Some of the most useful research happening right now never makes it past the people who wrote it. It gets stuck behind paywalls, technical language, and the assumption that only experts will care. This collection is a small attempt to fix that.
The seven briefs below were written by graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, with help from a program built by Professors for the Future fellows. The goal was simple: take their real research and explain it in plain language, so that anyone curious enough to read could come away knowing something new about the world.
And the world they cover is wide. A farm drone next to a child psychology study next to a piece on Hindu goddesses. But read a few and you'll start to see what they have in common. They're all, in their own way, about care: care for kids, for animals, for neighbors who can't afford rent, for the climate, for traditions that have room to grow.
Pick the title that makes you curious, or the one that sounds least like something you'd normally read. They're meant to be short, friendly, and worth your time; research handed over without the jargon, by people who actually want you to understand it.
2026 Research Briefs
Drone Imagery Can Measure Fertilizer Efficiency in Farm Fields By Maya Shydlowski
Humane White Sturgeon Slaughter: Advancing Welfare Through Effective Stunning Practices By Jennifer Bowman
New Religious Visions Affirm Diversity in Hinduism By Brent Horning
Affordable for Whom? Why Housing Policy Stalls When Definitions of Affordability Do Not Align By Camden Doolittle, EdD
How we Integrate Renewables into Electricity Grids might be Cheaper than we Think By Stuart Morrison
Not All Thoughts Are Created Equal: How Timing Shapes Children's Emotional Reasoning By Lucy M. Stowe
Remote Work for US Parents Cannot Solve the Need for Childcare Reforms By Emily Searl
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About SPCP
What is a research digest?
Reader-friendly summary of academic research
Summarizes key research insights, background, and implications in a concise, plain-language format so that readers who aren’t experts can understand the core findings and why they matter
Have you been conducting exciting research that you want to share with audiences outside academia? Do you want to build skills for communicating research to broader audiences?
If so, we invite you to apply to SPCP, a public communication project focused on translating graduate student and postdoctoral research for non-specialist audiences.
What You'll Do
Participants write short research digests explaining the motivation, methods, and significance of their work in plain language for students, stakeholders, and the public.
Program Components
- Canvas course with training on writing and refining research briefs
- In-person workshop with the UC Davis Writing Center on public-facing communication
- Feedback sessions and peer review of drafts
- Produce a written research brief
- Final work published on this official UC Davis GradPathways Institute for Professional Development webpage
What You'll Gain
Guidance on structure and tone, draft feedback, and published work as part of a broader outreach effort.
Informational Sessions
This recording is from the informational Zoom session on the Friday, January 30th from 12-12:30pm.
Program FAQ
1. Is this program designed mainly for humanities and social sciences students?
Answer:
The program intentionally encourages applicants from the humanities and social sciences. Many similar programs are often tailored toward the pure sciences, so this training was designed to help balance that.
The training materials and reading content are selected to support the writing cultures common in humanities and social science disciplines. In addition, partnership with the campus Writing Center helps ensure strong support for students in these fields, since they have extensive experience working with these disciplines.
2. Does the program include training for verbal communication, like speaking on radio or broadcasts?
Answer:
It depends. Participants who are selected for radio or broadcasts will complete practice sessions (dry runs). They will receive questions in advance and have opportunities to rehearse before going live.
While the program emphasizes writing, many writing skills transfer directly to verbal communication. The goal is to help participants develop both written and spoken communication skills. The two processes are designed to complement each other.
3. Can I build on undergraduate research, or is the program only for graduate-level research?
Answer:
Undergraduate research can absolutely be used, as long as you have clear findings you are ready to share and you meet the selection criteria.
The key goal is to help participants translate research beyond academic audiences and communicate it to the general public through research briefs.
4. What kind of research is the program looking for?
Answer:
The program is interested in research that can be communicated to a broader public audience. If you have results, findings, or research insights that can be shared beyond academia, they are appropriate for this program.
5. If selected for the radio show, will I get practice before presenting publicly?
Answer:
Yes. Participants receive structured preparation, including practice runs and advance preparation materials, to help them feel confident before radio appearance.
Apply
Eligibility
- Graduate students and postdocs at UC Davis, or Master's students at Sacramento State
- Completed research results ready to communicate
- We strongly encourage applications from humanities and social sciences students
A cohort will be selected based on applications. If you are interested in being considered for the program, please fill out the application linked below. Applications will close Friday, February 6th at midnight PST.