The Conversation - Help us democratize knowledge

What it means to unlock expertise for the public in an age of misinformation ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Dear Reader,

Our team motto is “Democratizing Knowledge.”

We don’t use it a lot, in part because of the political association that can be inferred by the word “democratizing.”

But I’ve always appreciated the heart behind the slogan. To democratize knowledge is to spread trustworthy information. To unlock facts and ideas from people who have spent years studying a topic. To move this knowledge out of academic journals. To put it in accessible – but still accurate – language. To bring ideas circulating among the few and make them available to everyone.

That is how citizens can make informed decisions in the best traditions of our republic.

This is The Conversation’s expertise. We take an active role in leveling the playing field of information access. No other news outlet conducts this unique collaboration between scholars and editors, producing explanatory journalism anchored in research and expertise, for the benefit of all.

And it’s working: Our articles were read more than 20 million times last month, reaching more than twice as many readers as we reached before the coronavirus pandemic began.

We depend on civic-minded individuals like you. Will you help us continue to democratize knowledge?

Donate $25

Donate $100

Other amount

We'd also appreciate if you'd consider becoming a monthly donor, and of course checks are always welcome to 300 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451.

Back in 2015, we published an article explaining what a coronavirus is, written by an expert in novel pathogens together with an epidemiologist. At the time, that topic might have seemed to be of little interest to the public. Today, it’s something that everyone should know. What other knowledge out there, hidden in academic journals, will prove to be vital to public understanding in the near future? Our editors are working tirelessly to find and spread that information. With your help, we can do more of this work.

Thank you,