Counterpoint: actually academic research is more accessible than ever, and it is increasingly acceptable or indeed encouraged for academics to write op-eds and other public explanations of their work. The main problem is private ownership of publishing venues.

You're apparently hearing very different things from academics than I am (I've been out of the academy for almost 3 years now). In any case, I still think the incentives in academia push academics into specialization and obscurity, not towards writing op-eds.

Very very much so

But you're 100 percent right about private ownership of public venues -- that's a HUGE problem.

Hmm. Within days of my last publication, @LowyInstitute wrote me to ask for an op-ed summarising it. And I have had no problem placing op-eds in the Toronto Star

Yes, but will those op-eds mean anything in your tenure package?

So I believe that the issue is not that op-eds are frowned upon but non-academic publications do nothing at most places for tenure or promotion- it is the incentive structure

You and I had the same thought

This is precisely what I was getting at. Incentives are everything, and nearly all of them push against public engagement.

I'm not sure, but I'm not worried about tenure once I get a job that offers it. It's just finding the job and I do think the op-eds will help with that.

I don't mean this in a snarky way at all, but hang around in the academy for a few more years and let me know what you think then.

there are places where that is true

Dunno man, I've been in it 7 years now, teaching and publishing. I've a raft of well placed articles and my book is under review at a great press. Maybe I actually know, broadly, about my own situation and prospects?

Can't speak to your particular situation, I can just tell you that I've worked with and interviewed a ton of high profile, tenured academics in the last two years and what I'm hearing from you is not at all what I'm hearing from them.

Maybe you should talk to more early career scholars or those at non-US institutions?

Oh I have, mostly off the record. I was in that exact position not too long ago, and still keep in touch with a lot of my colleagues. No point in debating this any more here. I'm encouraged by your experience, and hope you'll capitalize on it. We need more public-facing scholars!

I'll do my best, and I mean, it's possible my experience has been unusual even if encouraging

Totally agree! I wrote a bit about an alternative here: lukaskawerau.com/science-as-pul…