Purpose
To outline the types of content people at Neuromatch are allowed to and should post to social media and other similar public forums on behalf of the organization. It also outlines how social media should be secured and accessed.
Scope of Concern
As an organization that seeks to increase participation in science, it can make it difficult to determine what falls into our scope given that there are many very real challenges in the world that fundamentally prevent people from participating in science.
War, famine, power outages, lack of shelter, and other existential threats to people, for example, can all prevent people from participating in science, but they are factors in which Neuromatch can play little part. These are not topics in which Neuromatch should interject themselves, comment on publicly, or try to change the course of from an organizational perspective.
On the other hand, any factors that are related to education, access to information, or policies, laws, rules, or procedures that prevent people from being able to share and access information are valid areas for Neuromatch to comment on, attempt to engage in, overturn, or interact with. This is because we can potentially do things about these and they are less removed from the action of participating in science. This is particularly true for policies that ban or that prevent relationships with other people for fear of access to information or ideas or that prevent or slow scientific development directly by disallowing open information.
Examples
Examples of Valid Areas of Public Posting
Neuromatch make speak out against a policy that prevents sharing research products with people in other countries
The organization may comment on government laws that prevent education of certain groups
Neuromatch accounts may post about how fee requirements in academic journals are bad practice and slow down and prevent participation in science
The Neuromatch organization may denounce misinformation campaigns used by organizations, governments, etc
Neuromatch accounts may argue for policies in government or argue against government policies that prevent access to scientific resources directly
Examples of Invalid Areas of Public Posting
Neuromatch accounts shall not denounce a war between two countries that is founded on resources or historical ties, even if we feel the root cause is bad information
The Neuromatch organization shall not post in support of freedom fighters that are looking to overthrow autocratic governments, even if we feel that the autocratic government has put into place many policies that prevent information freedom
Neuromatch accounts shall not argue for or against government laws or policies that affect access to science or education indirectly (for example, feeling that a transportation infrastructure bill would give people better access to get to university)
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of communicating with decision makers (elected officials and staff; voters on ballot measures), about existing or potential legislation, and urging a vote for or against a certain law, proposal, or candidate. All three components of this definition are required: decision makers, actual legislation, AND asking for a vote.
Neuromatch can never lobby.
Consent
Never share donor, volunteer, member, or participant information on social media without consent.
Copyright and Attribution
Always check copyright of images and text and only post images and text with proper attribution.
Tone
Neuromatch tone is mostly informal. Humor, and especially sarcasm, should be minimized as these are easily misunderstood between cultures and people.
Security
As few people as possible should be given direct access to social media accounts. Apps for managing social media posts should be used instead (Tweetdeck, for example, instead of direct access to Twitter). Generally, only senior team members such as managers with organizational history and/or executives should have direct access to social media account passwords.