Communicating migration research to academic and non-academic audiences

Abstract

International migration, integration and population diversity are high on the agenda of academic researchers. This has led to the proliferation of a dynamic, fully-fledged, and internationally active branch of social sciences that includes, amongst others, specialized research centers, specialized academic journals, specialized training programs, and a variety of local, national or international forms of exchange of scholarly knowledge to peers, policy makers and practitioners. While academic researchers are increasingly expected to publish their findings in academic journals, thus to communicate with their peers in a way that is always accessible for a wider readership, it is also clear that many policy makers and practitioners are eager to profit from their expertise. As for the latter, the question arises as to the policy context. Are policy makers in need of academic expertise to develop evidence-based policies, or to develop new policy agendas, or to check the results of ongoing policies, or to circumvent complicated political pitfalls by relying on ‘neutral’ information, or to buy time so as to avoid tackling delicate political matters? Also, what type/form/style of academic writing is preferred by policy makers? This Seminar will address the communication and dissemination strategies of academic researchers and revolve around the following questions: i) How to develop a strategy that serves both academic and non-academic users, ii) How to publish in a policy-oriented journal, and iii) How to develop alternative ways to reach out to policy makers.