A solution for historians to engage with the public
Scholars are increasingly looking for opportunities to share their expertise more widely, both within academic communities and beyond. “Many academics enter [their field] to change the world for the better. … [But] most academic work is shared only with a particular [scholarly] community, rather than policymakers or businesses, which makes it entirely disconnected from practice,” … Continued
A Senior Adventure with Wikipedia
JoAnne Growney recently learned Wikipedia editing in one of our professional development courses, where she created and expanded Wikipedia biographies about women mathematicians. Here she shares why she pushed to overcome the challenges facing new Wikipedia editors. From my beginning, I have been a fan of encyclopedias. I grew up on a farm and when … Continued
Honoring the first Americans
When someone mentions “the first Americans,” you might think of the Mayflower, pilgrims, Puritans, and Plymouth Rock, or other European colonists. More than 10,000 years before the arrival of the pilgrims, however, the “New World” was home to hundreds of tribes, speaking dozens of languages. The identity and culture of these first Americans has been … Continued
Accurately representing trans identities on Wikipedia
Sometimes making an improvement to a Wikipedia article isn’t about words added. Sometimes a seemingly simple addition to a biography article, like the uploading of a new photo, can make a world of difference. That’s what Cassius Adair of the National Women’s Studies Association found since he’s learned how to edit Wikipedia in our professional … Continued
Three Things I Learned as a Wiki Scholar
Dr. Rachel Boyle is a public historian who recently completed our professional development course and contributed to Wikipedia articles relating to women’s suffrage in the United States. This is a republishing of her reflection about the experience. Over the course of the last eleven weeks, I had the honor of joining a cohort of historians, librarians, and other scholars … Continued
Practical solutions for supporting open science
At the American Geophysical Union’s fall meeting this year, scientists gathering from all around the world were asked to ponder one question. What does science stand for? AGU proposed their own answer to be discussed over the course of the meeting: science stands for inclusion, creativity, and thinking bigger. Director of Partnerships Jami Mathewson and … Continued
Women’s studies expert makes sure Margaret Atwood’s Wikipedia biography is top quality
When news broke yesterday that Margaret Atwood is writing a sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, anyone who wished to know why this drew so much attention could visit Atwood’s Wikipedia page. There, they could read about her career, recurring themes in her work and their cultural contexts, film adaptations of her writings, and so much more that … Continued
Understanding masculinity from a sociological perspective
November 25th was International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women this year. Part of moving towards a more equitable and safe future for all humans is to increase awareness of and reduce stigma around the violence faced by women around the world. That includes understanding how violence pervades cultures in subtle, as well as obvious … Continued
How to counterbalance the inequalities women encounter in STEM
Youngah (Karen) Kwon is a graduate student at Columbia University and a member of the American Chemical Society who recently completed our Wikipedia professional development course. With a background in physical chemistry and material science, Karen expanded Wikipedia articles on women who have made major contributions to the sciences. Read her reflections about the experience below. … Continued
Students make trans history more visible on Wikipedia
November 20 is Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day where communities and organizations in more than 20 countries worldwide raise awareness about the prejudice and threat of violence that trans people face around the world. One way to draw awareness and reduce violence is through education and visibility. Today we’re recognizing work that student editors in … Continued