IDEA Research Collective

As a leading institution committed to excellence, UC Davis is well known for being at the forefront of practices that reaffirm its principles of community.

What may be less known is that some of the scholarship written by UC Davis scholars addresses practices that affect members of the public when they engage with health care, academia, the courts or even the workplace.

From groundbreaking studies on bias and educational opportunity, to pioneering work on justice and workplace climate, the university's faculty and staff have produced a body of research that is shaping conversations and driving change both at the university and beyond. Yet, much of this vital scholarship has remained siloed, with individual projects and publications often failing to reach the broader audiences they deserve.

For UC Davis. For the world.

Vice Chancellor Renetta Garrison Tull knew that elevating this research and connecting these scholars was crucial not just for UC Davis, but for institutions of higher learning across the country. So she sought the expertise of Chief Strategy Officer Ebony Lewis to spearhead a new initiative - the IDEA Research Collective.

"The goal was to create a centralized hub where we could showcase the incredible scholarship happening at UC Davis, facilitate new collaborations, and provide support for our faculty and scholar-practitioners to get their important work published and recognized," explained Lewis.

A strong desire for research collaborations

The collective officially launched in Fall 2024, building on the foundational work of UC Davis professors like Maisha Winn and Lawrence “Torry” Winn, whose "Five Pedagogical Stances" framework had already become a touchstone for the Division’s university-wide  efforts. Through outreach efforts, the IDEA Research Collective quickly attracted nearly 40 faculty members, staff, and students eager to get involved.

"We had such an amazing response," said Lewis. "It was clear there was real hunger for this kind of collaborative space, where people could come together, share ideas, and elevate each other's scholarship."

Listening to constituents was focus of collective’s kickoff

At the collective's virtual kickoff event, participants shared their research interests, which spanned a wide range of topics - from K-12 education to rural health care to criminal justice. Many also expressed a desire for support in getting their work published and finding funding opportunities.

Getting to work on getting the work out there

In response, The IDEA team got to work, first focusing on identifying and amplifying the existing publications of The Research Collective. They’ve also begun partnering with researchers on current projects that could be quickly transformed into publishable manuscripts. Additionally, the team is exploring the development of a framework through The Collective to help scholar-practitioners plan their work with an eye toward future dissemination.

"We want to make it as easy as possible for our faculty and staff to get their important work out there," said Lewis. "By providing resources, connections, and a supportive community, we hope to dramatically increase the visibility and impact of their scholarship at UC Davis."

New Research Collective site launched 

The collective's early efforts have already begun paying dividends. Several new publications by IDEA Research Collective affiliates have been featured on the group's website, which the team is working to expand.

Looking ahead, the IDEA Research Collective is focused on continuing to grow its network, deepen partnerships, and uncover new opportunities for collaboration and funding. The group also plans to continue to solicit ongoing feedback from its members to ensure the collective is truly meeting their needs.

"This is just the beginning," said Lewis. "We're so excited to see what the future holds as we work to elevate the voices and groundbreaking scholarship happening right here at UC Davis. Our aim is for this collective to be a game-changer to support the alignment of research and practice"