Call for Research

2008 Summer Olympics

Coinciding with the 2008 Beijing Olympics, IssueLab will be focusing its August CloseUp on research which tackles the critical social issues related to this global event. We have already seen an enormous amount of media coverage about the Olympics and of course expect to see more. But how do we make sense of what we are seeing and hearing? Whose stories aren't being told?

The Olympics offer us a unique opportunity to connect the work of activists and researchers who might normally see their issues as being unrelated. We are eager to see the work of nonprofits who address issues such as sports education or performance enhancement alongside the work of researchers who have studied the ongoing economic impact of the Olympics on local communities, or China's human rights record.

Ask 100 researchers what they think is the most critical issue surrounding the Olympics and you will get 100 different answers! And frankly, that's our goal ... to collect as diverse and deep a set of research on this topic as possible and to make it easily accessible to a broad audience.

If you are a nonprofit and are doing work, or have done work in the past, on any issue related to the Olympics please register at IssueLab today. We are asking that organizations list their research with IssueLab by the last week in July. http://www.issuelab.org/rc_accounts/start

Please spread the word to any your colleagues or friends who might also have research to contribute.

Our Olympics CloseUp will include research related to the following five topics (or rings):

  1. The economic impact of the Olympics (local economies, gentrification, tourism, corruption, etc.)
  2. Human rights issues related to the Beijing Olympics or past Olympics (Tibet, free press, boycotts, etc.)
  3. Performance enhancement (steroid use, doping, drug testing, etc.)
  4. Special Olympics (disability, inclusion, competitive boundaries, etc.)
  5. Health and fitness (sports education, Title 9, etc.)

Why List Your Research With IssueLab?

IssueLab is a free service to all participating nonprofits. By listing your research with IssueLab:

  • You disseminate your research to a broader audience of journalists, practitioners, educators, bloggers, librarians, policy makers, and educators.
  • You breathe new life into older research while contributing a historical record on the issues you cover.
  • You get your research distributed through our eNewsletter, RSS feeds, and targeted outreach efforts.
  • You can upload as much research as you would like, freely edit your listings, and track how many people viewed your work.

Register your nonprofit with IssueLab through our simple web-based form. You will receive an email asking that you verify your registration. Once this is done, you are ready to list research!

Got Questions?

If you have any concerns or questions - just get in touch! We are happy to help.

Gabriela Fitz

773-649-1790