Facebook may be a popular choice but if you want to network with other scientists, then ResearchGate may be a more useful social network. It bills itself as the largest scientific network online, with more than 1.2 million members.

"ResearchGate began when two researchers discovered first-hand that working with a friend or colleague based on the other side of the world was no easy task. The rapid evolution of technology has opened the door to change; by providing you with the right tools, we strive to facilitate scientific collaboration on a global scale."

ResearchGate provides web applications that foster collaboration, including semantic searching, file- and database-sharing, , forums, interest groups and a blog.