Faculty note: Weinschenk presentation, travel grant

Political scientist Aaron Weinschenk, assistant professor of Public and Environmental Affairs, has been invited to give a lecture to the staff of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The Knight Foundation is hosting an online “learning lab” on the topic of informed local voting. On Dec. 19, the Knight Foundation will bring together via video conference a select group of ten researchers from multiple fields with Knight Foundation staff to learn from existing research and discuss responses to the following questions: How can cities increase informed participation in local civic endeavors, including voting? What are the tactics, policies or programs that will lead to persistent civic engagement in local communities? The exercise will inform Knight’s research agenda on increasing informed local civic participation that will guide its grant-making strategy for engagement. In 2012 alone, the Knight Foundation gave out $92,352,685 in grant money. Additionally, Weinschenk has been awarded an Artinian Travel Award from the Southern Political Science Association to attend the association’s annual meeting this January in New Orleans. The travel grant covers a portion of the cost of traveling to the conference.