7 posts · 7,196 views
Focusing on the intersections among science, culture, and public affairs.
Matthew C. Nisbet
7 posts
Sort by: Latest Post, Most Popular
View by: Condensed, Full
- April 7, 2011
- 10:01 AM
- 987 views
Re-Defining Science Communication: Emerging Best Practices that Empower the Public
by Matthew C. Nisbet in Age of Engagement
Over the past few years, scholars and scientists have been re-examining both the goals and the nature of science communication initiatives. In a guest post today, Melanie Gade reviews much of this recent discussion and innovation. Gade is a graduate student in this semesters course on "Science ...Read More... Read more »
Nisbet, M., Hixon, M., Moore, K., & Nelson, M. (2010) Four cultures: new synergies for engaging society on climate change. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 8(6), 329-331. DOI: 10.1890/1540-9295-8.6.329
Groffman, P., Stylinski, C., Nisbet, M., Duarte, C., Jordan, R., Burgin, A., Previtali, M., & Coloso, J. (2010) Restarting the conversation: challenges at the interface between ecology and society. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 8(6), 284-291. DOI: 10.1890/090160
- January 18, 2011
- 07:08 PM
- 916 views
"Perceptions of Promise: Biology, Society, Art" Explores the Social Dimensions of Life Science Technologies
by Matthew C. Nisbet in Age of Engagement
Despite the important role of the arts in enabling public expression, learning, and participation relative to science, there is an unfortunate tendency to think about the relationship in terms of "two cultures" divided. This metaphor has come to dominate discourse about science and society more ...Read More... Read more »
Nisbet, M., Hixon, M., Moore, K., & Nelson, M. (2010) Four cultures: new synergies for engaging society on climate change. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 8(6), 329-331. DOI: 10.1890/1540-9295-8.6.329
- August 24, 2010
- 09:49 AM
- 1,088 views
Going Nuclear: Closing the Gap Between Radiation and Reason
by Matthew C. Nisbet in Age of Engagement
In a series of posts over at Scientific American's blog CrossCheck, John Horgan describes how several recent articles and books have prompted him to re-evaluate his views on nuclear energy. He specifically recommends Gynweth Craven's Power to Save the World, discusses John Mueller's Atomic Obsession, and describes how Wade Allison's Between Radiation and Reason has challenged his views about the risks of radiation exposure. Horgan's seminal End of Science partly inspired my research focus in gra........ Read more »
Nisbet, M. (2009) Communicating Climate Change: Why Frames Matter for Public Engagement. Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, 51(2), 12-23. DOI: 10.3200/ENVT.51.2.12-23
- August 20, 2010
- 12:32 PM
- 847 views
Study: In Communicating about Nano and GMOs, Do the Frames or the Facts Matter?
by Matthew C. Nisbet in Age of Engagement
When attempting to communicate effectively with the public about a science-related debate, which is more important, framing the message or conveying science-based facts about the topic? A forthcoming study (Word) at the Journal of Communication by Northwestern University researchers James Druckman and Toby Bolsen sheds new light on this long standing question.
As I will be highlighting at this blog, previous research consistently finds that the public typically form opinions in the absence........ Read more »
Maibach, E., Nisbet, M., Baldwin, P., Akerlof, K., & Diao, G. (2010) Reframing climate change as a public health issue: an exploratory study of public reactions. BMC Public Health, 10(1), 299. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-10-299
- August 19, 2010
- 09:06 AM
- 1,006 views
Scientist Urges "Four Culture" Partnerships on Climate Change Communication
by Matthew C. Nisbet in Age of Engagement
More than 50 years after the publication of CP Snow's seminal Two Cultures, interdisciplinary partnerships between science and other academic "cultures" are being urged once again. Today, urgency is not focused on the Cold War but rather the challenge of engaging society on climate change and other environmental problems.
In an open access article published this month at the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, I joined with several colleagues to describe the potential for partnersh........ Read more »
Nisbet, M., Hixon, M., Moore, K., & Nelson, M. (2010) Four cultures: new synergies for engaging society on climate change. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 8(6), 329-331. DOI: 10.1890/1540-9295-8.6.329
- August 18, 2010
- 11:22 AM
- 1,200 views
Can Energy Sector Workers Serve as Influential Public Ambassadors?
by Matthew C. Nisbet in Age of Engagement
Earlier today, in response to Sheril Kirshenbaum’s query at Discover’s Intersection blog, I spotlighted the key influence of opinion-leaders on energy related behavior. As a follow up, let’s take a look at a new study out this month, co-authored by John Besley, an assistant professor of Communication at the University of South Carolina (and a friend of mine from our doctoral studies together at Cornell.)
In the study appearing at the International Journal of Hydrogen Ener........ Read more »
Besley, J., & Baxter-Clemmons, S. (2010) Analysis of South Carolina hydrogen and fuel cell workers views and opinion leadership behavior: A waiting opportunity?. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 35(16), 8407-8416. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2010.06.002
Nisbet, M., & Kotcher, J. (2009) A Two-Step Flow of Influence?: Opinion-Leader Campaigns on Climate Change. Science Communication, 30(3), 328-354. DOI: 10.1177/1075547008328797
- August 18, 2010
- 07:35 AM
- 1,152 views
Market Mavens: A Two Step Flow of Influence on Energy Choices
by Matthew C. Nisbet in Age of Engagement
Over at Discover magazine’s terrific Intersection blog, Sheril Kirshenbaum asks readers: “How might we shift public attitudes to be less wasteful and save energy on a massive scale?”
A major finding from social science research is that individual behavior choices are often shaped by perceptions of what other people are doing, especially our peers and other trusted individuals. A key agent in this process are what researchers call opinion-leaders, special individuals acros........ Read more »
Nisbet, M., & Kotcher, J. (2009) A Two-Step Flow of Influence?: Opinion-Leader Campaigns on Climate Change. Science Communication, 30(3), 328-354. DOI: 10.1177/1075547008328797
topics
join us!
Do you write about peer-reviewed research in your blog? Use ResearchBlogging.org to make it easy for your readers — and others from around the world — to find your serious posts about academic research.
If you don't have a blog, you can still use our site to learn about fascinating developments in cutting-edge research from around the world.
