Public scholarship – sharing
research with audiences outside of academic settings – has become
increasingly necessary to counter the rise of misinformation, to fill
gaps from cuts to traditional media, and to increase the reach of
important scholarship by making it available to the public. However,
engaging in these efforts also comes with the risk of harassment and
threats – especially for women, people of colour, queer
communities, and precariously employed workers. Engage in Public
Scholarship! provides constructive guidance on how to translate
research into inclusive public outreach while ensuring that such
efforts are accessible for a range of abilities as well as safer for
those involved.
In
clear and helpful language, Alex D. Ketchum discusses practices and
planning for a great range of educational activities – from
in-person and online events, conferences, and lectures, to publishing
and working with the media, to social media activity, blogging, and
podcasting. Using an intersectional feminist lens, this book serves
as a concise approach to the key challenges and benefits of feminist
and accessible public scholarship by surveying debates and offering
solutions. Examining the needs for long-term preservation and impact,
Ketchum discusses issues relating to digital sustainability,
maintenance, the concept of “openness,” and how to be mindful of
exclusionary barriers that impede access.
A
useful and readable guidebook for scholars, students, and content
creators, Engage in Public Scholarship! offers both
encouragement and toolkits for reaching audiences and sharing
knowledge in practical and more equitable ways.