The risks of real-world consulting

By Emmett Macfarlane. Be prepared to take some flak. Most academics want to try to contribute something to the world through their research, be it knowledge, new ways of thinking, or social or political change. Despite the privileges that come with possessing academic freedom, engaging directly with policy-makers, the media and the general public can be a daunting task. While it can be rewarding to provide input on a particular public policy issue, academics will discover a number of challenges, too. More...