The HRI is welcoming expressions of interest for a new initiative that will support members wishing to publish op-eds in public media outlets. HRI members whose op-eds are published through this initiative will receive a $100 honorarium from the HRI.
The goals of this initiative are to:
- Raise the profile of the Humanities Research Institute and its members locally, nationally, and globally;
- Educate the public about the diversity and relevance of Humanities research to current issues;
- Provide HRI members with public-facing knowledge mobilization opportunities.
This initiative is open to HRI Associates and Graduate Student Associates. Please note that Graduate Student Associates must co-author their op-ed with a Brock University faculty member.
To participate, please complete this form and submit it to the HRI Director at hri@brocku.ca no later than November 1.
HRI members can participate in this initiative once every 2 years. This does not preclude any HRI members from writing additional op-eds outside of this initiative and we actively encourage them to do so.
An op-ed is an opinion piece by a guest writer on a newsworthy topic or theme. Op-eds are typically 700-800 words in length with a clear argument. While they are grounded in research, they also exhibit the author’s unique voice and opinions.
An op-ed provides you with the opportunity to
- Reach a wide and varied audience who would not usually engage with scholarly publications;
- Mobilize your research through publicly accessible communication;
- Contribute your expertise to public discussion;
- Raise awareness of Humanities scholarly work and its relevancy.
- HRI Associates and Graduate Associates may express interest in writing an op-ed at any point in the year. However, a call for participants will go out in September with reminders in January and May. The application form for expressions of interest will include an opportunity for the HRI member to indicate what time of year they would prefer to write their op-ed and their area(s) of expertise.
- The HRI Director, in conversation with the Strategic Initiatives & Outreach Officer and the Liaison Manager, will review expressions of interest in September and let researchers know what month they will be writing/submitting their op-ed. Expressions of interest received after this time will be accommodated as space permits.
- The HRI Director, in conversation with the Strategic Initiatives & Outreach Officer and the Liaison Manager, may reach out directly to potential authors throughout the year to invite an op-ed in response to current events.
- The HRI Associate will work with the Liaison Manager and the media outlet to produce and submit the op-ed. Op-eds under this initiative must be in alignment with the vision and values of the HRI and Brock University as stated in its strategic plan. Since op-eds connect to current issues, the HRI associate will need to be available to respond quickly to editing requests.
- Following the publication of their op-ed, associates will receive an honorarium from the HRI in recognition of their work.
The op-ed is an opportunity for you to highlight your research and its relevancy to contemporary issues. Your op-ed may be about your research or about how your discipline or methodology can help us understand or think about current issues. You can choose whatever topic and angle is interesting to you. Some ideas include how your research relates to:
- National and global events
- Ongoing conversations on climate change, decolonization, populism, health and wellness, etc.
- Cultural events such as film festivals, book awards, fashion shows, etc.
- Popular media trends, such as TV shows, movies, music, etc.
- Political events and issues such as elections, political movements, regulations, laws, policies, etc.
- Anniversaries and commemorative events
- Awareness days or months, such as Women’s History Month, Black History Month, Indigenous Peoples’ Month, etc.