News

ARCS Foundation Atlanta funds 53 Scholars at Georgia Tech, Emory, UGA, and Morehouse. Their research is extraordinary. Now, more people are discovering it. 

In mid-August, we began putting our Scholars at the center of our social media: short videos filmed in their own labs, with Scholars explaining their research in their own words. The idea was simple: let the people doing the science tell their own stories. 

The results have been remarkable. 

In the 90 days through October 25, our Instagram dashboard recorded:

34,404 views, an increase of 495% over the comparison period 
10,924 viewers, an increase of 298% 
29,307 views from outside our Instagram following, introducing our Scholars and ARCS to people beyond our existing audience 
89 net new followers, bringing our community to 298 

And we did it without spending a dollar on advertising. 

What captures people's attention? 

Our strongest stories open with a surprising fact and invite people to discover the science behind it. 

"Before the sawmills, Georgia was longleaf pine." 3,100 views 
"Georgia Tech started as a trade school. Today it is launching rockets." 2,600 views 
"In 2002, Emory built a unit for the world's most dangerous infections." 2,100 views 

These are more than social media numbers. Every view is an opportunity for someone to discover a Scholar's work, appreciate the importance of scientific research, and learn what ARCS makes possible. 

Help us take these stories even further 

Every member of our chapter can help more people discover our Scholars. Two simple actions make a real difference. Share a post that interests you. 

A like is always appreciated. Sharing helps carry a Scholar's story to friends, colleagues, and people who may never have heard of ARCS. When a story catches your attention, pass it along.

Follow our accounts, and invite others to join us. 

Think of friends, family, colleagues, fellow alumni, and especially the families and networks of our Scholars. These are people who have every reason to care about what our Scholars are accomplishing. 

Our next goal: 500 followers by December 31

We are at 298 today. Reaching 500 is ambitious, but with the chapter behind us, it is within reach. 

At the Scholar Awards Celebration on November 11, we will be posting live from the room. If you are attending, follow along and share posts from your phone so others can join us in celebrating our Scholars. 

Have something we should post? 

Email it to social@atlanta.arcsfoundation.org, and we will take it from there. Photos and video from ARCS events, a lab visit, a Scholar in the news, or an idea for a story we should tell. Nothing needs to be polished. A short clip filmed on a phone, held upright, is often exactly what works best. 

Find us on Instagram at @arcsfoundationatlanta, and on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. The science has always been extraordinary. Now, more people are seeing it. Let's keep going.