Advancing family science through public scholarship: fostering community relationships and engaging in broader impacts
Abstract
Objective: To increase the awareness and support for family scientists' engagement in public scholarship. Background: Without appropriate dissemination efforts, important research findings may remain solely in academic journals and never reach the public. Grounded in a social justice perspective, we argue that family scientists are and should be on the frontlines of direct social change and activities related to broader impacts. Method: In this call-to-action, we articulate the utility and praxis of public scholarship, or the production and dissemination of scientific knowledge for and with communities to create social change for the public good. Results: When engaging in public scholarship, we can build community trust, increase our impact and demonstrate the relevance of family science. Therefore, we offer practical suggestions like collaborating with individuals who serve in complementary roles, hosting a research press conference to disseminate key findings, and writing for local outlets like community newspapers. We also provide insights to help implement (e.g., resources for developing press releases, infographics or visual abstracts) and document (e.g., in promotion and tenure materials) these activities. Conclusion: We encourage scholars to keep these suggestions in mind when trying to think of creative broader impacts activities that illustrate the relevance of research in people's lives. Implications: By shifting academic cultures and engaging in public scholarship, family scholars can increase their reach and contribute to the enfranchisement of marginalized populations, while also enhancing the visibility of findings, building their scholarly networks, and growing public support for family science.
Citation
Monk, J.K., Bordere, T.C. and Benson, J.J. (2021), Emerging Ideas. Advancing Family Science Through Public Scholarship: Fostering Community Relationships and Engaging in Broader Impacts. Fam Relat, 70: 1612-1625. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12545
Rights
OpenAccess.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 License.