Public Engagement Project Invites Faculty Members to Join ‘The Conversation’ with Information Session April 27

The UMass Amherst Public Engagement Project (PEP) invites all faculty members of the university to learn more about public writing, during a virtual session with Michelle McAdams of The Conversation at noon on Wednesday, April 27.

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Access to independent, high-quality, evidence-based, explanatory journalism underpins a functioning democracy, and the aim of The Conversation is to promote a better understanding of current affairs and complex issues. The Conversation is an independent source for informed commentary and analysis, written by the academic and research community and edited by journalists for the general public. UMass Amherst is a proud founding member of The Conversation, and nearly 100 members of the university faculty have written articles that, in total, have been read over 6 million times.

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During the introductory Zoom session, McAdams, university relations manager and internship manager for The Conversation, will address why academics should write for the general public, how to pitch article ideas to media outlets and the benefits of reaching a wide audience through The Conversation’s model. Lisa M. Troy, associate professor of nutrition in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences and Commonwealth Honors College, and PEP co-director and director of the PEP Faculty Fellowship Program, will moderate the discussion.

The session will be followed by virtual “office hours” with McAdams from 2-4 p.m., during which faculty can pitch their ideas for potential articles.

Instructions on how to attend office hours with McAdams will be sent following the completion of registration for the introductory Zoom event.

This event is co-sponsored by the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, College of Education, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, College of Humanities and Fine Arts, School of Public Policy, Center for Research on Families, College of Engineering, Institute for Social Science Research, the Office of the Provost and University Relations.

For more information about this event or the Public Engagement Project, email pep@umass.edu.