The women-owned creative agency Flock and Rally was selected to serve as the communications partner for the National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Engineering’s new organization, the Engineering Research Visioning Alliance (ERVA).

Launched in April 2021 and funded with a five-year grant from the NSF, ERVA convenes, catalyzes and enables the engineering community to build connectivity across sectors, empowering the engineering research community to envision high-impact research directions for a more secure and sustainable world.

ERVA leverages a sophisticated operational model for ideation activities, with a focus on engaging a diverse array of voices from across the engineering research and industry communities. ERVA’s founding partners are UIDP, a non-profit membership organization which serves as ERVA’s administrative agent, as well as members of the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA); and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)/Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Foundation (EIF). Operational partners are Flock and Rally for integrated communications, the Center for Research in Educational Policy (CREP) for evaluation and Elsevier for research intelligence.

“Our team is energized to work with these partners to deploy such a large-scale campaign, particularly because the approach is thoughtful and is focused on a range of audiences,” says Debi Schadel, co-founding partner and chief operations officer at Flock and Rally. “It is rewarding to know that ERVA’s work will impact the future of engineering in our country.”

Engineering research affects our daily lives in a variety of areas, from streamlined vaccine distribution to smaller smartphone cameras to the current exploration of Mars. America’s economic competitiveness is tied directly to the pace of scientific and technological discovery, which requires sustained, long-term support and agility. The NSF called for the creation of ERVA to help the U.S. stay at the forefront of research and innovation.

"By uniting the voices of engineering research in academia, industry, and government, ERVA will enable this diverse community to proactively identify the research directions that are critical to our nation's future security and economic growth," says Anthony Boccanfuso, ERVA co-principal investigator and UIDP president and CEO. "UIDP is honored to serve as administrative agent and a core partner in this ground-breaking opportunity."

Flock and Rally’s integrated communications strategy for ERVA articulates the critical functions and expected outcomes of the new organization, raises awareness of its activities and drives engagement with its target audiences. Tactics include the development of robust brand messaging, branded materials, infographics and a new website, as well as the implementation of a national campaign focused on permission-based marketing, social media advertising, organic social media marketing, media relations and more.

“ERVA affords our team the chance to share stories and concepts directly from the leading engineering minds in the country, and our message must be acute and compelling,” says Tracie Broom, co-founding partner and chief strategy officer at Flock and Rally. “We are humbled by the opportunity to rally the engineering community around ERVA’s mission.”

Get involved with ERVA and learn about its upcoming visioning activities at www.ERVAcommunity.org, and follow @ERVAcommunity and the hashtag #ERVAcommunity on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

View the ERVA press kit here.

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Flock and Rally is a full-service communications and marketing agency that develops new brands, launches major campaigns and provides integrated communications, marketing and advertising services for clients who believe in commitment to community. The agency is federally certified as a DBE. View the firm’s work, team and more at https://www.flockandrally.com.

About Flock and Rally: Integrated Communications & Marketing

Founded in 2010, Flock and Rally is a full-service, women-owned creative agency based in Columbia, South Carolina. The firm integrates branding, public relations, marketing, traditional advertising, digital advertising, social media and more into campaigns for a diverse base of clients, ranging from regional nonprofits to large-scale businesses across South Carolina and beyond. Serving industry sectors ranging from lifestyle and tourism to business, technology, real estate, economic development and more, Flock and Rally’s mission is to rally the community around great ideas. Learn more at www.flockandrally.com.

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