Project Narrative
Public scholarship commonly refers to academic work that is directed towards a wider audience beyond the academic community. It involves scholars using their expertise to engage with and contribute to public discussions, policy debates, and social issues. As the Broom Fellow for Public Scholarship, I wanted to use the time freed up by this fellowship to explore whether this broad definition fits our practice at Carleton College.
The Media Library for Public Scholarship was created with the aim of answering the following questions:
- What does public scholarship mean at Carleton College?
- What forms does public scholarship take on our campus?
- What are some of the positive impacts that public scholars at Carleton have had on our society?
- Who are some of the collaborators of Carleton’s public scholars?
- Is it really an effective way for academics to share their research findings, expertise, and perspectives with a broader audience?
- Does this practice help academics develop new skills, expand their networks, and enhance their career prospects?