Leveraging Public Engagement in Divided Times: A Panel with APSA's Public Engagement Policy Committee

Session Submission Type: Roundtable

Session Description

Mader et al. (2019) define public engagement as “the myriad ways in which the activity and benefits of higher education and research can be shared with the public. Engagement is by definition a two-way process involving interaction and listening with the goal of generating mutual benefit.” Political scientists leverage their expertise in myriad ways from designing and influencing public policy to shaping public discourse. But how do we uphold the rigor of political science scholarship while communicating the discipline’s value across multiple spaces? What are the potential benefits and risks of public engagement in an increasingly divisive, hyper-partisan political environment marked by shockingly low levels of consensus? What mechanisms are available to amplify the mutual benefits of public engagement during this election cycle? And how might public engagement help address global challenges?

This panel is hosted by the Public Engagement Policy Committee of APSA's Executive Council.

Sub Unit

• Panels

Chair

• Julia Rezazadeh Azari Marquette University

Presenters

• Michael Goodhart University of Pittsburgh

• Daniel L. Nielson University of Texas at Austin

• Erin Cassese University of Delaware

• Karen M. Kedrowski Iowa State University

• John P. Forren Miami University