“Publishing Why Are Health Disparities Everyone’s Problem? enriched my thinking and inspired me to develop new research questions. Writing the book also helped me to develop compelling presentations to policymakers.”
—Dr. Lisa Cooper
Dr. Cooper spoke with healthcare delegates from 22 nations in July 2024
through a Wavelengths partnership with the State Department. Photo courtesy of Dr. Cooper.
Wavelengths partners with select Hopkins researchers, multiple Hopkins schools, departments, and centers, and external organizations including the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Department of State Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, the Exploratorium, the Mayo Clinic, the National Science Teaching Association, and Studio Art Quilt Associates, along with other institutions and commercial companies, to develop researcher-driven books, secondary school lesson plans, community tool kits, speaker programs, and museum and science center exhibits.
Collaborating on projects with us enables researchers to bridge the academic and public spheres by sharing facts from and stories about their subjects and research. They’re provided with the support (on average, a $100K investment) to “translate” their work for general audiences through writing partnerships with journalists from leading media companies (National Geographic Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Scientific American, Science News); through media interviews; and through opportunities to create affiliated engagement content as listed above. In doing so, they refine their public communication skills for presentations to their students, grant-awarding institutions, university leadership, and policymakers. Through their works, and the media campaigns that support them, they are further recognized as expert advisors, and help to fulfill the university’s “Knowledge for the world” mission. In addition, book authors earn royalties on books sold.
Our researcher partners invest their weekly dedicated time, subject knowledge, stories, and contacts throughout the book’s and affiliated projects’ developmental and promotional phases, which last anywhere from 2 to 4 years, depending on external partner projects that may be inspired by the book. Authors meet with their writing partners twice a week for a total of 2 hours, and also respond to emails, review drafts, etc. for an average of 6-8 hours weekly during the manuscript’s development. When the book is published, the promotional campaign lasts for 2-3 months, for as many as 30 interviews that vary in length from 10 minutes to an hour, and also includes speaking engagements.
We welcome a diversity of program participants, subject areas, points of view, and engagement approaches, and assure that our content is accessible for many audiences (including the use of clear language, free open access content, and public events), accurate, and engaging. Ideal candidates for the program:
Are you a Hopkins researcher who’s interested in engaging with diverse audiences?
Explore participation in the program here.
