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Members onlyWelcome to The Conversation’s daily Expert Request email. We update this list regularly as new topics are added and old ones are commissioned. The most important factors for success in your response are timeliness and the scholar being the right fit for the topic. If you are new to The Conversation, please read this document before responding to an expert request. Access our Members Portal here. There, you can download and share our Author's Handbook, as well as the individual documents, such as a guide to pitching, writing tips from our team, a summary of our 2023 author survey, and more. AnnouncementsTCUS has begun summer Fridays. We will still be sending the Expert Request on Fridays, but we will be closing at 1 p.m. ET. Responses from editors may be delayed until Monday. Today's trending articles1.Taxi drivers rarely die of Alzheimer’s – how complex mental maps and spatial reasoning protect your brain (Hatim Sharif, The University of Texas at San Antonio - Published: August 6, 2026) 2. Trump administration’s Freedom 250 organization allegedly misdirected donors away from bipartisan America250 charity (Sarah Webber, University of Dayton - Published: August 6, 2026) 3. White parents who tell their kids that race doesn't matter are ignoring the long shadow of racism (James M. Thomas, University of Mississippi - Published: August 5, 2026) Upcoming dates + events
Have ideas about these dates? Submit them through our pitch portal. Did any of your scholars have an interview, get invited to speak or have anything else happen as a result of their article? Let us know at impact@theconversation.com. New expert requests: 1.Adult illiteracy/education in Philly: According to Axios, about 140,000 Philadelphians lack a high school diploma; more than half of adults under 65 in the city read at a 5th-grade level or below, and many local adult education programs have waiting lists. We are looking for an adult literacy expert based in the Philadelphia region who can provide evidence-based analysis on why the illiteracy rate is so high, and or the impacts on individuals, families and communities when adults gain literacy. We are open to other angles as well, for example a service piece on where adult Philadelphians can go for literacy education and support; or how other cities have invested in and improved adult literacy rates. In case you missed it, we are still chasing: 2. New CDC director: We are looking for a high-level health policy scholar or similar to do a fairly quick turnaround piece that can provide context/perspective on the new CDC director or the confirmation process. We are open to angles depending on scholars’ expertise - for example, how tricky these hearings have become, or what business CDC hasn’t dealt with in the absence of a director, some aspect of the new director’s background. If possible, when proposing a scholar please include a brief (1-2 sentence) summary of the angle they’d like to take. 3. Science communication & public trust re: Rodgers vs. Fauci: Looking for a scholar in health communication, science communication, or media psychology to explain the mechanics at play: why does a message land differently coming from an athlete than from a scientist or politician? What role does parasocial trust perhaps play in how health claims get absorbed? This wouldn't be a piece about Fauci or Rodgers specifically, but a broader explainer using this moment as the news hook. 4. The ‘wellness’ culture’s spin on nicotine: A rising contingent of pro-nicotine wellness influencers are spreading misinformation about the supposed benefits of nicotine in the form of pouches, patches, lozenges and gum as a ‘safer’ alternative to antidepressants. They claim that because nicotine is present in trace amounts in certain vegetables, it is a natural compound that has numerous health benefits. We are looking for a pharmacologist, public health epidemiologist or related expert to write an explainer on where this trend originates and to unpack the science behind the dangers of nicotine and this growing trend. As part of our global health initiative, we would like to expand the focus of the story beyond the U.S. to look at how this trend is playing out in other countries as well, and what lessons can be learned from it. 5. Back to school with kids and head lice: As part of our back-to-school coverage, we are looking for a pediatrician, pediatric dermatologist or public health expert who can write an engaging 800 word explainer for a general audience about head lice and school - how kids catch them (are some people more prone?), how best to get rid of them (have treatments changed/become more effective?), what (if anything) has changed in guidance (for example, kids can generally return to school even if the treatment is not complete) etc. 6. Eating disorders and judgement calls: Given all the discourse around Ariana Grande, we're looking for a scholar who can offer advice on how to navigate that fine line between making assumptions about a person's body/behavior and intervening out of concern because you think you see textbook symptoms – something especially difficult when it comes to eating disorders, and something inherently difficult because you're working from an incomplete picture. More broadly, this piece will cover the difficulty of public image vs. private health issues, both in terms of celebrity and everyday people – in other words, how do you express concern when you don’t have all the information (which you are not entitled to), and when any expression of concern is inherently a judgement on someone's appearance? The piece will not be centered on Grande and any mention of her would likely be included among a list of other public figures who have experienced similar speculation and scrutiny. 7. Abdul El-Sayed and his support: Former public health official Abdul El-Sayed narrowly beat Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan’s senate primary race for the democratic nomination on Tuesday by a slimmer margin than originally forecasted by some pollsters. El-Sayed will now face Republican nominee Mike Rodgers in November’s general election. We’re looking for a political scholar to provide key takeaways about El-Sayed’s win, especially focusing on the role of young voters and Black voters in supporting this progressive candidate. Open to other slants as well but we need to work with someone who can move this fast. 8. Philadelphia traffic fatalities: Despite changes implemented by Philly’s Vision Zero Task Force over the past decade, the city is #1 for traffic fatalities among the largest US cities, with about 9 traffic deaths each year per 100K residents. Why is that? Which changes are working and which are not? What, if anything, have peer cities like Chicago, NYC, Washington D.C., and Boston done differently? 9. Missing/stolen equipment in Philly schools: Philadelphia’s City Controller’s office recently published a report that calls out some financial mismanagement practices – or “deficiencies in internal control” – by the School District of Philadelphia. One relates to “Poor Accountability Over School Equipment.” The report states, “During our fiscal year 2025 audit, we again tested the School District’s oversight of its personal property assets. Our testing included selecting 147 items from the School District’s Oracle inventory records to determine if the property was physically located at the school of record. We also selected another 122 items by physical observation at the same schools to determine if the School District accurately included these assets in its property records. Of the 147 items selected from property records 96 items (or 65%) with a total property value of $297,316 could not be located. Of the 122 items selected from the field locations 74 items (or 61%) could not be found in the property records.” We are looking for an expert in school management and K-12 school finances who can provide analysis on this issue. Why is so much equipment unaccounted for? What are the financial and other ramifications? What are best practices to have a better accounting of these purchases? 10. Philly crime and homelessness: Philadelphia is on track to have its lowest number of homicides since 1963. Meanwhile the number of people living on the street has also dropped. We are looking for scholars who can place either set of these numbers in context. What’s working? What stories do the numbers not tell? 11. Detroit’s community benefits ordinance: It’s been 10 years since Detroit voters approved a community benefits ordinance, the first municipal law of its kind in the nation. As a result, Stellantis, Henry Ford Health and other developers have promised residents jobs, youth programs and better roads, among others. But some researchers have found that the current process puts residents at a disadvantage due to a lack of information and representation during negotiations and enforcement of benefits delivery remains an issue. I am looking for a scholar to examine the ordinance, its strengths and limitations, along with a specific interest on ways to bolster enforcement of the agreements. I also welcome other pitches about this issue. 12. Mental health care access in Detroit: Detroit residents say mental health is the most important medical issue to address in the community, according to a Detroit Health Department report released in June 2026. But a shortage of mental health care providers, stigma and an inadequate number of mental health clinics create barriers to accessing mental health care. I’m looking for a scholar to dive into why Detroiters struggle to access or navigate the region’s mental health care landscape and what solutions could help improve access to care. I also welcome other pitches on this topic. 13. Pilgrimages and AI: We are looking for pitches on pilgrimages and how they are changing – especially how technology is playing a role and how AI tools are influencing the experience. 14. Celebration of Onam: We are looking for scholars to explain the festival of Onam, the annual harvest festival celebrated by the people of Kerala, India and observed by Keralites worldwide. 15. Celebration of Navratri: We are looking for scholars to write about the upcoming nine-day Hindu festival of Navratri and how the celebrations are changing in a digital age. 16. Wisdom from around the world series: We are starting a series on the religion desk where we are inviting scholars – philosophers, religion scholars – to write about texts, objects, plants – or sources from around the world which have something to teach us today. It could be a celebration, a festival or another tradition that we know little about. 16. AI and religion: We are inviting scholars to pitch us ideas related to AI and religion. A big theme we are interested in – how AI is changing religious communities? However, we welcome pitches from any angle. Accountability expert requests:Please contact The Conversation’s watchdog team if you know of scholars who are building or watching datasets. We’re interested in data that shows aspects of people's health, healthcare, the environment, public policy, technology, politics and business practices, especially if it is tracking or has uncovered unexpected or worrisome changes that affect people, society or the environment. If you are looking to introduce your team or academics to The Conversation, please send them this link. Thank you for your help in identifying and prepping scholars who are a good fit and willing to write on these requests. Chris Calimlim Eric Zack 
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