Other Communication Commons^™

Prioritization Of Scientific Sources Of Water Information: The Effect Knowledge, Beliefs, And Political Identity, Sadie Hundemer

Journal of Applied Communications

Scientists are reported to be more trusted than other information sources; yet, on essential water facts, people sometimes reject what they perceive water scientists to believe in favor of other belief determinants. This study examines the factors that affect the difference in people's stated willingness to reconsider their water beliefs in response to information provided by scientists relative to information provided by other sources. Regression analysis of responses provided by 806 Florida and Georgia residents found water science knowledge to be a consistently strong influencer of the gap in reliance on scientific information providers relative to other sources. This result …

Science Communication Training Imparts Confidence And Influences Public Engagement Activity, Christina M. Swords, Jerlym S. Porter, Amy J. Hawkins, Edwin Li, Melissa Rowland-Goldsmith, Matthew D. Koci, John F. Tansey, Nicole C. Woitowich

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The impacts of science are felt across all socio-ecological levels, ranging from the individual to societal. In order to adapt or respond to scientific discoveries, novel technologies, or biomedical or environmental challenges, a fundamental understanding of science is necessary. However, antiscientific rhetoric, mistrust in science, and the dissemination of misinformation hinder the promotion of science as a necessary and beneficial component of our world. Scientists can promote scientific literacy by establishing dialogues with nonexperts, but they may find a lack of formal training as a barrier to public engagement. To address this, the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology …

Students’ Knowledge Of And Attitudes Toward Dairy Production: A Survey Methodology Report, Heather Akin, Babatope Akinyemi, Julia Mcquillan, Tami Brown-Brandl

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Faculty Publications

This report presents findings from a pilot survey conducted among undergraduate and graduate students (N = 410) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln about students’ perspectives on technology usage, consumption, and sustainability in dairy production systems. An interdisciplinary research team developed the survey instrument and report. The main purpose of this pilot study was to create and administer survey items to support further research on experiential education and outreach opportunities related to robotics in small-scale dairy production and rural economic development. Descriptive findings indicated that most students had some familiarity with dairy production and the nutritional aspects of dairy products …

Advancing Agroecological Agroforestry: A Vermont Participatory Storytelling And Story Mapping Project, Sydney Blume

Food Systems Master's Project Reports

Agroforestry is the intentional integration of trees into agricultural landscapes. Advancing agroforestry has the potential to support just food system transition, but it must take direction from traditional approaches (culturally-embedded, millennia-old agroforestry practices in forest ecosystems) and agroecology (the movement, science, and practice for just and sustainable food and agricultural systems). An agroecological approach to agroforestry is essential to avoid agroforestry replicating the logics and harms of industrial agriculture and to encourage learning from traditional agroforestry practices, and likewise, traditional approaches to agroforestry can support a transformative agroecological transition through redesign of agroecosystems and shifting perspectives and ethics. This paper …

Podcasts In Production: An Examination Of Current And Best Practices For Agricultural And Natural Resource Podcast Producers, Jacqueline Aenlle, Jamie Loizzo, Lisa K. Lundy, J. C. Bunch, Kevin M. Folta

Journal of Applied Communications

Little research has been done on the production and use of podcasts in the fields of food, agriculture, natural resource, or human sciences (FANRHS). Currently, there is limited information for best practices on creating an effective FANRHS podcast to reach a target public audience. The purpose of this study was to examine existing practices and experiences of FANRHS podcast producers. The findings of this study will be of interest to organizations, institutions, and individuals who currently produce or are interested in producing an educational or science-based podcast. This study provided foundational information on podcast creation and maintenance. Future research should …

Modernizing High School Agricultural Communications Competencies: A National Delphi Study, Mackenzie Atkins, Kati Lawson, Ricky Telg

Journal of Applied Communications

The purpose of this study was to identify current competencies needed for high school students to succeed in their agricultural communication courses. This study also identified an ideal introduction level for each competency and provides up-to-date consensus on the most important agricultural communication competencies for high school students as determined by university faculty. Twenty years have passed since secondary agricultural communication competencies have been evaluated at a national level (Akers, 2000). Since then, industry standards have changed, including the emergence of social media, which is reflected in the results of this study. This study was conducted through a two-round Delphi …

Entomology Outreach Presentations To Four Audiences, Michael Goldman

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

I proposed that my master’s Project would be outreach on Entomology at four levels: School aged children, laymen, non-entomologists in a technical field, and entomologists. The idea here is basically how to talk about entomology to varying levels of expertise, from first graders to experts in both entomology and occupational health and safety. Presentations were given to audiences at each of the four levels. The specific topics varied for each audience. The determination was made by the inviting audience in the cases of school aged children and adult laymen and by me in the cases of Occupational Safety and Health …

Characteristics And Motivational Factors Of American Equine Journalists, Zoe B. Bowden, Ricky W. Telg, Lisa K. Lundy

Journal of Applied Communications

The purpose of this study was to identify the demographic characteristics, career motivations, and professional development of American equine journalists. An online survey was distributed to equine journalists identified through their professional organizational membership. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Equine journalists were found to be predominately female, Caucasian, and averaged 53 years old. Nearly half were exposed to the equine industry prior to their career and have been working in the industry for over 15 years. Respondents were well educated and were most motivated towards their career as an equine journalist because of their interest in horses. …

Talking Plants: Examining The Role Of Podcasts In Communicating Plant Pathology Knowledge, Melissa Lim, Rebecca Swenson

Journal of Applied Communications

Extension programs must constantly evaluate communication plans and platforms to determine if they are worth the investment of time, money, and resources. Podcasts are growing in popularity as a communication platform for education and entertainment. With the VARK model of learning styles and core plant pathology concepts as a guide, researchers evaluated the prevalence and type of plant pathology information in podcasts to better understand how podcasts could benefit Extension plant pathology programs. Using keywords related to plant pathology, researchers searched popular mobile podcast listening applications and evaluated relevant podcast episodes using content analysis methods. Results indicated few podcast shows …

Fostering Climate Change Resilience: A Socio-Ecological Forest Systems Approach, Alyssa R. Soucy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As climate change continues to impact socio-ecological systems, those that rely on natural resources are highly sensitive to climatic changes. Maine’s forest industry provides for the economic and social well-being of many residents and is especially vulnerable to climate change impacts. Changes in growing season length and timing, forest health threats imposed by insects and pathogens, extreme weather events, shifting forest composition, and changes in natural disturbance severity and frequency have already begun, and are projected to continue, to impact forest systems in the Northeastern U.S. While climate change presents a threat to forest systems, opportunities also arise due to …

La Habana: A History Of Society, Livelihood, Movement, And Land Use On The Iquitos-Nauta Highway, Katie Brown

Undergraduate Honors Theses

With increasing infrastructural projects and land titling in the Peruvian Amazon, many changes are occurring within small roadside communities. In this case study, we investigate how these changes impact livelihoods, land use, travel patterns, and social relations within the broader concepts of development, privatization of land, and commodification of nature. Specifically we focus on the caserío La Habana situated on the Iquitos-Nauta highway in the Loreto region of Peru. Semi-formal interviews and ethnographic methods were conducted to gather information on social organization, history of the community, land use practices, migration patterns, opinions on the road, and livelihood strategies. After data …

The Influence Of Radical Environmentalists On Reputation And Communication Practices Of Advocacy/Collaborative Nonprofits, Maria Zhigalina

International Crisis and Risk Communication Conference

The article focuses on features, activities and communication practices of environmental nonprofits / groups to demonstrate the importance of studying how negative reputation of the environmental sub-sector created by radical environmentalists can influence advocacy / collaborative environmental nonprofits. First, it reviews some relevant literature related to environmental organizations / groups and their external communication. Additionally, it provides some examples of radical environmentalism that have been recently discussed in the news. Finally, it describes directions for future research. It is important to understand the influence of the actions of radical environmentalists on advocacy / collaborative nonprofit organizations because it might impact …

Tumbling Into A Crisis: Use Of Corporate Apologia After Usa Gymnastics Falls Off The Balance Beam, Terry L. Rentner, Cory Young

International Crisis and Risk Communication Conference

In an open letter to U.S. gymnasts on Nov. 5, 2018, United States Olympic Committee (USOC) CEO Sarah Hirshland told its more than 150,000 members “You deserve better” as it launched the Nuclear Clause that would revoke USA Gymnastics (USAG) as a governing body for the sport at the Olympic level [1]. This announcement comes in the wake of USAG’s ongoing crisis that includes a failure to protect athletes from team doctor Larry Nassar, imprisoned for sexually abusing more than 350 female gymnasts; investigations tied to Michigan State University; and the turnover of several USAG CEO’s in just two years. …

From Virtual To Physical: Video Game Streaming Communities, Avery Miles

Capstones

This is an exploration of the inner lives of video game streamers, how they interact with their audiences and the social phenomenon of live streaming. It encompasses streamers, viewers, professional eSports athletes and indie game designers.

www.averykmiles.com

Consumer Perceptions Of Labeling Claims On Poultry Products, Sarah Townley

Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology Undergraduate Honors Theses

An increasing number of consumers wants more knowledge of how the food they eat is produced, and specifically, how animals used in the production of their food are raised. One method consumers use to become more aware of production practices behind the food they purchase and consume is simply reading food labels. Labeling claims can be defined as textual, pictorial, graphic, or symbolic representation that either explicitly states or implies that a food product has a specific set of properties supported by a certification process. The purpose of this study is to gather data regarding consumer knowledge and understanding of …

Using Student-Produced Videos To Communicate About Science, Ricky W. Telg, Kathryn Stofer, Rachel Deconna

Journal of Applied Communications

This professional development article provides a case study of the Explore Research at the University of Florida video project, conducted by University of Florida undergraduate and graduate students. Students take an advanced digital media production course where they develop videos documenting research at the university. The videos are then displayed at the Museum of Natural History and various online, broadcast, and cable television outlets. This article also provides suggestions for individuals who may want to develop their own partnerships with similar organizations in their courses.

Understanding Consumer Intent To Buy Local Food: Adding Consumer Past Experience And Moral Obligation Toward Buying Local Blueberries In Florida Within The Theory Of Planned Behavior, Jessica Holt, Joy N. Rumble, Ricky Telg, Alexa Lamm

Journal of Applied Communications

Buying local food has become an increasingly popular way for consumers to engage with those who grow their food; however, research has shown a specific audience tends to buy local food due to individual-specific barriers. To better understand what motivates consumers to buy local food the Theory of Planned Behavior was used as a way to potentially predict consumers’ behavior toward buying locally grown blueberries. Also, the variables of past experience and self-identity/moral obligation toward buying local food were introduced to the model since both variables may increase the predictability of the Theory of Planned Behavior model in certain food-related …

Cultivating Creativity: Faculty Conceptions Of Creativity In Agricultural Communications Students, Courtney Gibson, Hope Hancock, Erica Irlbeck, Courtney Meyers

Journal of Applied Communications

Creativity has been deemed as an essential skill in agricultural communications graduates by both industry and academia, and it has a pivotal role in student success within the classroom and the workforce. In order to foster students’ creative thinking skills, faculty must turn away from traditional norms of lecture-based delivery and foster an environment where students are actively creating and engaging in the learning process. The purpose of this study was to provide insight on the nature of creativity as it relates to agricultural communications curriculum—focused on pedagogical strategies and creative assessments. This qualitative case study examined how agricultural communications …

Wildlife As Pets: Reshaping Public Perceptions Through Targeted Communication, Rosanna M. Vail

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

Signature Whistle Production During A Bottlenose Dolphin Group Integration, Megan S. Broadway

Dissertations

Bottlenose dolphins are an important species of interest because they possess a variety of abilities that are relatively rare in the animal kingdom, one being complex acoustic communication. Signature whistles - distinctive calls that are unique for each individual – are one of the most studied call types, but we know little about how these calls are used in various contexts, such as during an introduction. Looking at the socio-behavioral context in which signature whistles are used is likely the best way of learning how these whistles are used in a particular context (Caldwell, Caldwell, & Tyack, 1990). For this …

The Effects Of Online Video On Consumers’ Attitudes Toward Local Food, Shuyang Qu, Alexa J. Lamm, Joy N. Rumble, Ricky W. Telg

Journal of Applied Communications

Marketers rate online video as their most utilized content medium. This study used a between-subject control group post-test-only experiment to investigate the effect of three local food messages delivered via online video on U.S. consumers’ attitudes toward local food. The three 30-second videos each featured one of the documented benefits of local food: high quality, support of local economy, and strengthening of social connection. Results indicated all three video treatments yielded a positive attitude toward local food, while respondents in the control group had a neutral attitude. The video treatment featuring local food’s high quality generated a significantly more favorable …

Marketing Power Berries: An Importance-Performance Analysis Of Blueberry, Shuyang Qu, Alexa J. Lamm, Joy N. Rumble

Journal of Applied Communications

The unique health benefits of blueberries have increased consumers’ demand for this fruit. Although the demand is still low compared to other fruits including apples and grapes, consumers’ growing interest in blueberries has led to a significant increase of blueberry acreage in the U.S., causing the supply to exceed demand. To increase blueberry consumption and sales for the benefits of both consumers’ health and the blueberry industry, this study selected 18 blueberry attributes and used an online survey to examine blueberry purchasers’ perceived importance and satisfaction of these attributes. An importance-performance analysis (IPA) of these attributes was conducted to provide …

The Role Of Design Thinking In Scientific Research & Communication, Colleen Syron

SciComm 2016 - Lincoln, Nebraska, September 23-24, 2016

Design thnking: Research: • Interviews with designers • Observations and case studies • Experimental studies • Simulation • Reflection and theorizing

Designing is not a search for the optimum solution to the given problem, but that it is an exploratory process. The creative designer interprets the design brief not as a specification for a solution, but as a starting point for a journey of exploration,…

“Deduction proves that something must be; Induction shows that something actually is operative; Abduction suggests that something may be.” Charles Pierce

The main point of difference is that of timing. Both artists and scientists operate …

Why We Need To Help Youth Develop A Stem Identity, Saundra Frerichs

SciComm 2016 - Lincoln, Nebraska, September 23-24, 2016

Favorite Toys

Developing Identity

Click 2 Science http://click2sciencepd.org

click2sciencepd.org

click2sciencepd@unl.edu

@Click2Science

Simple Techniques For Behavior Change, Lisa Pennisi

SciComm 2016 - Lincoln, Nebraska, September 23-24, 2016

Myths: •People just need to know the facts •People just need to be aware of the issues & consequences •People just need to see the $$ •Attitudes lead to behavior

Does knowledge lead to behavior?
•Knowledge correlates with behavior True
•Education increases knowledge True
•Increasing knowledge leads to behavior change False

What motivates behavior?

•Awareness campaigns can produce the opposite of goal –they use norms describing undesired behavior •boomerang effects –can cause the opposite effect as some conform with perceived social norms

The problem is WE are the evaluator of potential success based on what works for us. But we …

Networking With Researchers And Farmers To Tackle Herbicide-Resistant Weeds, Melinda K. Yerka

SciComm 2016 - Lincoln, Nebraska, September 23-24, 2016

Outline •Crop breeding technology •Regulation of crop technologies •Issues related to crop-to-weed gene flow •Need for landscape-level studies

GMO •Genetically Modified Organism •Most commercial traits facilitate crop production –Insect resistance (Btcorn) –Herbicide resistance (Roundup) •General scientific consensus that they are safe •Public concerns persist

GM…..Oh? •GMOs are regulated substances by USDA-APHIS –$80 to $150 million per genotype to get to market •USDA-APHIS: Which biotech traits do we regulate? •Commodity groups: Will we be regulated???

The special case of sorghum: Massive international development as a biofuel •Better drought tolerance than corn •Needs herbicide resistance to compete
Evolution of herbicide resistance in …

Training Undergraduates To Sell It: #Scicomm In An Ecology Course, Teresa Bilinski

SciComm 2016 - Lincoln, Nebraska, September 23-24, 2016

Stop. Being. Boring.

Science: Soft Skill? No.

Essential Transferable Skill: “Students would be better served by an education that is integrated with the job market they will encounter post-graduation, and one that provides not only technical skills but also the soft skills that are most in demand by employers such as communication…”

#SciCommin a senior Ecology course: Course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE). Ecosystem services at the wildland-urban interface: involving undergraduates in ecological investigations

Pre- assignment “Summarize the Results of an ecological research project related to the effects of urbanization on ecosystems. The research summaries will be presented orally to the …

Science Communication Strategies In The K-12 Classroom, Andrew Ising

SciComm 2016 - Lincoln, Nebraska, September 23-24, 2016

@ItsIsing

andrewising@gmail

KABT.org #SciComm2016

bit.ly/isingnsc

Why is science literacy important to you? Why is science literacy important to me?

Situation #1: Peer Review -- Scientists talking to other Scientists; Making Science Research More Accessible: Poster Sessions [KABT Miniposters]

Situation #2: Informal Science -- Scientists telling science stories Common sources: Blogs, science magazines, newspapers, etc. Documentaries Social Media Why students like this: Narrative… Drama… Fewer long latin words

Situation #3: Community Outreach -- Scientists talking as experts to an audience “A scientist seen is a scientist trusted” Be/Become someone’s “BROADER IMPACTS”! Citizen Science Projects (Scistarter, YourWildLife, IMP, Great KS Tardigrade Hunt, …

Eight-Legged Encounters: Using Organismal Biology To Bring Science Education To Families & Communities, Eileen A. Hebets

SciComm 2016 - Lincoln, Nebraska, September 23-24, 2016

Path of the Predators: A Journey Through the Living Arachnids. Illustrations by Pawl Tisdale

WHAT IS AN ARTHROPOD?

CREATE A CHELICERATE

ASSEMBLE AN ARACHNID

TISSUE PAPER FLOWER

MICROSCOPE MADNESS

Eight-Legged Encounters Impact

Change in interest in learning about scientific discoveries among adult respondents (n = 63).

Youth’s interest in science activities (n = 42). Respondents were 50% female, 50% male and ranged in age from 4 – 14 with a mean of 7.7.

Help Me Help You: Working With Public Information Officers, Scott Schrage

SciComm 2016 - Lincoln, Nebraska, September 23-24, 2016

Why work with public information officers? Should I reach out to a PIO? Tips for working with a PIO. Multimedia. Draw in lay readers. Illustrate concepts. The interview. When the PIO sends you the first draft… Be prepared to speak with external media.