Making operations research and analytics more digestible to the average person, typical executive, elected official, and more is a perennial challenge. Let’s face it – it’s not always easy to translate what operations researchers, analytics professionals, or data scientists do. One of INFORMS’ key member benefits is designed to help our members do just that. Our public relations (PR) department is focused on elevating the work and profile of INFORMS members, and to amplify the impact they have when it comes to saving lives, saving money, and solving problems. 

We do that by shining a spotlight on newsworthy research or other happenings, along with showcasing the deep expertise of our members to help position them as prominent thought leaders in the eyes of reporters and policymakers. 

As a result of our work, INFORMS members have appeared in articles, news features, or written their own opinion-editorials in places ranging from “The New York Times,” and “The Wall Street Journal,” to “CNBC,” “Politico” and many more news outlets.
Ashley Smith headshot smiling at the camera

Ashley Smith

Public Affairs Coordinator
T: 443-757-3578
E: asmith@informs.org

What I do

  • Elevate members and their research to the media
  • Write press releases, opinion editorials and pitches
  • Generate content based on current events, member research and INFORMS articles
  • Establish relationships with members and journalists
  • Showcase member’s media placements on INFORMS platforms

How to Get Involved

To expand INFORMS’ reach with reporters, share expertise, and create new content, we are creating a database of INFORMS members who are interested in being part of these and other outreach activities. 

If you are interested in learning more about our activities or getting involved, you have two options:

Option A: Fill out our media promotion form.

Tell us about your journal article that is being published in an INFORMS journal.

INFORMS Journal Media Promotion Form

Option B: Fill out our communications interest form.

Tell us more about you, your expertise, and any of your relevant work or previous press releases.

Communications Interest Form

 

Need a PDF copy?

Download the INFORMS Journal Media Promotion PDF or the Communications Interest Form PDF and email the completed form to: asmith@informs.org.

 

Check Out Some of Our Work

Examples of Placements:

Moderna may expand pediatric COVID-19 vaccine trial

CBS News, July 27, 2021
Moderna said Monday it may expand the size of its COVID-19 vaccine trial for younger children, as both Pfizer and Moderna plan to seek authorization from the Food and Drug Administration to vaccinate some of the youngest Americans later this year.

Sometimes it takes an academic eye to spot the flaws in a practical system, like federal IT acquisition

Federal News Network, June 10, 2021
Why exactly are so many federal information technology acquisition programs late, over budget, and not always delivering hoped-for results? It might be one of the most studied topics in public management. Now a supply chain and operations researcher at the University of Minnesota may have an answer. Dwai Roy joined the Federal Drive with Tom Temin with analysis.

Suez Ship Grounding Makes Case for Big Rail Merger

Bloomberg, March 26, 2021
A blockbuster tie-up between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern is a bet that supply-chain breakdowns like the Suez Canal blockage will keep happening.

Examples of Press Releases:

New Research Says Millions of Dollars Saved Daily When Scheduled Travel Providers Adapt to On-Demand Service Scheduling Based on Commuter and Traffic Patterns

 

New Research Finds Drive-Through Mass-Vaccination Clinics Could Alter COVID-19 Trajectory

 

What Impact Does Airbnb Have on Local Housing Prices and Rents?

Examples of Op-eds:

Social distancing should stick around

The Hill, June 7, 2021
As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its second year, the worst of it could be behind us, but in order to get comfortable with this notion, Americans may also need to get used to some of the vestiges of the past year’s mitigation efforts. The latest development — a positive one — is that all adults in the U.S. are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Opinion: Why it's impossible to predict mass shootings like San Jose

San Francisco Chronicle, May 26, 2021
If mass shootings followed any sort of intuitive logic, one might have guessed that a year of COVID-19 induced lockdowns would have at least temporarily quelled Americas propensity toward gun violence.

Sunderesh Heragu: Biden's COVID mass vaccination push needs to get creative -- drive-thru sites are ideal

FOX News, March 11, 2021
President Biden’s push to get COVID-19 vaccinations into the arms of Americans quickly, efficiently and safely has proven to be a lofty goal. While more than 60 million vaccinations have been given since January 20, having to vaccinate another 200 million adults with the additional pressures of the country wanting to open up sooner rather than later, means the Biden administration needs to get creative. New research shows pop-up vaccination drive-thrus are the answer.