As the point of contact for our social media efforts at Promega, I spend a lot of time scanning science-related Twitter, Facebook, Instagram media accounts. There are some science channel managers who do a great job of bringing delight to their followers. Those managers use their platforms to educate—I follow them because they constantly amaze me with new things. I find information that is useful, fun and makes me think “wow, that is interesting.” On my favorite accounts, that new learning comes along with a wry sense of humor, and some of my favorite social media channels are ones that not only teach me new things but do it with a little fun on the side—often in the form of bad science puns.

Promega has the privilege of sponsoring the Cool Science Image contest run by the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Just recently @UWMadScience tweeted about the deadline for the contest, tagging @promega in the tweet. Their tweet included a visual science pun which was not lost on their fellow campus account managers:

Submissions for the Cool Science Image Contest are due today, 3/3. Don’t tick us off. Get yours in! https://t.co/QWErbiV9UM @promega @UWDoIT pic.twitter.com/u0PfApExq1

— UW–Madison Science (@UWMadScience) March 3, 2017

That pun started a chain reaction among the other UW accounts that follow @UWMadScience:

@UWMadScience @promega We’re not bugged by this tweet.

— UW-Madison DoIT (@UWDoIT) March 3, 2017

Since I take my job seriously, I followed this conversation as it unfolded in real time; after all @promega was tagged in every tweet. I have responsibilities here.

Always good to insect some humor into your work. https://t.co/rxLA5TUnH6

— UW-Madison DoIT (@UWDoIT) March 3, 2017

.@uwdoit @promega @UWMadScience Sorry to bug you, but these inside jokes fly over our head.

— L&S LSS (@UWLSS) March 3, 2017

.@UWLSS @promega @UWMadScience Do gnat worry about it. Were all friends here.

— UW-Madison DoIT (@UWDoIT) March 3, 2017

.@uwdoit @promega @uwmadscience Sorry to get ant-sy, but we must flea from this unproductive exchange.

— L&S LSS (@UWLSS) March 3, 2017

And, eventually, @promega jumped into the fray.

.@UWLSS @UWDoIT @UWMadScience We are trying so hard to be punny, but everything we write is lousey. So we’ll be glowing now. pic.twitter.com/RcuNBtyBoW

— Promega Corporation (@promega) March 3, 2017

.@promega @uwdoit @uwmadscience Can you bee-lieve we’re having this much fun? 🐝 Maybe @UWBotany can cross-pollinate some puns too.

— L&S LSS (@UWLSS) March 3, 2017

@UWLSS @promega @UWDoIT @UWBotany We’re itching to tell you all to buzz off with these bad puns but we appreciate you hopping in to help.

— UW–Madison Science (@UWMadScience) March 3, 2017

That is where it ended. @UWBotany didn’t seed the event any further, unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately. I started thinking about Science Puns and what makes a good science twitter account. I like the ones that bring a smile to my face with their wit and wisdom.

Among my favorites is @SUEtheTrex (Specimen FMNH PR2081) from the @fieldmuseum in Chicago. SUE is an amazing science PUNdit in addition to knowing lots of cool science. If you don’t already follow those two accounts, I highly recommend them.

NASA maintains accounts for their rovers: @MarsCuriosity (Curiosity Rover), @MarsRovers (Spirit and Opportunity) @CassiniSaturn (CassiniSaturn) and many more. You can find a list of all the NASA social media accounts here.

Check out your local university science departments or local museums for their social media accounts. Not only will you learn a lot by following them, but you will be up to date on events happening near you—you can be ready for the comet viewing at the local planetarium or the prairie clean hike in the next county. You never know, you might even become a Science PUNdit. The world could use a few more of those.

Do you have a favorite science account that you follow? Let us know in the comments below.

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Michele Arduengo

Supervisor, Digital Marketing Program Group at Promega Corporation

Michele earned her B.A. in biology at Wesleyan College in Macon, GA, and her PhD through the BCDB Program at Emory University in Atlanta, GA where she studied cell differentiation in the model system C. elegans. She taught on the faculty of Morningside University in Sioux City, IA, and continues to mentor science writers and teachers through volunteer activities. Michele manages the digital marketing program team at Promega.

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