Science and the social media in an African context: the case of the square kilometre array telescope
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2015
TITLE AUTHOR(S): M.Gastrow
KEYWORDS: SCIENCE, SOCIAL MEDIA, SQUARE KILOMETRE ARRAY (SKA)
DEPARTMENT: Equitable Education and Economies (IED)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 8841
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/1762
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/1762
If you would like to obtain a copy of this Research Output, please contact Hanlie Baudin at researchoutputs@hsrc.ac.za.
Abstract
This study presents a media content analysis of representations of the Square Kilometre Array telescope on Twitter by South African users, drawing on a sample of 1,588 Tweets recorded over a period of 1 year from September 2011 to August 2012. The framing of the Square Kilometre Array was dominated by the site allocation process, which focused on the contestation between South Africa and Australia and formed a proxy discourse for politicosymbolic themes that framed the project as a symbol of African achievement. The overall composition of messages is dominated by large media firms, but there remains substantial scope for individual agency in shaping the discourse, particularly for high-profile users and leading science journalists. Microdeterminants also played a key role in shaping the virality of messages.-
Related Research Outputs:
- Attitudes towards astronomy and the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) in South Africa
- Expo for young scientists (note: includes: projects guide: an entrant's guide to developing a science project, Expo news, prospectus, and the forum for young ideas)
- Exposcience Internationale "99
- Assessment of mathematics and science in Africa (AMASA)
- Expo news: newsletter 6
- Science and technology in South Africa: regional innovation hub or passive consumer?
- Overview of the state of maths, science and technology education 1994-2004
- Report on overseas visit to Nairobi, Kenya
- Selecting students for mathematics and science: the challenge facing higher education in South Africa
- The trends in international mathematics and science study: 2003
- For whom the school bell tolls: measuring disparity in school science and mathematics in the African community
- School's out..., or is it?
- Supplementary tuition in mathematics and science: an evaluation of the usefulness of different types of supplementary tuition programmes
- Supplementary tuition in mathematics and science
- Math schools are not equal: state of math and science education: tracking development progress
- A class act - mathematics as filter of equity in South Africa's schools
- How to fix maths and science
- The state of mathematics and science education: schools are not equal
- Challenges to meet international maths and science standards
- Role of parents in their children's science, engineering and technology career choices