Public scholarship—sharing research with audiences outside of academic settings—has become increasingly necessary to counter the rise of misinformation, fill gaps from cuts to traditional media, and increase the reach of important scholarship. Engaging in these efforts often comes with the risk of harassment and threats—especially for women, people of color, LGBTQ+ communities, and precariously employed workers. This presentation, based on Ketchum’s book Engage in Public Scholarship (Concordia University Press 2022) and her current project “Digital Queers and High Tech Gays: A History of LGBTQ+ Cyber Activism” (under contract with MIT Press) first provides constructive guidance on how to translate research into inclusive public outreach while ensuring that such efforts are safer and more accessible. The beginning of the presentation will discuss practices and planning for a range of activities from in-person and online events, to publishing and working with the media, social media activity, blogging, podcasting, cartoons, and more. While distinct, public scholarship can be part of a broader move towards information activism. During the second part of the presentation, Ketchum will historically situate how vital the work of cyber activists engaging in information activism was for LGBTQ+ community organizations from 1980-2002. This presentation will be part workshop and part historical lecture.

Dr. Alex Ketchum (she/her) is an Assistant Professor at McGill University’s Institute for Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies (IGSF). She is the Director of the Just Feminist Tech and Scholarship Lab. She is the author of several books including Engage in Public Scholarship!: A Guidebook on Feminist and Accessible Communication, Ingredients for Revolution: A History of American Feminist Restaurants, Cafes, and Coffeehouses, and the forthcoming “Digital Queers, and High Tech Gays: A History of LGBTQ+ Cyber Activism.” She is also co-editor of the forthcoming anthology: Queers at the Table: An Illustrated Guide to Queer Food with Recipes, which will be out in October with Arsenal Pulp Press. For more, check out alexketchum.ca.

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