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The latest online trend making its rounds with your family and friends is a web-based word puzzle called . But why is it so captivating? 

ā€œThis popular daily distraction is not likely to make you smarter or ward off brain aging but may give you a dose of complex cognition as well as social interaction,ā€ says Dr. Penny Pexman, associate vice-president (research) and an expert in psycholinguistics.

Pexman recently wrote about the in , an online publication delivering analysis and explanatory journalism from the academic and research community directly to the public. Itā€™s a platform where professional editors work directly with academics and researchers to publish articles for a wide audience.

Her article has over 80,000 pageviews, and was republished by and , among others. The article also led to an interview on and on , where  Pexman discussed whether Wordle was good for our brains.

Write for The Conversation Canada

It all starts with a really great story idea. UCalgary researchers, including postdocs and master's or PhD candidates, can pitch ideas to The Conversation Canada, and if selected, alongside their editors.

ā€œItā€™s a great exercise in knowledge engagement,ā€ says Dr. Stephanie Warner, PhD,  manager of the unit in the Research Services Office. ā€œWriting for The Conversation Canada is a great way to start amplifying your research, and there is a possibility to create connection with community or other researchers in your area.ā€

Researchers who write for the publication will have access to real-time data to see how many times their article was read and republished. The Conversation Canada operates under a Creative Commons ā€” attribution/no derivatives licence. This means news outlets around the world can republish your article, leading to media exposure and possible collaborations.

Workshop Mar. 7

±«°ä²¹±ō²µ²¹°ł²āā€™s team is offering a on how to pitch an idea to The Conversation Canada on Mar. 7. The workshop will be facilitated by editor-in-chief Scott White. 

Heā€™ll explain the mission of The Conversation Canada, offer some background on how it helps academics with knowledge mobilization, and give tips on how to pitch a really great story idea. Pexman will also share her experience writing for the platform. Participants are encouraged (though not required) to bring story ideas to discuss.

The Conversation Canada, webinar + workshop | Monday Mar. 7, 1 - 3 p.m.