Join OnWrd & UpWrd co-hosts Meghan Henning and Keaveny Hewitt as they talk retention, open access to research, and effective engagement strategies with Shannon Reed, Director of Community Engagement at The Electrochemical Society (ECS). The organization plays a critical role in powering the sustainability of the future by publishing foundational research around things like corrosion and lithium ion batteries. 

Shannon discusses their groundbreaking “Free the Science” program initiated in 2014. The program has a simple mission: make published research freely accessible to everyone since having open access to science contributes to the advancement of the field. ECS has fully embraced this, by making all of the research in their highly peer-reviewed journal available for free. He also stresses the importance of developing transformative agreements with their publishing partners to make the research free and accessible. 

“Imagine you are in a library and you’re doing your research and you can only read an abstract. You can’t access an article because the library doesn’t have a subscription to the journal,” Shannon noted. “Especially in underrepresented communities or underrepresented countries- not having to have a subscription allows people to access that content, so that allows for advancement.”  

The group also discusses ECS’ Battery Workforce Development Program, an initiative to prepare students at the master’s or doctoral level with the knowledge and skills of electrochemists. Shannon’s vision for the program goes further, with plans to expand it to community colleges and undergraduate levels, ensuring that a wide range of people can access the education. He envisions partnerships with governmental organizations and industry titans like Ford and Tesla to expand the program. 

Discover the most impactful engagement strategies Shannon has encountered, from tailored membership options for early career professionals to creating more networking opportunities at technical meetings. Don’t miss this chat that explores the power of science, education, and collaboration in driving change. 

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