Building on the University of Iowa’s national reputation as The Writing University, the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) is offering new programming that seeks to support and expand the strengths of faculty writers across all disciplines.

The “Writing for the Public Good” initiative is one of four projects selected to receive funding from the UI Strategic Initiatives Fund (P3) to support implementation of the strategic plan. The three-year project secured $270,000 in funding.

“A major goal of this initiative is to equip UI faculty with the resources to share their research and scholarship with broad audiences beyond the borders of academia – with Iowa, the nation, and the world,” said Kristy Nabhan-Warren, associate vice president for research, and professor, V.O. and Elizabeth Kahl Figge Chair in Catholic Studies. Nabhan-Warren and Leslie Revaux, director of strategic communications in OVPR, will lead the initiative.

Through a variety of skills-based workshops and an institutional membership to The Conversation, the initiative seeks to position faculty researchers and scholars to write essays, op-eds, and research-informed journalistic essays for broad public audiences.

The project aligns with the UI strategic plan goal to leverage the institution’s areas of distinction and the talent of its people to have a transformative societal impact. “By extending the reach of the knowledge gleaned through academic research and scholarship, we are hoping to position the University of Iowa as the leading institute where faculty across the disciplines are known for writing strengths,” said Nabhan-Warren.

Interested researchers and scholars can learn more at the Writing for the Public Good website.