Science and Medicine on YouTube

Abstract

YouTube is a particularly popular online video sharing site. It is not only used for entertainment and commercial purposes but also to disseminate and obtain information and knowledge concerning science and medicine. So far rather little is known about science and health communication via online video sharing websites such as YouTube. In this chapter the limited but growing research literature on scholarly communication, science, and medicine on YouTube is reviewed and summarized. It shows the major research developments and points out omissions and gaps of knowledge. The chapter closes with an outlook and reflects on how recent internet research ideas could be used to better understand and analyze science and medicine on YouTube.