding to the Call for Climate Action

Global calls for action on climate change have become more urgent in recent years. However, how to act to achieve climate sustainability remains elusive. The evidence is clear that governmental initiatives – global, national, and provincial – have not been able to coalesce into a meaningful strategy for climate sustainability. What is required is a shift in climate responsibility from governments to individuals and communities who think globally but are best able to act locally. To encourage the citizenry to act requires a science-based information and education whereby climate action is clearly defined along with the consequences of actions (or inaction). Education must include a climate curriculum as a mainstream subject in our schools. Using this approach, local community baselines of climate information, vulnerability, and adaptive capacity can be established. In enhancing their climate roles, governments’ need to shift from carrying out mandates for climate response, to becoming auditors of carbon use in which citizens and businesses are given incentives to reduce carbon footprints. Finally, increased investments need to be directed to communities so that they can take more responsibility and be more prepared to live with climate change impacts. Governments also need to engage the community in participatory strategic long-term planning for adaptation to the changing climate. Keywords: climate action, climate responsibility, institutional arrangements, science-based information, education legacy, strategic planning, community investment

Promoting immunization resiliency in the digital information age.

The avalanche of online information on immunization is having a major impact on the percentage of the population who choose to get vaccinated. Vaccine misinformation spreads widely with the interactive Web 2.0 and social media; this can bury science-based information. A plethora of immunization misinformation online is affecting trust in health care professionals and in public immunization programs. There are no simple solutions to this, but seven evidence-based strategies can help. First, listen to patients' and parents' concerns, and demonstrate responsiveness by adopting best immunization practices, such as pain mitigation. Second, recognize and alert others to anti-immunization tactics, namely, conspiracy theories, fake experts, selectivity, demands that vaccines be 100% safe and effective, misrepresentation and false logic. Third, avoid unproductive debates with those who have strongly held views, both in person and when using social media. Be respectful, stick to your key message, identify where to find useful information and exit. Fourth, consider establishing an attractive, easily searchable online presence that reflects the complex art of persuasion. Emphasize the benefits of vaccine, use reader-friendly graphics and highlight facts with stories to strengthen your case. Fifth, work with social media platform providers, not to stifle freedom of expression, but to help ensure that misinformation is not favoured in searches. Sixth, promote curriculum development in the schools to improve students' understanding of the benefits and safety of immunization and to foster critical thinking skills. To do this, optimize the use of age-appropriate comics and interactive learning tools such as electronic games. Seventh, to shift the narrative in specific communities with low vaccination rates, work with community leaders to build tailored programs that foster trust and reflect local values.

ВИКОРИСТАННЯ МУЛЬТИМЕДІЙНИХ ТЕХНОЛОГІЙ ДЛЯОПТИМІЗАЦІЇ РУХОВОЇ АКТИВНОСТІ ДІТЕЙ ДОШКІЛЬНОГО ВІКУ

The article analyzes psychological and pedagogical literature on the problem of optimization of the preschool children’s motor activity. It is noted that movements are just as necessary for the normal growth and development of a child as good nutrition. Physical exercise does not only develop and strengthen a child’s body, prevents various diseases, but also is one of the effective means of treating and restoring a child's strength after illness. Based on the analysis of modern scientific and methodological literature, it is found that a considerable part of the studies in the field of physical education is devoted to the creation of recommendations for physical exercises of schoolchildren and other segments of the population on the basis of computer technologies, control systems, assessment and accumulation of information on the physical fitness level and health status. It is established that the use of multimedia technology in the process of carrying out physical and health measures in the institution of preschool education helps to optimize the motor activity of preschool children. The specifics of the multimedia presentations usage in work with preschool children are characterized. It is noted that multimedia technologies allow solving the problem of finding and storing information, planning, controlling and managing physical education, diagnostics of health status and of children’s physical fitness level. The author notes that the presentation can also be used to explain to children the rules of sports games, tactical actions of players, vividly present historical events, biographies of athletes. It is noted that the creation of flash presentations and videos with complexes of developmental exercises is appropriate to use during the morning gymnastics. The use of multimedia educational tools allows to visualize clearly the spatial characteristics of movements, to calculate with high accuracy the kinematic parameters of the motor actions performing technique in the playing activities, which is of particular importance in the development of children’s spatial orientation. It is noted that the priority area in the work of each pre-school educational establishment is to improve the quality of education through the use of innovative technologies in physical education classes, in particular optimization of physical activity. The prospects for further research in this area, the need to use multimedia technologies in the process of preparing future caregivers for the implementation of the tasks in physical education of preschool children in the context of distance education which include the need to find and develop of science-based information and communication technologies in the preschoolers’ physical education are specified.

Social Media Influence on Health Belief

In this era of information or also known as Computer Age, Digital Age, or New Media Age, the public is not only able to access information with a stroke of their fingers but also create vast information for others. The newer generations of smartphones, computers, and tablets have made information omnipresent and easily accessible through the social media platform. But are the authorities and experts using this platform effectively to reach out to the public and dispel misinformation and pseudoscience? With citizen journalists in the rise, there is a greater demand for experts to make their voice heard. Social media has become an “official” source of information on science for many. These include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tick Tock, LinkedIn, YouTube and many more. According to a survey done by Global Web Index, internet users are spending an average of 2 hours and 22 minutes per day on social media. It influences public opinion and decision making process. Organic food, alternative treatment for cancer and other diseases, genetically modified foods, slimming products and vaccination are some of the trending science news in social media. It is time health and medical experts step up and use the social media platform to provide science-based information to the public and dispel fake news, misinformation and fear mongering. This talk will present the different types of social media platforms, their demographics and distinct characters of each platform. The different strategies to maximize the media impression will also be discussed.International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Supplementary Issue: 2019 Page: 27