In this blog post, Andrea Whiteley summarizes key findings and recommendations from her research with more than 100 participating Community Scholars.

ScholCommLab

By Andrea Whiteley, with editorial support by Alice Fleerackers

What happens when you provide the community with free access to academic research?  Simon Fraser University (SFU)’s Community Scholars Program (CSP) is a unique initiative that aims to do just that.

A bridge to access research: Reflections on the Community Scholars Program developmental evaluation

Alice Fleerackers

***This post is a collaboration between ScholCommLab member Alice
Fleerackers and SFU Knowledge Mobilization Officer Lupin Battersby. It
was first published on November 18, 2020 at SFU Library's [Radical
Access
blog](https://www.lib.sfu.ca/help/publish/scholarly-publishing/radical-access/blogging-research){rel="noreferrer noopener"
target="_blank"} and has been reposted here with permission.***

Curious about research blogging, but not sure where to start?

In this post, we answer common questions about why, when, and where to
blog about research. Inspired by a recent SFU Knowledge Mobilization Hub
webinar [on research blog
writing](https://www.lib.sfu.ca/about/branches-depts/rc/share/km/35719){.broken_link
target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"} we weave in best practices
for effective knowledge mobilization, and offer helpful resources for
entering the world of research blogging. 

## What is a "research blog"?  {#what-is-a-research-blog .wp-block-heading}

------------------------------------------------------------------------

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large">
<img
src="https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_1-1-1024x521.gif"
class="wp-image-3280" loading="lazy" decoding="async"
srcset="https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_1-1-1024x521.gif 1024w, https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_1-1-300x153.gif 300w, https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_1-1-768x391.gif 768w"
sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" width="1024" height="521"
alt="Gif showing the parts of a research paper (e.g. methods, discussion, literature review) vs a blog post, to illustrate how different they are" />
<figcaption>Research blog posts take many shapes and forms, but most
look nothing like a scholarly paper.</figcaption>
</figure>

Research blogs can take many forms, from commentaries to summaries. But,
at the most basic level, all research blog posts should have two things
in common:  

1. **Scholarly**: True to their name, research blog posts incorporate
 scholarship in some way. That could look like a detailed overview of
 a recent study, a deep dive into a new method, a summary of key
 findings, or something else entirely. While many scholars blog about
 their own research, you can also use blogging to comment on work by
 others in your field. 
2. **Web-friendly**: No matter what the topic, effective blog posts are
 [written](https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/beginner-blogger-mistakes){target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener"} and
 [formatted](https://www.impactplus.com/blog/blog-layout-best-practices){target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener"} with the online reader in mind. That
 means they should include clear language, plenty of visuals, and a
 mobile-friendly design. Different bloggers have different styles,
 but most posts tend to be between 500 and 2,000 words long. 

How to write effective research-based blog content is a topic for
another post. But to get you started, here are some basic research blog
formats to explore: 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large">
<img
src="https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_2.png"
class="wp-image-3274" loading="lazy" decoding="async"
srcset="https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_2.png 1000w, https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_2-300x169.png 300w, https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_2-768x432.png 768w"
sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" width="1000" height="563" />
<figcaption>Image courtesy of <a
href="https://www.alicefleerackers.com/">Alice Fleerackers</a> |
Attribution-NonCommercial CC BY-NC</figcaption>
</figure>

## Why to blog about your research {#why-to-blog-about-your-research .wp-block-heading}

Research blogging is a form of [knowledge
mobilization](https://www.lib.sfu.ca/about/branches-depts/rc/share/km){target="_blank"
rel="noreferrer noopener"} that can help get the right information to
the right people at the right time. Blogging your research can reduce
research waste, improve access, build awareness, and increase
connections. 

A research blog can boost your impact within and beyond academia,
benefiting you professionally and personally. Well crafted posts can
increase the reach of your publications and lead to further
collaborations and opportunities. They can also become tools to close
the loop with participants and engage stakeholders with your topic area.
Connecting with your community and knowing that your research is being
read is deeply satisfying.

Plus, blogging is a great way to practice plain language
communication---excellent preparation for conference presentations and
lectures. 

## Deciding where to blog {#deciding-where-to-blog .wp-block-heading}

The best place to start blogging will depend on your time, budget,
skills, experience, and goals. A few common options include: 

### Create your own blog {#create-your-own-blog .wp-block-heading}

If you plan to do a lot of blogging, consider starting your own website.
Code your own if you have the skills. (If you need to purchase hosting,
[Reclaim Hosting](https://reclaimhosting.com/){rel="noreferrer noopener"
target="_blank"} offers a very affordable student plan.) Otherwise, you
can create a free or low-cost blog using services like
[WordPress](https://wordpress.com/){rel="noreferrer noopener"
target="_blank"}, [Wix](https://www.wix.com/){rel="noreferrer noopener"
target="_blank"}, or
[Squarespace](https://www.squarespace.com/){rel="noreferrer noopener"
target="_blank"}. You may also be able to add a blog to your existing
website, especially if you are already using one of these services. 

Starting your own blog has the **advantage of control**: It's up to you
how often to blog, what style and tone to use, and what topics to cover.
But it has the **disadvantage of time and effort.** Running (and
promoting) your own site only makes sense if your schedule allows for
it.

### Blog on a third-party platform  {#blog-on-a-third-party-platform .wp-block-heading}

If you only plan to blog from time to time, posting on a third-party
site can be a good option. Platforms like
[Medium](https://medium.com/){target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"}
or [Write As](https://write.as/){target="_blank"
rel="noreferrer noopener"} offer a space where anyone can publish
content for free. These platforms are designed for the web and easy to
use. (No coding required!) Some also offer extra features, like
newsletters and analytics, though these can cost extra. 

Third-party platforms have the advantage of letting you post
professional-looking blog posts **without having to start an entire
blog**. But the disadvantage is that you have **less control over your
content.** Medium, for example, is [notorious for changing its business
model](https://www.niemanlab.org/2019/03/the-long-complicated-and-extremely-frustrating-history-of-medium-2012-present/){rel="noreferrer noopener"
target="_blank"}. It's always possible that, one day, everything you've
posted there will disappear.  

------------------------------------------------------------------------

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default">
<img
src="https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_3-1024x588.jpg"
class="wp-image-3275" loading="lazy" decoding="async"
srcset="https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_3-1024x588.jpg 1024w, https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_3-300x172.jpg 300w, https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_3-768x441.jpg 768w, https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_3-1536x881.jpg 1536w, https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_3.jpg 1600w"
sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" width="1024" height="588"
alt="screenshot of a medium post on coronavirus" />
<figcaption>Platforms like Medium offer spaces where anyone can publish
content. </figcaption>
</figure>

### Guest post on another blog  {#guest-post-on-another-blog .wp-block-heading}

Does your university library or your faculty have a blog? If so,
contributing a guest post is an option worth considering. 

Guest blogging makes a lot of sense when you are just starting out, or
only plan to blog occasionally.  Because there's already a **built-in
audience** for the blog, there's less pressure to promote the content to
reach readers. If you're lucky, you may even get some **editorial
support** from the blog you're writing for. 

Just remember that you'll need to tailor your writing style and topic to
suit the blog you're posting on. Again, the trade off for less effort is
less control. 

## Setting a (workable) blogging schedule  {#setting-a-workable-blogging-schedule .wp-block-heading}

Good blogging takes time---and, for researchers, time is often in short
supply. Even outside of academia, [many blogs
fail](https://www.onehourprofessor.com/why-do-blogs-fail-and-how-you-can-prevent-failing/){.broken_link
target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"} because the person running
them has overestimated their capacity to keep things going. 

Avoid this trap by being honest with yourself from the get-go. Sit down
and evaluate how **much time you can *realistically* contribute** to
blogging before even writing your first post. While posting frequently
can help [boost your blog's Search Engine
Ranking](https://neilpatel.com/blog/5-simple-steps-thatll-help-you-determine-how-often-you-need-to-blog/){target="_blank"
rel="noreferrer noopener"}, [posting
consistently](https://www.wpblogging360.com/best-blog-post-update-frequency/){target="_blank"
rel="noreferrer noopener"} is more important. Whether you're publishing
a blog post once a week, once a month, or once a year, it's easier to
build a following online when you **stick to a set schedule**.

Choose the platform that makes the most sense for your capacity (see
"Deciding where to blog"). Set a schedule that you think you can
maintain, then stick to it! 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large">
<img
src="https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_4-1024x826.png"
class="wp-image-3276" loading="lazy" decoding="async"
srcset="https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_4-1024x826.png 1024w, https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_4-300x242.png 300w, https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_4-768x620.png 768w, https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_4-1536x1239.png 1536w, https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_4.png 1600w"
sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" width="1024" height="826" />
<figcaption>Setting up an editorial calendar, like <a
href="https://blog.scienceborealis.ca/the-science-borealis-blog-editorial-cycle/"
target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">this one by Science
Borealis</a>, can help you keep your research blog on
schedule. </figcaption>
</figure>

## Promoting your posts  {#promoting-your-posts .wp-block-heading}

Once you have a blog set up, you'll need to find some readers. 

There are [lots of different
ways](https://neilpatel.com/blog/the-uncensored-guide-to-promoting-a-blog-post/)
[to promote your
blog](https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/blog-promotion-tactics){target="_blank"
rel="noreferrer noopener"}. Sharing posts on social media is often a
good start, especially if you already have a following there. Depending
on your target audience, promoting new posts through [a
newsletter](https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/how-to-create-email-newsletters-ht){target="_blank"
rel="noreferrer noopener"} or an email listserv could also work. 

Reaching out to existing blogs in your field can be another effective
strategy. Some blogs will let you write a guest post that includes a
link to your own blog. Others, like [*Library Journal*'s
infoDOCKET](https://www.infodocket.com/){rel="noreferrer noopener"
target="_blank"} or [LSE Impact
Blog](https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/){rel="noreferrer noopener"
target="_blank"} may want to "reblog" your content. Reblogging and guest
posting are a win-win for everyone: The blog you're contributing to gets
free, high quality content. In return, you get to introduce yourself to
a relevant community of readers. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large">
<img
src="https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_5-1024x588.png"
class="wp-image-3277" loading="lazy" decoding="async"
srcset="https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_5-1024x588.png 1024w, https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_5-300x172.png 300w, https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_5-768x441.png 768w, https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_5-1536x881.png 1536w, https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_5.png 1600w"
sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" width="1024" height="588"
alt="Screen shot of a blog post that was originally published by the scholarly communications lab but has been reblogged by the LSE Impact Blog" />
<figcaption>Some blogs, like the <a
href="https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/"
rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">LSE Impact Blog</a>,
occasionally repost blog posts published on other sites — a great way to
promote your content to a relevant readership. </figcaption>
</figure>

## Setting worthwhile goals {#setting-worthwhile-goals .wp-block-heading}

Before you start on the metrics, set yourself short- and medium-term
goals. What will success look like for you? 

This could range from improving your lay writing skills, to building
interest in a problem space, to expanding your reach. Ensure it makes
sense for you in terms of the scope of your research and your resources
(e.g. time). Then determine what to track and measure.

## Tracking and measuring success {#tracking-and-measuring-success .wp-block-heading}

Many platforms, like WordPress, Squarespace, and Medium, offer built-in
analytics. Most websites are also compatible with [Google
Analytics](https://analytics.google.com/){target="_blank"
rel="noreferrer noopener"} or a [similar
alternative](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-analytics-alternatives/347638/){target="_blank"
rel="noreferrer noopener"}. All of these tools let you track metrics
like number of daily users, time spent per post, most popular posts, and
more. These metrics can give you insights into how your content is
performing and who you are (or aren't) reaching.

Just like any metrics, it's important to **consider qualitative measures
as well as quantitative ones.** How long are people staying on your
website? Are they leaving comments? Are they sharing it on social media?
Depending on the kind of research you're covering, the answers to these
questions may be more important than how many clicks you're receiving. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large">
<img
src="https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_6-1024x588.png"
class="wp-image-3278" loading="lazy" decoding="async"
srcset="https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_6-1024x588.png 1024w, https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_6-300x172.png 300w, https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_6-768x441.png 768w, https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_6-1536x881.png 1536w, https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/blogging_research_6.png 1600w"
sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" width="1024" height="588" />
<figcaption>Google Analytics offers insights into how many views your
posts are receiving, how long users are staying on your blog, and
more.  </figcaption>
</figure>

Most of all, **use your analytics responsibility**. It can be easy to
get caught up in the numbers and forget the big picture. Let these tools
guide you on how to improve your content and outreach to achieve your
goals. But don't let them mean more than they do. 

## Research blogs to explore  {#research-blogs-to-explore .wp-block-heading}

Looking for inspiration for your first post? Familiarizing yourself with
what's available in your field is a simple way to decide on a style and
topic for your own blog. Plus, reading other blogs is a great way to get
your creative juices flowing. 

Luckily, there are tons of amazing research blogs out there to explore.
Below, we've listed just a few of our favourites, but there are many,
many more. Enjoy! 

### Researcher- or research group-led blogs  {#researcher--or-research-group-led-blogs .wp-block-heading}

- [Iva Cheung](https://www.ivacheung.com/blog/){target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener"} (Publishing; Communication; Knowledge
 translation)
- [The Saucy
 Scholar](https://meredithheller.wordpress.com/){target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener"} (Women's & Gender Studies; Critical
 Cultural Studies; Queer Scholarship)
- [Feel Healthy with Dr. Scott
 Lear](https://drscottlear.com/){target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener"} (Health science)
- [ScholCommLab Blog](http://scholcommlab.ca/blog){target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener"} (Scholarly communication; Science
 communication)

### Institution- and organization- led blogs  {#institution--and-organization--led-blogs .wp-block-heading}

- [Knowledge Nudge](https://medium.com/knowledgenudge){target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener"} (Knowledge Translation; Healthcare)
- [Black Perspectives --
 AAIHS](https://www.aaihs.org/black-perspectives/){target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener"} (Black Intellectual History; Diverse
 fields) 
- [LSE Impact
 Blog](https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences){target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener"} (Scholarly communication; Social sciences;
 Academic impact)
- [Digital Orientalist](https://digitalorientalist.com/){target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener"} (Digital Humanities; Cultural Studies;
 Various disciplines)

### Blogging networks and collectives {#blogging-networks-and-collectives .wp-block-heading}

- [Science Borealis](https://blog.scienceborealis.ca/){target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener"} (Canadian science, various)
- [Culturally Speaking Blog @ Psychology
 Today](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/culturally-speaking){target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener"} (Mental Health, Culture, Race)
- [Hypotheses](https://en.hypotheses.org/){target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener"} (Humanities, various)
- [Platypus, the CASTAC
 blog](http://blog.castac.org/about/){target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener"} (Anthropology of Science, Technology, and
 Computing)

***This work is licensed under a [Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
License](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).***

This post is a collaboration between ScholCommLab member Alice Fleerackers and SFU Knowledge Mobilization Officer Lupin Battersby. It was first published on November 18, 2020 at SFU Library’s Radical Access blog and has been reposted here with permission.
 

Curious about research blogging, but not sure where to start? In this post, we answer common questions about why, when, and where to blog about research.

Blogging your research: Tips for getting started

Three students share their thoughts on the President’s Dream Colloquium on Making Knowledge Public.

***First published on February 28, 2019 on the [Radical Access
Blog](https://www.lib.sfu.ca/help/publish/scholarly-publishing/radical-access/making-knowledge-public){target="_blank"
rel="noopener noreferrer"}.***

## Changing the academic system to be more accessible {#changing-the-academic-system-to-be-more-accessible .wp-block-heading}

"You shouldn't have to pay a large sum of tuition to have access to
basic information," Melissa Roach says when I ask her what she'd like to
change about our academic system. "It just creates layers of mediation
between scholars, media and the public, and that disconnect can cause a
lot of misunderstanding." 

Roach is a fourth year English student at SFU, a Communications
Coordinator for SFU's Vancity Office of Community Engagement, and a
former news journalist. She's also one of 11 students who participated
in the [President's Dream Colloquium on Making Knowledge
Public](http://scholcommlab.ca/publicknowledgecourse){target="_blank"
rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)"}with me
last fall.

## A colloquium exploring research and society {#a-colloquium-exploring-research-and-society .wp-block-heading}

Part public speaker series, part seminar course, the colloquium brought
together students from across the university in a wide-ranging
exploration of how research makes its way into society. Over the course
of the semester, we attended public lectures and seminars with leading
experts; added public commentary to our course readings using a tool
called [Hypothes.is](https://hypothes.is/){target="_blank"
rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)"}; and
produced an eclectic mix of final projects---all of which are publicly
available in the [Course Journal for Making Knowledge
Public](https://course-journals.lib.sfu.ca/index.php/pdc2018/issue/view/10){target="_blank"
rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)"}. By
enrolling in the colloquium, we didn't just learn about making knowledge
public; we actively participated in the process. 

## Students share their thoughts on making information public {#students-share-their-thoughts-on-making-information-public .wp-block-heading}

But the format wasn't the only thing that made the course unique. With
students spanning  academic disciplines, education levels, and
interests, our cohort was one of the most diverse I've ever been a part
of. 

To find out more about how others experienced the colloquium, I
interviewed three of my classmates---Melissa Roach, Carina Albrecht, and
Kari Gustafson---and asked them for their thoughts on making knowledge
public. 

### **How did this course differ from other learning experiences you've had?** {#how-did-this-course-differ-from-other-learning-experiences-youve-had .wp-block-heading}

MR: "It was great to meet so many people from different disciplines and
also pursuing so many different levels of education. The climate within
the classroom and the kinds of conversations we were having was
different from almost every other class I've taken. The classroom felt
like a really good space to be in. Everybody brought such different
perspectives to it." 

 

::: {.wp-block-media-text .alignwide}
<figure class="wp-block-media-text__media">
<img
src="https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Melissa-Roach-1-1024x683.jpg"
class="wp-image-1899" loading="lazy" decoding="async"
srcset="https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Melissa-Roach-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Melissa-Roach-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Melissa-Roach-1-768x512.jpg 768w"
sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" width="1024" height="683" />
</figure>

::: {.wp-block-media-text__content}
"The climate within the classroom and the kinds of conversations we were
having was different from almost every other class I've
taken."---Melissa Roach
:::
:::

CA: "If I had to define it in a word it would be engaging. It was fun to
come to the class! The mix of public lectures and private classes was
really interesting. You get perspectives from outside of the
classroom---not only from your professor. To learn from other people and
experts, that really was a privilege." 

KG: "I really enjoyed doing the online reading annotations with
hypothes.is. It was a really good learning tool. I could have taken
notes for myself on a PDF---annotated things to bring to class to talk
about. But somehow having the possibility of actually having the
discussion in the same moment that I was reading about it felt really
good. 

### **What was it like having to do all of your work in public? ** {#what-was-it-like-having-to-do-all-of-your-work-in-public .wp-block-heading}

MR: "It was a little intimidating! When I went into the course, I was
expecting to do something around science communication for my final
project, around helping others share their research work. Amplifying the
voices of others is what I do in my work as a communicator, so I decided
to put my own ideas out there instead and I'm glad I did. I think it was
a good challenge."

CA: The feedback was good, especially for our [Medium
article](https://medium.com/making-knowledge-public/https-medium-com-making-knowledge-public-you-niversity-492c5263a941){target="_blank"
rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)"} on the
public's perceptions of university knowledge production. We put our blog
post out there, and we weren't expecting much of it. It was just an
assignment. But the response that we got from the public was exciting.
It was clearly a topic that people were interested in. Getting a sense
of what other people were thinking about this topic was really cool." 

::: {.wp-block-media-text .alignwide}
<figure class="wp-block-media-text__media">
<img
src="https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Kari-Gustavson-1024x788.jpg"
class="wp-image-1894" loading="lazy" decoding="async"
srcset="https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Kari-Gustavson-1024x788.jpg 1024w, https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Kari-Gustavson-300x231.jpg 300w, https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Kari-Gustavson-768x591.jpg 768w, https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Kari-Gustavson.jpg 1838w"
sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" width="1024" height="788" />
</figure>

::: {.wp-block-media-text__content}
"It was extremely useful being forced out into public commentaries. I
don't like to tell people when I think they're wrong, so I usually
don't. It was really good to get over that hurdle."---Kari Gustafson
:::
:::

KG: "I liked it. It was extremely useful being forced out into public
commentaries. I don't like to tell people when I think they're wrong, or
sound like a know-it-all, so I usually don't. I'll read something, but I
won't actually take the next step, which is to comment on it or
formulate that thought in a way that makes sense. It was slightly
anxiety-inducing, but also really good to get over that hurdle."

### **Did the course change your thinking in any way? ** {#did-the-course-change-your-thinking-in-any-way .wp-block-heading}

MR: Before taking the course, I was of the attitude that my academic
work wasn't really valid unless some other person or publication decided
that was worth sharing. To have Juan \[Pablo Alperin, the course
instructor\] say, "Go ahead, post it on the internet. You can do that."
Mind blowing.

CA: I think that the most valuable thing that I learned from the course
was about how academia works: the process of publishing, what is open
access, what is not. I had no idea about all of that going into the
course. We have this idea that academics just need to write articles and
publish them, and that's all making knowledge public is. But it's way
more complicated than that."

 

::: {.wp-block-media-text .alignwide}
<figure class="wp-block-media-text__media">
<img
src="https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Carina-Albrecht.jpg"
class="wp-image-1898" loading="lazy" decoding="async"
srcset="https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Carina-Albrecht.jpg 961w, https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Carina-Albrecht-300x293.jpg 300w, https://www.scholcommlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Carina-Albrecht-768x750.jpg 768w"
sizes="(max-width: 961px) 100vw, 961px" width="961" height="939" />
</figure>

::: {.wp-block-media-text__content}
"We have this idea that academics just need to write articles and
publish them, and that's all making knowledge public is. But it's way
more complicated than that."---Carina Albrecht
:::
:::

KG: "I'd always been interested in open access journals. But now I'm
going to insist on never publishing anything that's not open access. I'm
absolutely committed to publishing only open access!"

### **How do you feel about making knowledge public, now that the course is over?** {#how-do-you-feel-about-making-knowledge-public-now-that-the-course-is-over .wp-block-heading}

MR: "That was the big question at the end \[of the course\], 'How do you
feel now?' I think I have very mixed feelings. I think that being aware
of the systemic obstacles to practicing public scholarship and being
inclusive as a university---at least knowing what the challenges
are---that's where you can be optimistic, because you know what needs to
be worked on." 

CA: We brought up a lot of problems during the course. I left with the
impression that making knowledge public is really hard, and that we have
a long way to go before we can actually get to a good place. I think it
is an achievable goal, but I think that we're moving toward it in slow
motion."

KG: "The course made me rethink the question of, 'What is my role as an
educated person?' I had always thought about the elitist aspect of
making knowledge public---that I shouldn't sound like I know more than
other people do---and not so much about the fact that sharing knowledge
is actually a responsibility." 

### **What are you planning to do next? ** {#what-are-you-planning-to-do-next .wp-block-heading}

MR: "I don't really have plans to be a career academic. But one thing I
took out of this class is that you don't have to be at an institution to
always be learning, or to make an impact in your community. That was one
thing that was kind of inspiring to me, that I don't have to pay for a
graduate degree to keep working on issues that are important to
me---especially if the scholarly world gets its act together and all the
journals become open access!"

CA: "The course gave me an awareness of my own future. I want to be in
academia. But now I'm going into it with different eyes, especially when
it comes to the expectations for tenure and promotion in your career.
Learning about those was really a bit of a bummer for me. But it's
better to know before than after. 

KG: "My dream job would be to teach at a community college or rural
branch campus, and work on small, action research-type projects.
Education---or knowledge---shouldn't just be for "elite" students or
those able to study full-time in urban areas. It should be local,
situated, affordable---preferably free---and universally available
regardless of ability, age, and income."

***Want to learn more about Making Knowledge Public? All of our**
[**course readings, lectures, and
assignments**](http://www.scholcommlab.ca/publicknowledgecourse/){target="_blank"
rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)"} **are
available online for anyone to enjoy.  Interested in launching a course
journal for your class similar to the** [**Course Journal for Making
Knowledge
Public**](https://course-journals.lib.sfu.ca/index.php/pdc2018/issue/view/10){target="_blank"
rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)"}**?
Contact **[**Digital
Publishing**](https://www.lib.sfu.ca/help/publish/dp){target="_blank"
rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)"}** at SFU
Library: **[**digital-publishing@sfu.ca**](mailto:digital-publishing@sfu.ca){target="_blank"
rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)"}*

First published on February 28, 2019 on the Radical Access Blog.
 

Changing the academic system to be more accessible “You shouldn’t have to pay a large sum of tuition to have access to basic information,” Melissa Roach says when I ask her what she’d like to change about our academic system.

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