Starting The Conversation: sharing Oxford expertise with the world Carolyne Culver, MPLS Andrew Fairweather-Tall, Humanities Wednesday 23 September 2015

What is The Conversation? • A free-to-read website featuring topical comment

pieces by academics and researchers

• https://theconversation.com/uk

• Covers politics, science, technology, the arts, business, economics and education

• More than 10 million subscribers worldwide

• Articles are evidence based and not politicised

What’s happened so far? • Over the past two years more than 200 Oxford

researchers have published 320 articles

• Attracted eight million readers globally, including policy makers and opinion formers

• University became an official member in August following endorsement from Research Committee

• Delivers on Strategic Plan objectives

What’s in it for the researcher? • Write without words being taken out of context

• Provide expert comment on topical issues

• Pitch their own stories

• Practise writing for, and engaging with, a general audience (with training and editorial support)

• Increased profile: for the research and personally

• Republish articles

• Metrics: readership / comments and republication

What’s in it for the group / department? • Raises awareness of excellent research

• Demonstrates that researchers are committed to engaging with wider society

• Metrics – readership and republication figures

• Conversation editors support authors throughout

• You can republish; promote via social media

What’s in it for the general reader? • Free daily email digest

• Many newspaper websites are subscription now

• Article style is accessible to a general audience

• Interesting articles by experts that put the news of the day into a broader context

• You can republish it

Why did Oxford become a member? • Increase the public profile of our research(ers) as

part of REF environment and impact

• Opportunity to promote knowledge exchange and public engagement with our research(ers)

• Training and support from their editors plus a daily request for articles

• Metrics and evidence of engagement

• More organised and systematic approach

How does it work on a day-to-day basis? • Researchers set up a profile or contact an editor

• Conversation editors make a daily request for stories and also horizon scan for ‘up-and-coming’

• Divisions receive daily updates which they pass on as appropriate

• If researcher wants to contribute, a Conversation editor will provide advice / guidance

What happens next? • Launch announcement at the beginning of term

• An introductory session in Michaelmas term for potential writers

• Small group training

• We have contact people in the Divisions

• www.ox.ac.uk/research/support-researchers/using-research-engage/conversation

QUESTIONS?