Do you ever read the news and think that something important is missing from the public conversation? Can your research help inform policymakers and other leaders? Do your studies have the potential to change the world?  

To help further elevate the work of faculty and share knowledge as broadly as possible, WSU has partnered with The Conversation, a nonprofit publisher of academic commentary and analysis. This partnership provides faculty with opportunities to write articles about important issues and have them picked up by multiple media outlets around the world.

The Conversation’s University Relations Manager Ari Fertig will be on campus on Thursday, March 7, to meet with faculty. All faculty are encouraged to take this opportunity to meet with him, discuss potential story ideas and learn more about how to get involved with The Conversation.

For your convenience, there will be four informational sessions throughout the day:

• 9-10 a.m.: Student Center, Hilberry A (RSVP)
• 10:30-11:30 a.m.: Faculty/Administration Building, 4339 (RSVP)
• 1-2 p.m.: College of Education, Room 10 (RSVP)
• 2:30-3:30 p.m.: College of Engineering, Ford Student Activity Center (RSVP)

The Conversation celebrates the work of academics, and many national media outlets — including The Washington Post, Time, CNN, Smithsonian and HuffPost — often republish from its site. Faculty experts — who must hold a Ph.D. — work with an experienced editor to polish each piece, which typically ranges from 600 to 1,000 words. Writing for The Conversation can increase the visibility of your research, enhance your reputation, and connect you to peers for collaboration. Articles written for The Conversation have also led to an increase in citations for the authors’ scientific papers, been used in NSF applications and resulted in book proposals.

“Faculty often share their work with just a small circle of fellow experts but we have the opportunity, and even a responsibility, to share our knowledge as broadly as possible for the greater good,” said Annmarie Cano, associate provost for faculty development and success, who has published articles about the decision-making process and handling family dynamics during the holiday season. “Working with The Conversation is a great way to connect with others who can benefit from our knowledge.”

WSU’s Alexey Petrov, Elizabeth Stoycheff and Bridget Baker have also recently published articles with The Conversation — what electrons can tell us about the structure of the universe, Facebook’s transition from friend to frenemy and the impact of winter weather on wildlife, respectively — with great success. 

"The editor was skilled at maintaining my voice and allowing me to have the final stamp of approval, while making the article more accessible to a general audience," Baker, clinical veterinarian and deputy director of the Warrior Aquatic, Translational, and Environmental Research (WATER) Lab, said. "I was surprised by the large amount of interest and readership for information that I consider basic knowledge in my field. My article was picked up by Smithsonian, Discover and Popular Science, among others, and I have an upcoming radio interview."

To date, 35 WSU-affiliated authors have contributed 59 articles that have been viewed by more than 2 million readers. You can read these articles here.

For additional information about The Conversation, contact a member of Wayne State’s public relations team.