Universities should publish clear guidelines about how they will support researchers who face online abuse, according to a report that reveals how often academics face social media vitriol for publicising their work.
According to the study by Elsevier, which polled 3,144 researchers globally, almost one-third of respondents (32 per cent) report that they or a close colleague have experienced online abuse – with the proportion rising to 42 per cent in North America and 34 per cent in Europe.
Nearly a quarter of researchers (24 per cent) say the increased risk of bullying or harassment online is one of the main challenges to bringing more public attention to science.
