The Institute for Civically Engaged Research (ICER) is a four-day, residential institute that provides political scientists with training to conduct ethical and rigorous civically engaged research. Up to 20 scholars will be selected as ICER Fellows and invited to attend the 2024 Summer Institute. ICER Fellows will network with other like-minded political scientists, and together, learn best practices for conducting academically robust, mutually beneficial scholarship in collaboration with communities, organizations, and agencies outside of academia. 

Civically-engaged political science research is an approach to inquiry that involves political scientists collaborating in a mutually beneficial way with people and groups beyond the academy to co-produce, share, and apply knowledge related to power or politics that contributes to self-governance. 

The discipline of political science has a vital role to play in shaping public knowledge and informing problem-solving of public issues. Yet, as civil society becomes increasingly polarized and fragmented, it is challenging for academics to build meaningful bridges to the everyday practice of democracy and community life. Increasingly, scholars endeavor to learn from those working outside of academia, and to collaborate with them in designing, implementing, and evaluating research on civic concerns. This method of scholarship benefits from a wider range of knowledge and research capacity and gives back to communities rather than solely extracting value. 

ICER trains political scientists in best practices for conducting academically rigorous, mutually beneficial scholarship in collaboration with communities, organizations, and agencies. The first ICER program took place at Tufts University’s Tisch College of Civic Life in 2019. Each year, up to 20 fellows are competitively selected to attend the 4-day summer institute. Attendees dis cuss the challenges of conducting CER, receive feedback on their research projects, brainstorm grant proposals, and build confidence and competency in undertaking engaged research. 

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