“The Big Blog Theory” … I like the sound of that, don’t you?

Australia is celebrating their National Science Week with a competition to name Australia’s best science bloggers.  With categories to include both full-scale and micro blogging, the Big Blog Theory acknowledges Australia’s best online science communicators and hopes to inspire other science enthusiasts to get involved.

There are many excellent finalists, including Marc West’s Mr. Science Show (regularly featured on AFM*Radio) and Natasha Mitchell’s All in the Mind.  My favorite is the micro-blogging category’s Brains Matter – a podcast that features various fields of science and often includes expert interviews.  Recent topics include palaeantology,  Asian Elephant conservation, and galaxy evolution.  Brain Matters regularly communicates on Twitter and has also contributed to 365 Days of Astronomy, with podcasts about asteroid Vesta and hypervelocity stars.

I am a huge fan of “micro” outreach.  While there are  many fantastic websites, podcasts, televisions shows, and magazines that reach millions of people, I believe that it is those lesser-known endeavors, such as microblogging, local presentations, and even simply data and image sharing, that often most inspire people; thus, their contributions could be considered especially important.

The lesser-known efforts – those microbloggers and local presenters – are often unrewarded, save for that most valuable prize of knowing that they have expanded others’ horizons.  They work quietly in the shadows of the larger or more popular enterprises; they work at their own expense and on their own time; and they rarely, if ever, receive accolades.  It is for this reason that we should make the extra effort to acknowledge their valuable contributions.  While word-of-mouth is probably the greatest recognition, competitions can do much to applaud the efforts of these smaller entities.

Take a moment to explore the Big Blog Theory’s finalists, especially those in the microblogging category, and cast a vote for your favorites.  And don’t just stop there.  Anytime you see an opportunity to acknowledge an outreach effort, take advantage of it.  Cast a vote, leave a comment, spread the word.  All outreach is equally important, and we should all be concerned with encouraging its growth.  Our support takes only a moment, yet has the potential to change a lifetime.