Are you ready to share your research with the world?

Building on the University of Iowa’s (UI) national reputation as the Writing University, the Writing for the Public Good initiative seeks to support and expand the strengths of faculty writers across all disciplines and departments to share UI research and scholarship with Iowa, the nation, and the world.

 

Writing for the Public Good offers a variety of skills-based workshops to position faculty researchers and scholars to write essays, op-eds, and research-informed journalistic essays for broad, public audiences.

Recommend a faculty member for Writing for the Public Good

If you know a faculty member who would be a good fit for a Writing for the Public Good program, please let us know. Self-nominations are welcome!

Workshops and Programs

Communicating Ideas Workshop

The Communicating Ideas workshop is held once annually for a small, interdisciplinary group of 9-10 faculty researchers and scholars. Throughout the half-day program, which includes short presentations, a panel of journalists, and one-on-one coaching, participants gather insights about communicating their research to individuals outside of their discipline.

Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science Workshop

Participants will learn how to share their work and its significance in a way that helps others appreciate the wonder and value of science. We will offer the first workshop at the beginning of the fall semester, as faculty gear up for the academic year. We will offer a second, more in-depth Alan Alda Center workshop at the beginning of the spring semester to help researchers expand their skills.

End-of-Year Writing Retreat

Offered in partnership with the Obermann Center for Advanced Studies

This in-person writing retreat will be held May 12 - 16, 2025. The retreat will enable scholars to make progress on book manuscripts, articles, and grant applications. Daily catered lunches will provide an opportunity for exchange and discussion with other writers across campus. Fifteen participants will be accepted by competitive application, due March 14, 2025. 

The Conversation

The Conversation is an independent news organization dedicated to unlocking the knowledge of academic experts for the public good. With a monthly readership of 20 million, The Conversation expertly shares a scholar’s expertise far beyond the borders of our state. Articles are geared toward the general public and republished by major news outlets, which can generate thousands of views across multiple platforms.

Through our institutional membership, faculty receive personalized assistance from an editor to translate their work for a general audience.

“In terms of eyeballs per hour of work, it was the highest ratio of anything I've done.”

Charles Stanier, professor of chemical and biochemical engineering

“Working with the Conversation was a great opportunity to share my research with a nationwide audience and resulted in additional interest from news outlets across the country. The Conversation staff was incredibly helpful in preparing and publishing my piece and I would recommend working with them to anyone interested in promoting their work.”

Riley Post, PhD candidate, civil and environmental engineering

View Conversation articles published by University of Iowa researchers

Iowa Researchers Featured in The Conversation

Student-athletes find more power in the changing legal landscape of college sports

Friday, October 25, 2024
Joshua Lens, Associate Professor of Instruction of Sport & Recreation Management, University of Iowa
The ability to make money through endorsements is complicating the world of college sports. Do athletes have too much power?

Half of Black gay men will be diagnosed with HIV, despite highly effective preventive treatments − why?

Friday, September 20, 2024
Oluwafemi Atanda Adeagbo, Assistant Professor of Public Health, University of Iowa
PrEP can reduce the risk of sexually transmitted HIV infection by 99%. Discrimination and distrust are two barriers Black gay men face in accessing this lifesaving treatment.

African immigrant students draw on family and community strengths in quest for college

Tuesday, September 3, 2024
Mavis Gyesi, Ph.D. Candidate in Educational Policy and Leadership Studies, University of Iowa
African immigrant students sometimes experience negative stereotyping, marginalization and low expectations from teachers. But emerging research shows they are being mischaracterized.

Contact us

Kristy Nabhan-Warren

Kristy Nabhan-Warren

Title/Position
Associate Vice President for Research
Professor, V.O. and Elizabeth Kahl Figge Chair in Catholic Studies
Leslie Revaux portrait

Leslie Revaux

Title/Position
Director of Strategic Communications
Casey Westlake

Casey Westlake

Title/Position
Communications Manager