How do you share your research with the world? Your work can help fill in the gaps in your field and inform future research and decision-making. That’s why it’s important that any representation of your work is both accessible and engaging to your audience – peers, professors, businesses, governments or the public. At every stage of your academic or professional career, think about how you are articulating your ideas, showing their relevance and communicating them more widely.
There are many routes to dissemination, from journals to blogs, conferences to competitions, film to podcasts. On this page, you can find guidance about showcasing a project you're proud of, including resources to help you publish and share your work, develop important presentation skills and build a portfolio of work to take with you after you graduate.
How can you continue sharing your ideas?
- Publish your work through LSE’s open-access platform for student research in one of LSE’s student journals through the Houghton Street Press. The Undergraduate Research Portal also has advice on how to disseminate your work via blogs and social media.
- Access workshops and Moodle resources to fine-tune your writing and learn to tell the story of your research, run by LSE LIFE.
- Present research and other forms of academic work at academic and practitioner conferences at LSE and beyond – it's a great way to meet others in your field and gain wider feedback on your work. A good place to start could be the British Conference for Undergraduate Research – learn more about the experience of LSE delegates in this blog post.
- Join in the annual LSE Festival held at the end of February, and showcase your work in our annual research competition (more information coming soon).
What's happening at LSE outside the classroom?
In the video interviews below, you can hear from winners of the 2020 Research Prize and find out about their innovative approaches to showcasing research:
Shey-Forbes Taylor and Brian Walker – The Legacy of Sir Arthur Lewis (video).
Shey Forbes-Taylor, Short Film Prize winner
Shey Forbes-Taylor, Short Film Prize winner
Constantin Gouvy – Demystifying the Rise and Appeal of ISIS in Iraq (photograph).
Constantin Gouvy, Photograph Prize winner
Constantin Gouvy, Photograph Prize winner
Jack Bissett, Maitrai Lapalikar, Antonia Syn, Maria Soraghan, and Vasiliki Poula – A European Democracy on a Domestic Level (written pitch).
Jack Bissett, Popular Prize winner
Jack Bissett, Popular Prize winner
As you get more practice writing essays, you’ll hone your ability to construct robust, focused arguments backed up clear analysis and evidence with a logical flow, immaculate referencing and individual flair.
You’ll encounter many opportunities to present your thinking, including everyday class discussions. Many find presenting nerve-wracking, but if your argument is well-reasoned and backed up by evidence, you’ve already done the groundwork. Seeking out opportunities to participate verbally can increase your confidence in your ideas and your skill in talking someone else through your argument in a clear, accessible and engaging way.
With so many platforms to publish your research, it’s useful to develop a strategy that ensures you can achieve the greatest impact with your desired audience groups. Different platforms are useful for different outcomes. Journals for example are typically used in a library context and have a smaller, specialised academic audience. Conference talks are limited by time to a few main points and allow for peer discussion. Popular media such as blogs and podcasts have the potential to tap into cultural moments and reach a broader audience.
Depending on the format, you may wish to bring elements of storytelling and design to your publication to enhance certain themes or key points. This can be a valuable way to make research more engaging and memorable.
Want to boost your skills? Explore the LSE LIFE Moodle resources and workshop timetable!