Why Go Public?

 

Objectives

In this unit we will:

  • show you that public scholarship is not a one-size-fits-all model

    • your topics, audiences, and goals will vary (both from those of your other cohort members and depending on which aspect of your research you’re presenting to the public)

  • help you articulate why YOU want to go public and refine a topic as you begin or continue your public-facing work

 

TO Do

  • Listen to the “Why Go Public?” podcast (either here on the website or through the Storyboard app) or read the transcript

  • Check out the slideshow, which prompts you to think about your topic(s), audience(s), and goal(s) for your own public scholarship

  • Listen to the “Ask an Expert” interview with Dr. Nyasha Junior on why she went public with her work

  • Submit questions for our “Office Hours” podcast by 24 August and listen to her response once it’s posted

  • Complete the “Shifting the Conversation” activity by 21 August and offer feedback by 31 August 

  • Review the additional resources as your schedule and bandwidth allow

 

important dates

(21 August)
activity materials due

(24 august)
”ask an expert” qs due

(31 august)
pod feedback due

 
 

Podcast

Not a podcast person? Read the transcript!

 

Ask An Expert: Interview With Dr. Junior

 
Nyasha.jpg

Office Hours with
Dr. Nyasha Junior

Submit your questions for this unit’s expert, Dr. Nyasha Junior, by 24 August. All cohort members should submit at least one question for Dr. Junior.

Click the image to go to the questions google doc.

read the transcript

Citations for this conversation

 

Slideshow

password: S@credWr1tes! (same as for this section of the website)

Activity

[Adapted from Sucharov, Public Influence: A Guide to Op-Ed and Social Media Engagement (15)]

Question 

How can you use your expertise to help non-specialists better understand a tricky topic?

Goal 

Find your place in "the discourse!"

Assignment

  1. Identify a public conversation (op-ed, tv/radio spots, social media discussion, etc) related to your scholarly training & research. Remember: it doesn't have to be your very specific area of research -- you have way more training and facility than most folks to analyze just about any issue related to religion. Controversies always make for, uh, lively public conversations, so maybe start with one of those?

  2. Select 2-3 examples of different analytical approaches to this issue. They don't all have to be in the same format, but they should all present different ways of thinking about this topic that you're an expert in. Write a short paragraph or bullet-pointed list outlining the ways these sources are approaching this issue.

  3. What's missing from this conversation? The short answer is YOU. What does your training help you understand about this issue that folks are missing? Write a short paragraph or bullet-pointed list outlining how you'd respond to this discussion.

IS THIS YOUR ENTREE INTO THE DISCOURSE? It just might be!

Share

  • your 2-3 examples (with links) + short paragraphs/lists about these examples

  • your short paragraph/list about what's missing

Upload these materials in one (1) document to our shared folder by 21 August at midnight. 

Review & Respond 

  • Check out your public scholarship pod members' examples & paragraphs

  • What works for you about how they're framing the issues? 

  • Is there anything else you could see them adding to the conversation? 

  • Arrange a way to discuss these responses with your podmates. Discussion format is up to you: video chat, old fashioned phone call, DMs, asynchronous written feedback -- whatever works best for your group is A-OK with us. You and your podmates should provide and discuss your feedback before 31 August.

As always, feel free to reach out if you have questions! We can't wait to see how you shift these conversations.

 

Additional Resources

If/as you have time, check out these resources before moving on to the next unit. Let us know what you think on twitter (#SmartInPublic)!