A team of six archeologists sitting around a table participating in a discussion.

2024-2026 Theme: Public Scholarship

The graduate cohort in Public Scholarship will equip doctoral students with practical tools that will help them better disseminate their work and communicate the importance of their research to broad public audiences. Participants will gain real-world experiences that will run parallel to and be supportive of each student’s individual disciplinary research program. Under the mentorship of Ian Bogost, Adia Harvey Wingfield, and Christopher Schaberg, faculty and program directors within the new Arts & Sciences Program in Public Scholarship, students will learn to effectively communicate their research work to diverse audiences, forge meaningful collaborations outside the academic realm, and contribute to societal change.

The cohort experience offers a comprehensive program in public scholarship, featuring a graduate seminar, engaging activities, and valuable resources to support students' involvement in public-facing projects.

The seminar in Public Scholarship will encompass:

  • General introduction to public scholarship across Arts & Sciences
  • Weekly visits from faculty active in public scholarship
  • Visits from editors, publishers, and media professionals
  • A collaborative writing practicum, through which the cohort members will practice writing together for public audiences and publishing this work in respected public-facing venues
  • Interviews with public scholars
  • Profiles of public scholarly outlets and platforms
  • Local community outreach and education
  • Poster displays/panel presentations for discipline-specific conferences, promoting the work of public scholarship (and the Graduate Cohort at WashU)
  • Planning for future mergers of scholarship and public-facing opportunities

Through this enriched experience, students will benefit from enhanced writing quality, expanded knowledge, and strengthened connections in the realm of public scholarship.

Meet the Faculty Leads

Ian Bogost, Professor and Director of Film & Media Studies and Professor of Computer Science & Engineering at WashU

Ian Bogost

Professor and Director of Film & Media Studies, and Professor of Computer Science & Engineering; Barbara David Thomas Distinguished Professor. PhD, University of California, Los Angeles, Comparative Literature, 2004. MA, University of California, Los Angeles, Comparative Literature, 2001. BA, University of Southern California, Philosophy & Comparative Literature, 1998.

Adia Harvey Wingfield

Adia Harvey Wingfield

Vice Dean of Faculty Development and Diversity, and Professor of Sociology; Mary Tileston Hemenway Professor of Arts & Sciences. PhD, Johns Hopkins University.

Christopher Schaberg standing in front of bushes on campus at WashU.

Christopher Schaberg

Christopher Schaberg, Director of Public Scholarship, is a writer, editor, and scholar of contemporary literature, environmental thought, and the culture of air travel. He has published nine books, including titles such as "The Textual Life of Airports: Reading the Culture of Flight" and "Adventure: An Argument for Limits." His work has gained significant recognition, inspiring exhibits and featuring in popular media outlets like "The New Yorker." Schaberg has a passion for public scholarship, having spent years teaching workshops on editing, publishing, and short-essay writing, and actively works to translate academic rigor into forms accessible to the public. He holds a PhD in English from the University of California, Davis, and previously served as the Dorothy Harrell Brown Distinguished Professor of English and Director of the Center for Editing & Publishing at Loyola University New Orleans.

Why participate in the A&S CREATES Public Scholarship Cohort?

Scholarly work has many ways to make an impact with ripple effects that spread out farther than the campus or one’s discipline. This type of work can happen accidentally or spontaneously, but it can also become part of a scholar’s practice and training. Public-focused scholarly work is increasingly recognized by institutions, professional associations, and funding agencies. Learning how to apply your research skills in real-world contexts will enhance your future career.

How to Join the Cohort in Public Scholarship

To express your interest in participating, please contact the Director of Graduate Studies for your specific program. You can find the enrollment form in Slate, the graduate admissions application system. For more details, please refer to the main A&S CREATES page.