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APPAM is pleased to offer complimentary webinars throughout the year. Below, you can find a list of upcoming webinars, recent webinars with public recordings, and members-only archived webinar topics. Recent webinar recordings are on APPAM's YouTube channel, and all recordings are in your APPAM membership profile in the webinar library.
Don't see a topic you were looking for? APPAM collects webinar proposals from active members throughout the year. If you have a timely, broadly appealing topic you'd like to share, please see the webinar proposal section below.
Questions? Email [email protected].
Transforming Data into Visual Narratives: A Hands-On Workshop with the Flourish Data Visualization Tool
Monday, March 23rd
1:00 - 2:00 PM Eastern
Speaker: John Schwabish, Urban Institute
In this workshop, participants will gain hands-on experience with Flourish, a powerful data visualization tool for creating interactive, engaging charts, maps, and stories. The session will cover the fundamentals of importing data, selecting appropriate visualization templates, and customizing visual elements to effectively convey complex data insights. Attendees will learn how to leverage Flourish’s intuitive interface to build dynamic visualizations without needing advanced coding skills and will explore best practices for data storytelling to enhance their presentations and reports. By the end of the workshop, participants will have the skills to transform raw data into compelling visual narratives, improving their ability to communicate data-driven insights.
Pre-workshop tasks:
- Set up an account at Flourish using the “Get started now” button in the middle of the Flourish.studio website.
- Optional. Set up an account at Canva using the “Sign up” button in the top-right banner of the Canva website.
- Once inside Canva, click the “Apps” option in the left banner. Enter “Flourish” in the “Search apps” search box. Click the Flourish box and then “Use in new design” in the next window.
Better Surveys, Better Data: A Practical Guide for Researchers
Wednesday, April 22
2:30-3:30 PM Eastern
Moderator:
Mark Watts, NORC at the University of Chicago
Speakers:
David Dutwin, NORC at the University of Chicago
Ting Yan, NORC at the University of Chicago
Surveys remain one of the most powerful tools for understanding what people know, do, and believe—but designing a survey that produces valid and reliable data is far from simple. Researchers face critical decisions at every stage: Which sampling approach ensures representativeness? How do you craft questions that minimize bias? What strategies maximize response rates and data quality?
This webinar provides a comprehensive overview of the survey design process, blending literature with practical, real-world examples.
- Participants will learn best practices grounded in methodological rigor, including:
- Selecting a scientific probability-based sample
- Designing and testing effective questionnaires
- Developing outreach and data collection protocols to boost participation
- Applying appropriate post-survey processing and adjustments for accuracy
This session equips participants with actionable strategies to design surveys that deliver trustworthy insights.
Better Data Visualization in Excel
Monday, May 11th
1:00 - 2:00 PM Eastern
Speaker: John Schwabish, Urban Institute
Everyone working with data needs to communicate their findings, analyses, and conclusions effectively, whether through internal briefings, management reports, annual reviews, or scientific articles. Despite the growing range of tools for data analysis and visualization, Excel remains a leading choice, relied on daily by millions worldwide. This webinar will introduce core strategies for expanding Excel’s capabilities to create clearer, more impactful visualizations. Participants will have the opportunity to apply these techniques directly by building sample visualizations that bring the lessons to life.
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
- Move beyond Excel’s default charts to create clearer, more impactful visualizations.
- Customize chart elements to highlight key insights and reduce visual clutter.
- Build sample visualizations that reinforce core design and communication principles.
- Apply data visualization best practices to reports, presentations, and dashboards for stronger communication.
Live APPAM webinars are available to everyone, but our webinar library is reserved for active APPAM Members as a membership benefit. Log in as a member to view our full archive.
Bridging Research and Practice: Career Pathways for Emerging Public Policy Scholars
Participants:
Vishal Jamkar, The University of Minnesota
AshLee Turner, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, The Pennsylvania State University
Jeane Ringel, Senior Economist, Rand Corporation
Jillian Berk, Vice President, Mathematica
Karin Martin, Associate Professor, Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, University of Washington
Rachel Leatham, Director of Career and Student Success, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota
Rhonda Freeland, Policy Analyst, Washington State Department of Commerce
This webinar is an interactive session with the six leaders from government, public policy think tanks, and academia. They offered strategies for navigating public policy and industry-focused job opportunities in policy think tanks, government, nonprofits, and academia. Perfect for a recent graduate or an early-career public policy professional, this webinar provided insights into current job opportunities, tips for navigating them, and the preparation required to succeed in the job market.
Navigating Uncertainty in Policy Research Grants and Funding in the US: Trends, Challenges, and the Future
Participants:
Paula Omokhomion, Master of Public Policy student at the University of California, Riverside
Aixa Cintrón-Vélez, Russell Program Director at the Sage Foundation
G.R. Love, Director of Development at the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC)
Tina Fletcher, senior strategy, learning, and evaluation department officer in the Education Program at the Walton Family Foundation
Joseph McNicholas, Director of Research Opportunities at the Sanford School of Public Policy
Tafadzwa Tivaringe, Program Officer, Spencer Foundation
Elliot Emmer, Senior Director of Development at the University of California, Riverside
This webinar is built around navigating present uncertainty for policy and related programming research grants and funding in the United States. It aims to bring together stakeholders such as donors, grantmaking experts, scholars, and advocates to discuss the trends in federal and private research funding, institutional and researcher challenges in securing/maintaining grant support, and adaptive strategies to these ends.
Better Presentations
Participants: Jon Schwabish, Senior Fellow, Urban Institute
Clear communication of research findings is a central goal for researchers, whether the audience includes colleagues, policymakers, or potential employers. Due to the technical vocabulary often used in research, this goal can present particular challenges for researchers and analysts. In this webinar, essential strategies for public speaking will be explored, and techniques will be provided to enhance audience engagement and support the development of compelling presentations.
Resources:
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APPAM is continuously looking for fresh and timely webinar content; our best resource is our members! Active APPAM members are encouraged to submit webinar proposals for policy-related content and professional development topics.
Submit a Webinar Proposal Here
Webinar Proposal Questions? Email [email protected].
Live APPAM webinars are available to everyone, but our webinar library is reserved for active APPAM Members as a membership benefit. Log in as a member to view our full archive. Some of the archived webinars include:
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Bridging Research and Practice: Career Pathways for Emerging Public Policy Scholars (2025)
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Navigating Uncertainty in Policy Research Grants & Funding in the US: Trends, Challenges & the Future (2025)
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​Better Presentations (2025)
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How To Speak So People Will Listen (2025)
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Continuing the Work: Studying Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Current Moment (2025)
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Data Visualization and Communication Training (2025)
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Policy Research and Program Evaluation After DOGE (2025)
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Cogent & Concise Finding the Story in Your Study (2025)
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Exploring Clean Slate Legislation: Perspectives from Different States (2025)
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The Future of Public Service: Are the Kids Alright? (2025)
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Job Market Success Strategies, Part 1: The Master's Job Market (2025)
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Getting Accepted: Submitting to the APPAM Annual Fall Conference (2024)
Retired APPAM Podcasts
APPAM retired our podcast series in 2023. You can find our previous podcast recordings here.
APPAM's The Wonk examined current policy issues discussed by expert practitioners, researchers, and academics. Episode topics included JPAM featured articles, emerging trends in public policy research, and student preparation for careers in public policy.
APPAM's Let's Grab A Coffee podcast was recorded by the Student Advisory Committee (SAC). The episodes were informal conversations with a scholar from the field to show the human side of public policy.