If I were a fisherman, would I be any good at making a network?

Networking.

The very word makes me feel cold even though I realise the necessity of it in a scientist's life, no matter what stage they are at in their career. I much prefer the word 'collaborating.' It has a warm, fuzzy, 'we're in this together' tone as opposed to the 'we are using each other' ring that networking has.

Has this association stopped me from networking? Since giving it some thought, I realised that so far, I have networked naturally. Fortuitous meetings with friends or friends of friends have led to some good contacts for advice or sources. Even a conversation about networking for this blog has ended up with me getting some help for a sci. comm. project that I am working on. It is the natural introduction which I find helps, for me personally, to network. Do I have it in me to approach someone at a conference and strike a conversation, what about online etiquette for those hard-to-reach places? I would happily ask the right friend for advice on shoes or a film recommendation, so why not the right person in my research area about my research?

I have come around to thinking that how I network and market myself is more important than my own angst about looking silly. I just need to grow some, get out there and work them nets. At this stage in my career, I am not looking for a new job (I have only post-doc'd for 6 months and I love it), so I have been trying to figure out what I want to achieve from networking:

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  Access to unpublished information-techniques, equipment etc.
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  Possibility of working in another environment for training
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  Form and develop professional relationships
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  Inspiration!
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  Collaborations
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  Problem solving/ sharing and advice

There are obviously many networks that I am naturally part of: family, friends, work colleagues (old and new) and these 'strong links' will always be great for bouncing ideas off. One area that may be more accute in it's rewards is online networking which is something I will be working on. I am not including my facebook in that as I am not too sure how Stephen Lippard would feel about me after reading my profile. I have, however, started with this blog (hoorah!) and this week have joined myRSC, a "highly interactive online community." I have also been looking at more professional social networking sites such as LinkedIn, academia.edu and researchGATE with the aim of recognising people in areas I am interested in.

The goal is to make that initial meeting as professional and meaningful as possible so that I get something out of it and don't look like a proper prat. With this in mind, I am taking part in a training course, run by Vitae, about career development. One of the themes is....networking! Ta-Da!

As always comment, tips, advice and experiences welcome. Iain left a great post about networking on my last instalment which I have used as inspiration (check)-cheers!

Right, I am off to catch me a science fishy-will update with progress!