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 that are public facing in ways that traditional scholarship is not.

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.

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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.

Virtual writing retreat with InkWell

Offered in partnership with the Obermann Center for Advanced Studies

This retreat, led by Michell Boyd of InkWell Academic Writing, was offered in September 2023 for faculty, staff, and students who wanted to recharge and jumpstart their writing. Scholars from eight UI colleges participated, including the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Education, Engineering, Law, Nursing, Public Health, Carver College of Medicine, and the Tippie College of Business. 

OpEd Project Writing Workshop

Writing op-eds is an excellent way for faculty to share their research with external audiences. In these virtual workshops, participants explore how to establish credibility; how to present ideas quickly and powerfully under pressure; the components of an effective, evidence-based argument; and the difference between being "right" and being effective. In the workshop, participants explore and pitch ideas, and begin to draft an op-ed. They are connected with a national network of journalists after the session.

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

Chlorine is a highly useful chemical that's also extremely dangerous − here's what to know about staying safe around it

Monday, November 27, 2023
Aliasger K. Salem, Associate Vice President for Research and Bighley Chair and Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Iowa
Chlorine is a widely used industrial chemical that’s frequently a factor in toxic accidents and workplace injuries. A pharmaceutical expert explains why it’s so hazardous.

A TikTok Jesus promises divine blessings and many worldly comforts

Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Brandon Dean, Visiting Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, University of Iowa
A scholar of American religion explains how a new phenomenon of Jesus images on TikTok is tapping into the prosperity gospel, a Christian belief that God will reward faith with this-worldly comforts.

NASA's robotic prospectors are helping scientists understand what asteroids are made of – setting the stage for miners to follow someday

Thursday, November 2, 2023
Valerie Payré, Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Iowa
Upcoming NASA missions will help scientists understand the composition of asteroids – which could inform companies one day hoping to commercially mine asteroids.

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