Social media is a powerful source of information, connectivity, and engagement among diverse audiences. Given the high rate at which social media platforms are being used, it is of increasing relevance to health research. Social media offers platforms for multi-directional communication with possibilities of communication, observation, research and engagement. In addition to these, social media has shown initial signs of being an effective recruitment tool especially for research focused on traditionally hard to reach population groups. Given the convenience, affordability and increasing reach of the medium, the use of social media for research is likely to increase in coming years.   

This webinar offers a space to deliberate on some of the key aspects of using social media tools in health research. Our speakers through their experience will help us better understand the potential of the medium and critically think of challenges and role of ethics in using social media for research.  

This webinar is a part of the India Alliance-IAVI Scicomm webinar series—a joint effort of Wellcome Trust/DBT India Alliance and International AIDS Vaccine Initiative to strengthen south-south collaboration and support cross-learning and knowledge exchange between India and Africa.

Speakers

Alpana Dange, Consultant Research Director, Humsafar Trust 

Alpana is a Social Researcher with over two decades of experience in studying and linking the clinical data to behavioural data to inform more about the progression of the HIV/AIDS epidemic among MSM. At Humsafar Trust, she has led multiple studies on LGBTQ community that help bring the voices of the community to the mainstream through research and help strengthen strategic planning and influence policy frameworks. 

Charles Kamau, PhD Fellow, Science Communication, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme 

Charles is enthusiastic about the nexus between Science Communication and Public Engagement. He is a trained Nurse and Public Health Specialist with Postgraduate Qualifications in Health Research Methods and Science Communication. He is a Global Affiliate of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (UK). He is currently interested in the space occupied by private sector, government and other stakeholders towards the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030. Charles has championed the use of social media as a tool of use among health researchers for identification of collaborations and dissemination of outputs. He has delivered trainings and seminars on this to about 1,000 researchers across 17 institutions in 10 countries. He was recently elected as Chair of the Wellcome Communications Forum – Africa & Asia, drawing over 40 Communications Specialists in Africa, Asia, and London.

Date: 5 September 2019

Time: 4:00 pm IST | 1:30 pm EAT

Register https://wellcomedbt.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=94f40c3ae98ca0edc23333217&id=a4efd8eaa9&e=af65d90021