1) Adopt a Healthy Mindset
Avoid public engagement burnout by deciding what amount of energy and time you want to invest. Don’t compare yourself to others by counting followers or bylines. Do as much or as little as you want, and lean into the aspects that bring you joy.
Avoid public engagement burnout by deciding what amount of energy and time you want to invest. Don’t compare yourself to others by counting followers or bylines. Do as much or as little as you want, and lean into the aspects that bring you joy.
2) Understand What Makes Your Research Relevant
Public engagement is much more effective when you can articulate how your research relates to and informs questions that are of interest to families, communities, and the general public. Think purposefully about this connection.
Public engagement is much more effective when you can articulate how your research relates to and informs questions that are of interest to families, communities, and the general public. Think purposefully about this connection.
3) Write in an Accessible Way
Even the most technical & specialized research can be described in terms that can be understood by the broader public. Do your best to write titles, abstracts, introductions, & conclusions in a way that is accessible to a non-academic audience.
Even the most technical & specialized research can be described in terms that can be understood by the broader public. Do your best to write titles, abstracts, introductions, & conclusions in a way that is accessible to a non-academic audience.
4) Make It Easy to Find Your Research
Have a personal website where you list your research (no, not that awful faculty page with the outdated headshot). Post pre-published versions of your papers so your work does not languish behind paywalls. Join academic websites.
Have a personal website where you list your research (no, not that awful faculty page with the outdated headshot). Post pre-published versions of your papers so your work does not languish behind paywalls. Join academic websites.
5) Translate Your Research to Reach Your Audience
Summarize your research in a policy memo, blog post or op-ed. Don’t stress about landing your piece in the most prestigious or widely read platforms. Just having a public-facing piece can make all the difference for policymakers.
Summarize your research in a policy memo, blog post or op-ed. Don’t stress about landing your piece in the most prestigious or widely read platforms. Just having a public-facing piece can make all the difference for policymakers.
6) Ask Your University & Networks to Amplify Your Work
Many departments, schools, universities, and professional orgs have comm teams that are eager to publicize the work of faculty/members but they rarely know when you release new work. Find these folks and tell them about it!
Many departments, schools, universities, and professional orgs have comm teams that are eager to publicize the work of faculty/members but they rarely know when you release new work. Find these folks and tell them about it!
7) Engage in the Public Conversation
Social media can be a powerful platform for sharing your research & expertise. You can also learn about new studies, resources, & crowdsource advice. Make an engagement plan & stick to it to avoid the tempting habit of scrolling all day.
Social media can be a powerful platform for sharing your research & expertise. You can also learn about new studies, resources, & crowdsource advice. Make an engagement plan & stick to it to avoid the tempting habit of scrolling all day.
8) Pitch Your Research to Journalists
Go for it! You might not get a reply, but every so often your research will resonate & you’ll benefit immensely by having a professional writer translate your ideas for you. And be sure to always respond promptly if a journalist reaches out.
Go for it! You might not get a reply, but every so often your research will resonate & you’ll benefit immensely by having a professional writer translate your ideas for you. And be sure to always respond promptly if a journalist reaches out.
9) Time It Right
You can’t control when a topic you study will become front-page news, but you can be ready to respond when it does. That is the time to share your (even old) research with journalists & pen that op-ed. Prioritize projects that can inform emerging debates.
You can’t control when a topic you study will become front-page news, but you can be ready to respond when it does. That is the time to share your (even old) research with journalists & pen that op-ed. Prioritize projects that can inform emerging debates.
10) Track Your Engagement and Get Credit
Many universities value the public engagement of their faculty, but they rarely know about it. Track your efforts and share them in your annual reviews. Frame this as part of your service and get credit for the time you invest.
Many universities value the public engagement of their faculty, but they rarely know about it. Track your efforts and share them in your annual reviews. Frame this as part of your service and get credit for the time you invest.
I encourage everyone to share your knowledge & passion with the world in the ways that work best for you. Policymakers & practitioners don’t have time to wait for the perfect polished idea or definitive answer. Believe in yourself & trust in your expertise.
Your voice matters.
Your voice matters.
Thanks to @AERA_EdResearch for inviting me to contribute to their Voices from the Field series.
aera.net/Newsroom/AERA-…
#AcademicTwitter @AcademicChatter @OpenAcademics 🧵⬆️
aera.net/Newsroom/AERA-…
#AcademicTwitter @AcademicChatter @OpenAcademics 🧵⬆️
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
