Publishing in The Conversation

I have recently completed my PhD on the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the UK medical imaging domain and its impact on the workforce. In 2025, following my success in the University and UK-level Three-Minute-Thesis (3MT) competitions, I was provided with an opportunity to publish a research-based article in The Conversation (March 2026).

There were three major steps in my publishing in The Conversation. An article idea first needs to be agreed upon with the editors before drafting the article. While my article topic directly followed my 3MT presentation, a pitch is generally needed, where you would be asked to explain the point you wish to make; why the audience should be interested; and your expertise in the proposed topic area. The Conversation also provides detailed guidance and a free online course on pitching.

Once the article topic was settled, the editor and I held an online meeting to agree on the article skeleton and version deadlines (though flexibility was possible). After finishing my first draft, there were several rounds of back-and-forth to address editors’ comments, e.g., the need to clarify certain concepts and to add or modify references. Editors also helped refine the expression to improve readability and suggested the article’s headline and opening image. This has been the most thought-provoking step for me, as it nudged me to reflect on my writing habits (some are not always aware or desirable), especially with the support of experienced editors.

When the article was ready, the editor arranged a slot for its publication. As the author, I have access to the author dashboard for key statistics, including the number of reads, reader locations, and views from media channels beyond The Conversation. At the time of writing, my article has been read 7700 times by people from the US, UK, Australia, India, and other territories.

I found a Conversation article and a thesis are similar in being research-based, but differ significantly in the style of communication. As a Conversation article typically has a word limit of 800, it poses the challenge of selecting a single, clear message from the thesis to deliver. Meanwhile, while a separate thesis chapter discusses the methodology in detail, it might be a good strategy to be brief about methodology in The Conversation article, unless the research originality lies in methodology itself.

On the other hand, a Conversation article and a 3MT presentation are similar in their non-specialist-facing nature, thereby unexplained jargon should always be avoided. However, since 3MT scripts typically range from 300 to 500 words, a Conversation article requires more detail about the research. The use of hyperlinks for references and content extension in The Conversation article also allows readers to engage with aspects they feel like exploring further. Moreover, the form of written communication itself differs significantly from that of an oral presentation in the 3MT. That said, relevant images and/or videos are allowed to enhance engagement.

Writing for The Conversation has been a rewarding experience and provides a great platform for increasing research visibility, which is worth considering by PGRs at different stages.