In the current political and social environment that disputes facts as ‘fake news’ and characterizes scientists as having a liberal political agenda, it is more important than ever that academics are willing and able to communicate effectively and in a nonpartisan way with decision makers. Academic researchers take a deep dive into their subject matter and have valuable information to provide to decision makers at every level of government, who often have only a moment to peek in the window of any given topic before they must vote. This workshop is open to academic researchers at any stage of their career who are curious about engaging with policy makers and having a conversation about what academics might do differently to get valuable findings to those who need them and provide practical tools that participants can utilize immediately.

• We will explore the balancing act it takes to offer insights and speak in a nonpartisan manner about your subject, while stopping short of direct advocacy for specific policies.
• This interactive discussion will offer you the chance to think about your context and the way in which you may might engage with policymakers.
• The coin of the realm for many policymakers is the 2-pager. This is a product that provides the key context and takeaways of your research and details on how to get the full report/paper/dissertation. We will discuss practical tips for creating effective 2-pagers and other written resources for sharing with decision makers.
• For those considering presenting your work to decision makers in a variety of formats, including over the phone, in a one-on-one meeting, or even a formal hearing, we bring practical tips for making your work accessible, interesting, and most of all helpful for policymakers.
• A picture can be worth a thousand words when it’s done right. We will work with you to think about how to leverage that concept to communicate key findings in your research to a non-academic audience.
• In the final segment of our time together, we explore best ways to accomplish your goals of communicating with decision makers. We identify potential avenues for getting the word out about your findings at the local, regional, state, or national level and introduce you to some practical tools to get started.

Presenters include:

• Emily J. Wornell, Assistant Professor of Research, Ball State University
• Misty Mason Freeman, Interim Director, Legislative and Policy Research Office, Oregon State
  Legislature