We live in an era of abundant scientific information, yet access to information and to opportunities for substantive public engagement with the processes and outcomes of science are still inequitably distributed. Even with increasing interest in science communication and public engagement with science, historically marginalized and minoritized individuals and communities are largely overlooked and undervalued in these efforts. To address this gap, this paper aims to define inclusive science communication and clarify and amplify the field. We present inclusive science communication as one path forward to redress the systemic problems of inequitable access to and engagement with STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine). We describe the first national Inclusive Science Communication (InclusiveSciComm) Symposium held in the U.S. Based on the experience of organizing the symposium, we discuss recommendations for other convenings to help build a community of practice for inclusive science communication. In both research and practice, we advocate for more experimentation to help make inclusive science communication the future of science communication writ large, in order to engage diverse publics in their multiple ways of knowing and expand a sense of belonging in STEMM.
Sustainability science seeks to identify and implement workable solutions to complex problems. This transdisciplinary approach advances a commitment to work across boundaries that occur among individuals, disciplines, and institutions to build capacities for informed and innovative decision making in the face of uncertainty and change. The concept of boundary work and related discussions of boundary objects and organizations are important, expanding focal areas within sustainability science. While communication is described as central to boundary work, insights from the field of communication have largely yet to inform theorizing about boundaries within sustainability science. In this paper, we highlight three communication perspectives, namely media studies, collaboration and partnerships, and systems theories, which are particularly relevant for understanding how boundaries form, the social context in which boundary work occurs, and informed strategies for enhanced boundary spanning and management. We use three case studies to illustrate how communication theories and methods provide dynamic and strategic lenses within transdisciplinary processes to enable collaborators to build capacity for change, sustain critical and reflective inquiry, and approach difference as generative in collective efforts to produce sustainability. OPEN ACCESSSustainability 2013, 5 4196
Earthquake early warning systems (EEW) are becoming increasingly available or in development throughout the world. With public alerting in Mexico, Japan, Taiwan, and parts of the United States, it is important to provide evidence-based recommendations for protective action so people can protect themselves when they receive an alert. Best-practice warning communication research suggests that providing a protective action will increase the efficacy of the message. However, given the diversity of earthquakes and building types, as well as social and cultural contexts where these systems exist, the question is: what is the best protective action to recommend? The answer lies in maximizing life-saving protective actions during an earthquake event requires both contextually relevant messaging and widespread public education about appropriate protective actions under a range of conditions. By researching previous earthquake injury literature, examining current best practices and public education campaigns, key protective actions may be determined and used to increase the life-saving potential of earthquake early warning systems.
is a doctoral fellow with Sustainability Solutions Initiate at the University of Maine, as well as a PhD Candidate in Ecology and Environmental Sciences, with a focus on the convergence of economics and ecology in policy and planning. Michelle L. Johnson was a doctoral fellow with Sustainability Solutions Initiate at the University of Maine, as well as a PhD Candidate in the School of Economics. Her research focuses on land use change modeling and attitudes and perceptions around land use change and planning processes. Bridie McGreavy was a doctoral fellow with Sustainability Solutions Initiative at the University of Maine and recently completed her Ph.D. through the Communication and Sustainability Science at the University of Maine. She is now a post-doctoral fellow with the New England Sustainability Consortium where she studies and seeks to improve communication within sustainability science collaborations. Stacia Dreyer was a doctoral fellow with Sustainability Solutions Initiative at the University of Maine and recently completed her IPhD through the School of Economics and Department of Psychology where she studied the human dimensions of environmental problems and policies from a combined psychological and economic perspective. Karen Bieluch was a doctoral fellow with Sustainability Solutions Initiate at the University of Maine, and recently completed her IPhD through the Department of Communications and Journalism. She is now a visiting assistant professor in the same department. Hollie Smith was a doctoral fellow with Sustainability Solutions Initiate at the University of Maine, and recently completed her PhD in the Department of Communication & Journalism where she studied the intersections of science, media, and policy using communication theory.
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