Communication

Hubs vary in the extent to which they offer the means for stakeholders to communicate with each other. On-line discussion lists, webinars, on-line debates, links to social media platforms can all add significantly to the use and value of a platform and bring traffic to its other parts. However, in many cases such functions are barely used. They require real knowledge of and engagement with the user community to build up and maintain. The holding of face to face events like workshops and conferences can be of great value in this respect as well as for their more general value in building a field.