Friday, August 23, 2024
Written by: Casey Westlake
On June 30, the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) wrapped the first year of the Writing for the Public Good initiative, which seeks to support faculty writers across all disciplines as they share University of Iowa research and scholarship with broader audiences.
The program was one of four projects selected to receive support from the UI Strategic Initiatives Fund (P3) in fiscal year 2024, securing $270,000 over three years.
“We are so pleased that so many researchers and scholars on our campus have participated in the first year of the Writing for the Public Good initiative, many of them participating in training opportunities and sharing their work with broader audiences” said Kristy Nabhan-Warren, associate vice president for research, and professor, V.O. and Elizabeth Kahl Figge Chair in Catholic Studies, “We hope that the number of participants, and the audience they reach, will continue to grow in the second year of this effort.”
132
researchers and scholars participated in year one of Writing for the Public Good
23
articles published in The Conversation US
351,079
online views of faculty articles
Year One Achievements
A total of 132 researchers and scholars participated in Writing for the Public Good offerings in the programs first year, including an Inkwell Academic Writing retreat facilitated by the Obermann Center for Advanced Studies, online training sessions through the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, and the longstanding Communicating Ideas Workshop, which provides in-person media training to a select cohort of faculty each year.
The centerpiece of the effort is the University’s institutional membership to The Conversation US, an independent news organization dedicated to unlocking the knowledge of academic experts for the public good. With a monthly readership of 20 million, The Conversation supports scholars in reaching a broader public audience. In the first year of membership, 20 UI authors published 23 articles through The Conversation US, covering topics ranging from young adults’ risk of workplace injury to wildfire’s impacts on air quality. In all, these articles were republished nearly 500 times by other sources, garnering more than 351,079 online views. The top performing articles in the first 12 months were:
Avocados are a ‘green gold’ export for Mexico, but growing them is harming forests and waters
NASA’s robotic prospectors are helping scientists understand what asteroids are made of – setting the stage for miners to follow
Year Two Offerings
The second year of the Writing for the Public Good Initiative will build on the foundation built in year one, offering more advanced offerings to previous program participants, recalibrating to better meet faculty needs, and offering additional faculty the opportunity to try popular programs from the first year of the initiative.
The UI will continue its institutional membership to The Conversation US, with the goal of meeting or exceeding year one’s benchmarks. Individuals who are interested in published a research-informed essay, should contact Kristy-nabhan-warren@uiowa.edu to be connected with an editor.
Year two trainings began with the Communicating Ideas workshop on July 12. This interdisciplinary media training workshop, offered to a hand-selected group of faculty members each year, included feedback on a previously recorded interview, and one-on-one coaching with a communications professional. After the training, participants stepped in front of the camera to record brief videos explaining their work to a general audience.
"Every aspect of Communicating Ideas, from the engaging presenters to the professional video recording, was thoughtfully planned, creating a highly valuable experience,” said Leonardo Marchini, professor and chair in the Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, who was part of this year’s Communicating Ideas cohort. “The chance to connect with others who share a passion for communicating academic interests, both on and off-campus, was equally important. Additionally, the panel of journalists provided a rare and insightful opportunity to engage with regional communicators."
The OVPR will partner with the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science to offer more advanced training to researchers who have previously completed The Essentials workshop:
- Small Group Coaching: 1-4 p.m., Friday, Nov. 8
Up to 10 participants
Participants apply lessons from The Essentials and practice talking about their work to non-expert audiences. Through feedback from peers and Alda-certified facilitators, participants refine and improve their messages in a supportive, intimate session. - Science Through Narrative: TBD, Spring 2025
Up to 20 participants
Narrative tools and techniques are powerful vehicles of effective communication. Building on the skills and strategies of The Essentials and Small Group Coaching, participants learn to create a memorable and engaging narrative about their research.
Through the support of the Obermann Center for Advanced Studies, the OVPR will again offer a full-day online writing retreat facilitated by Michelle Boyd of Inkwell Academic Writing Retreats. In 2023, scholars from eight UI colleges participated, recharging and jumpstarting their writing. The 2024 date of this program is to be determined.
Share your work with the world
Let us know you are interested in the Writing for the Public Good initiative or nominate a colleague