Module 9: Public Scholarship

Duration: 2 weeks Type: Communication & Advocacy

Module Overview

If you preserve it but no one understands it, does it matter?

Archaeobytology exists in the public sphere. We are not dragons hoarding data in a cave; we are storytellers explaining why that data matters. In this module, you'll learn to translate technical and archival work for public audiences. You'll practice science communication, op-ed writing, and visual advocacy to make the invisible visible.

Learning Objectives

1. Translate complexity: Explain "interoperability" or "bit rot" to a 10-year-old (or a Senator) 2. Write for impact: Craft compelling op-eds and blog posts for general audiences 3. Visual storytelling: Use data visualization and design to communicate urgency 4. Advocate for policy: Learn how to write public comments for government agencies (FCC, FTC) 5. Engage with media: How to talk to journalists about digital rights

Required Readings

- Textbook Chapter 16: Telling the Story—Public Scholarship - Tressie McMillan Cottom, "Thick" (essays on public sociology) - "The Op-Ed Project" (tips and resources) - Successful examples: "The Social Dilemma", "Coded Bias", EFF deep dives

Assignment: The Public Voice

Week 1: The Op-Ed

Part 1: Pitch & Draft (Due: Day 3)

Write an op-ed (700-800 words) about a digital sovereignty issue, aimed at a major newspaper (NYT, Guardian, Wired).

Topics: - "Why losing your Instagram history matters more than you think" - "The hidden environmental cost of the cloud" - "Why we need a 'Right to Repair' for our software" - "The digital dark age is already here"

Structure: - Lede: Hook the reader (news peg or personal story) - Nut graph: The core argument ("We must...") - Evidence: Data, examples, expertise - Counter-argument: Acknowledge and refute opposition - Kicker: Strong closing call to action

Deliverable: Op-Ed Draft

Week 2: The Explainer

Part 2: Visual/Multimedia Explainer (Due: End of Week 2)

Create a piece of content that explains a technical concept to a lay audience.

Options: - Data Viz: Infographic showing the decline of link rot over time - Video: 60-second TikTok/Reel explaining "ActivityPub" - Thread: A Twitter/Mastodon thread breaking down a recent tech policy bill - Zine: A one-page folded zine about password security

Requirements: - Accurate (technically correct) - Accessible (no unexplained jargon) - Engaging (visually or narratively interesting) - Shareable (designed for social media distribution)

Deliverable: The Explainer artifact + short Artist Statement

Assessment Rubric

- Clarity (30%): Is the complex made simple? - Persuasion (30%): Is the argument convincing? - Accuracy (20%): Is the technical detail correct? - Creativity (20%): Is it engaging?

"We are translators at the edge of the digital void. We speak for the data that cannot speak for itself."