Although we are only halfway through 2016, the University Relations’ Integrated Marketing Communications team is beginning work on the 2017 Research Report. RR, as we like to call it, is a massive multimedia project that typically takes six months of work.
In the past, nominations for stories were received from deans, the UWM Research Foundation and the marketing liaisons for each of the schools and colleges. This year, requests for nominations also have been sent to several faculty groups – the Research Implementation Group, the Distinguished Professors and the Community Engaged Scholars Network. Individual faculty members also are welcome to submit nominations.
Here are a few things to know about Research Report:
- It goes to a wide array of influential people, including provosts and top research officers at other universities, legislators, journalists, donors, high school principals and guidance counselors, and prospective graduate students.
- We are committed to representing each school and college in RR.
- We are committed to demonstrating UWM’s diversity.
- We are committed to demonstrating UWM’s community engagement.
In the past, we largely focused on single research projects by individual faculty members or research teams, usually after a paper was published or some other milestone had been reached. We will continue to tell those stories when appropriate. But, we also want to expand our scope and tell the stories of faculty members who have significant bodies of research that may be relevant to the current public conversation. For example, we have several faculty members whose research could contribute to the public conversation about Zika virus and its spread.
We always receive more nominations for stories than we can do in one year. In selecting stories for the 2017 report, we will give preference to:
- Landmark research, such as the gravitational waves detection.
- Research of interest to journalists who can help share our stories. For example, I have a publication interested in republishing a story on work done at UWM that benefits veterans and military families. I am very eager to hear from departments who can contribute to this story.
- Research that has resulted in a patent, licensing agreement, company or product. We want to demonstrate the contribution UWM research makes to the Wisconsin economy.
- Community-engaged research that meets the criteria outlined by the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement.
- Interdisciplinary research and research done in partnership with other institutions, government and nonprofits.
- Research that has improved health, well-being and quality of life. For example, the 2016 report featured Sandra McLellan, whose work has led to cleaner beaches and waterways in the Milwaukee area.
- Stories that can be told visually. The online version of RR includes videos and, in the coming year, photo slideshows will be added.
Nominations are due Friday, Sept. 2, and can be mailed to publications manager Howie Magner at magner@uwm.edu.
