Academic societies are in a unique position. Academic societies and disciplines are the connective tissue for a research field, connecting individual researchers, institutions, and the broader world.
The primary role of an academic societies is to organize conferences and publish journals, amongst other things. These learned societies range all across the board, varying from generic to very specific discipline to country. Their role in society and amongst their membership also varies, as some have minimum requirements to become a member (e.g., American Chemical Society), while other academic societies are open to all (e.g., American Association for the Advancement of Science). But disciplines often miss opportunities to amplify the research being produced across their field.
And I get it. Navigating the bigger world of research communication can feel overwhelming, especially with limited capacity.
But the thing is … investing in research communication strengthens your entire discipline. It can help attract funding, students, and public understanding while supporting your members’ individual success. Your discipline can be at the forefront of public conversations surrounding your field without feeling like you have to play catch up. Small, strategic shifts in how academic societies approach research communication can dramatically increase field visibility and member impact without overwhelming volunteers or budgets. In this post, I offer three practical strategies that work within typical academic society constraints, a vision for long-term investment, and ways you can get started today.
Why This Matters for Academic Societies & For Individual Researchers
But before we get in the weeds, let me just say … I understand the reality of academic societies. They often run at the behest of volunteer leadership serving 2-3 year terms that is small in quantity and stretched thin. Budgets are very limited. There is also an unspoken but well known truth about academics: some excel in the art of promoting their work and others do not. These barriers are hard to fix overnight. And so this discussion doesn’t skirt around the reality of academic societies. Instead, I present options that can work within your current context.
Academic societies are incredible in that they have collective influence that individual researchers lack. This makes supporting research communication that much more important for the discipline and for individual scholars. For example, many graduate programs don’t have any formal or informal research or science communication training. To add insult to injury, some universities lack the infrastructure to truly support individual research communication efforts for faculty. While researchers should lead the way for their own research communication, academic societies can help elevate the work as a whole, shedding light on the entire field in ways that individual efforts cannot.
Related Post: Developing a Research Communication Culture in Higher Education: Practical Steps for Leaders
In addition, academic societies are the epicenter of learning and knowledge production for the field. Cutting edge research gets published in academic society journals and presented at academic society conferences. Yet often, the research isn’t connecting with the broader conversation. Academic societies already have infrastructure (e.g., websites, newsletters, conferences, social media) that could be better leveraged to connect research to public audiences. So in theory, academic societies can optimize what they already have in a more strategic manner.
Launch a Quarterly Research Digest
A quarterly research digest (aka a quarterly newsletter) is an “easy” entry point into promoting the research coming out of your society’s researchers. It can be designed to meet the needs of your members and external audience(s). Over time, you’ll create an archive that makes your discipline’s contributions discoverable long after initial publication.
The Vision
- Quarterly publication (digital newsletter or blog series) featuring 5-8 recent studies from your field, related news and conversations in the popular press, grant opportunities, etc.
- Each featured study gets 200-300 word plain language summary with optional graphical representation (infographics, comics, or images)
- Distribute to members, media contacts, institutional partners; post on website/social media
- You can select what research to include by pulling from journal’s recent publications, systematically rotate through member institutions, or have editorial board identify significant recent work
Why It Works for Academic Societies
- Systematic approach ensures fairness and removes self-promotion concerns
- Quarterly cadence is manageable while providing consistent value to members and external audiences
- Provides ready-made content for multiple channels (website, social media, member communications)
- Increases discoverability of member research
- Leverages existing expertise—journal editors/board already review research
How to Implement
- Start with a free, simple to use service like MailerLite, Beehiiv, or even Convertkit
- Create simple template for research summaries (e.g., establish word count, required elements)
- Assign to editorial board member or small volunteer committee, rotating annually to prevent burnout
- Work 1-2 quarters ahead to build buffer and avoid last-minute scrambles
- Start simple and small, leaving opportunity to expand later
- Send preview to members first, then share publicly
Establish Strategic Social Media Presence
Social media meets people where they already are, which is also especially important for reaching potential members who can’t attend annual conferences, early-career researchers building their networks, and public audiences curious about your field. Many societies have dormant social media accounts that were started enthusiastically but never maintained across leadership transitions. A strategic approach with clear purpose and simple systems can create year-round visibility for your field without requiring heroic volunteer effort.
The Vision
- Consistent social media presence that elevates member research and engages broader audiences on a platform that makes sense for your membership (e.g., LinkedIn, Bluesky, email listserv, Reddit).
- Highlight member research 2-3 times per week
- Amplify member media appearances and public scholarship
- Engage with broader conversations in your field
- Share conference talks, live presentations, and keynotes
- Create a (online) community where professionals, researchers, students, and interested parties can gather
- Extend reach of journal content, conference highlights, and research digest
Why It Works for Academic Societies
- Low cost, high potential reach beyond immediate membership
- Makes research accessible and discoverable to various audiences
- Creates year-round presence for your society, not just during conference season
- Provides platform for members who can’t travel to conferences or afford other visibility opportunities
- Builds community and connection among members across institutions and career stages
How to Implement
- Audit current social media – what exists? What’s working? Are their dormant/underutilized pages?
- Assess other academic societies – what exists? What’s working? Are their dormant pages?
- Define clear purpose: Are you amplifying research? Building community? Engaging public audiences? (Can be all three, but name it explicitly)
- Gather feedback from your membership on social media strategy
- Create simple content calendar tied to research digest and journal publications
- Create templates for common post types (new research, member spotlight, field news)
- Consider quarterly rotation of responsibility among board members or recruit small volunteer social media team
- Start with 1-2 platform done well (likely LinkedIn or Bluesky for academic audiences) rather than spreading too thin
Create Research Communication Resources for Members
Membership fees may include some perks, but often it is centered around conference attendance. Not everyone can attend annual conferences or is able to attend, for whatever reason. So … all that to say … adding additional perks can help add value to the membership fees.
Members across career stages struggle with the same research communication challenges—writing accessible research summaries, preparing for media interviews, engaging on social media. And without training or support, this challenge is further exemplified. Here is where academic societies can step in! Academic societies can create evergreen resources that members can access anytime which can provide ongoing value that extends far beyond a single training session.
The Vision
- Curated toolkit of templates, guidance, and training that members can access anytime
- Recorded mini-training webinars (15-20 minutes each) on specific topics
- Templates for common needs (research summaries, media pitches, social media posts)
- Simple one-page guides on focused topics
- Incentives for researchers to conduct and share research communication widely to support wider participation
- Quarterly virtual “office hours” where members can ask communication questions
Why It Works for Academic Societies
- Provides communication support to all members, not just those who can attend conferences
- Evergreen resources deliver value long after initial creation
- Members access support when they need it
- Empowers researchers to improve their own communication skills
- Small upfront investment creates ongoing benefit with minimal maintenance
How to Implement
- Survey members about biggest communication challenges to prioritize topics
- Invite communication professionals from member universities to contribute to webinar, written materials, and other resources
- Create templates one at a time by adapting examples from your research digest
- Build resource library gradually by adding 1-2 pieces per quarter as capacity allows
- Request active researchers to contribute to the development of a resource library
- Organize resources clearly on website so members can find what they need
- Supplement your resources by identifying external sources like The Op Ed Project, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, or member universities with solid research communication training materials and link to their resources
A Dedicated Communication Support (If You Have the Resources)
As your research communication activities gain traction, you may find they require more consistent attention than rotating volunteer leadership can sustainably provide. If your society has the budget and member support, consider investing in part-time professional communication support. Even 10-15 hours per month makes a significant difference.
Related Post: How to Include a Communications Manager in Your Research Grant Proposal: A Practical Guide (With Free Download)
A dedicated communication person (contractor or staff) could manage the research digest, maintain social media presence, expand member resources, build media relationships, and ensure communication efforts continue smoothly across leadership transitions. This isn’t essential to get started, but it’s worth considering as a long-term investment. A few ways academic societies can offset the costs:
- Build communication support salary into membership dues
- Seek grants focused on public engagement
- Partner with universities to share staff time
Professional support provides consistency and continuity that volunteer leadership may struggle to maintain across 2-3 year terms. Start small, demonstrate value, then expand if it makes sense for your society’s priorities and budget.
Conclusion
Academic societies have a unique opportunity to elevate research across their fields, and you don’t need massive budgets or staff to start making a difference. These three strategies—a quarterly research digest, strategic social media presence, and member communication resources—work within the reality of volunteer-run organizations. Pick one that fits your capacity and start there. Small, practical changes create meaningful impact without overwhelming volunteers.
Next Steps for Academic Societies
Ready to develop a communication strategy for your academic society? Schedule a free strategy session to discuss how these approaches could work for your specific field and constraints.
