Using AI and Automation to Scale Up Knowledge Exchange and Science Comms

James Shelley from the University of Western Ontario will present an innovative way to effenciently communicate your research findings even with a small team.

Research often progresses within the specialized environments of departments, institutes, centers, networks, and labs. However, due to its specificity, incremental nature, and perceived niche relevance, these advancements rarely "trickle up" to inform the broader communications strategies of faculties and central communication offices.

Why does this happen? Central communications teams face competing demands for attention and messaging within academic institutions—balancing research alongside priorities such as marketing, student experience, and institutional branding. As a result, significant research advancements in narrow fields often go unnoticed, perceived as relevant only within specific domains, associations, or disciplines rather than aligned with the institution’s primary brand priorities. Departments and research units, where much of this progress originates, often lack dedicated communication support due to cost and scale constraints.

Solution in pilot!: To address this gap, we developed a platform to create department- or unit-specific digital newsletters tailored to discreet “clusters” of researchers. This solution enables research units to produce both internal- and external-facing newsletters that showcase their contributions, even without dedicated communications teams. By integrating ORCiD, AI, and automation, we propose a streamlined platform and workflow for publication tracking, highlighting collaborative opportunities, and boosting efficiency in knowledge translation and exchange.

Learning Objectives of the Event

- Understand structural barriers in research/academic contexts that can impede research communication
- Understand the potential of using open science tools, automation, and artificial intelligence to support knowledge mobilization efforts at scale
- Consider the implications of automation + AI to significantly transform the KT, KMb, and science communication ecosystems

The project is in active experimentation. James will share opportunities to be involved.

Join in person at 400 University or online.

Register here for both:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/zwlSAMziQgiEzytGmRux3w

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