Academics often desire to lend their research and scientific expertise to pressing social issues and public debates. Although we have a great deal to offer in these domains, most of us have had little training or experience in how to communicate science and partner effectively with non-academic audiences. Please join us in celebration of the recently released book, Making Research Matter: A Psychologist's Guide to Public Engagement  (Linda Tropp, Editor), for a panel and open discussion on how to engage effectively with diverse public audiences. Including book contributors from on- and off-campus and UMass faculty from the Public Engagement Project, this panel will highlight the many ways academics can become engaged scholars and share insights about effective strategies for engaging diverse audiences across a range of social issues, public domains, and institutional contexts. Lunch will be served.