Research, Innovation & Partnerships
Public Engagement
USF faculty make the university an intellectual powerhouse with expertise across disciplines. USF supports faculty in sharing their research and expertise with the public.
Public engagement can occur in various ways, including media appearances, offering expert testimony, writing op-eds, providing public lectures, or serving on community boards or advisory panels.
Public engagement with faculty research and expertise facilitates intentional, meaningful interactions that provide opportunities for mutual learning between scholars and members of the public. Mutual learning refers not just to the acquisition of knowledge, but also to increased familiarity with a breadth of perspectives, frames, and worldviews (AAAS).
Value of Public Engagement –
- Affirms the value of research and its impact on the general public.
- Highlights faculty expertise in a wider national and global forum, drawing possible attention from media and policy makers.
- Attracts support from traditional and non-traditional funding sources.
- Strengthens reputation of researcher and the university, opening doors to future research opportunities and collaborations.
Resources to support faculty public engagement
University Communications and Marketing (UCM)
UCM is the central office promoting our impact, building community, elevating our brand, sharing expertise and inspiring and empowering diverse audiences to be partners in USF’s journey. UCM manages a variety of channels that provide various opportunities for faculty to highlight their scholarship:
- Media relations
- USF News
- USF Magazine
- Inside USF e-newsletter
- Inside USF podcast
The Conversation
The Conversation is an independent source for informed commentary and analysis written by the academic research community and edited by journalists for the general public. The Conversation publishes under Creative Commons license, which allows free republication of any article they publish. This leads to article ‘pick-ups’ from organizations like CNN, AP, TIME, Smithsonian, and other national and international outlets.
The Conversation editors are particularly interested in:
- Timely, evidence-based analysis of issues in the news,
- Articles explaining new research and its significance for a non-expert
audience, and - Timeless, plain English ‘explainers’ of complex issues.
Learn more about The Conversation and crafting a strong pitch.
Scholars Strategy Network
The Scholars Strategy Network is an organization of university-based scholars who are committed to using research to improve policy and strengthen democracy. Florida chapter members are particularly interested in immigration policy, environmental policy, health care, poverty, and current trends in race and ethnic inequality.