Research and other activities

Research investigations | Conferences and workshops | Advisory activities | Editorial contributions


Research

Our current research investigates four broad questions:

(1) What are various audiences currently thinking and doing about climate change? What barriers do they face with regard to civic engagement and personal behavior change? What additional resources would help people engage as citizens and change their personal behaviors? Examples of this research include:

(2) What are the most effective ways of reaching various audiences with climate change information of value to them? Examples of this research include:

(3) What information is worth knowing, and how can it be most effectively presented? Examples of this research include:

(4) What is currently being conveyed about climate change in the media, and what is its impact on viewers? Examples of this research include:


Conferences and workshops hosted

Public Attitudes about Climate Change. April 8, 2008
A workshop for climate change public opinion researchers co-hosted with National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, NASA, and the Climate Solutions Project, to identify ways of improving and advancing public opinion research on climate change.

Focus the Nation. January 29, 2008
A day-long “teach in” about climate change, hosted with other Mason organizations, intended to engage members of the Mason community in understanding and taking action on climate change.

The Public Health Response to Climate Change: Effective Health Communication and Marketing. January 8-9, 2008. A planning workshop, co-hosted with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to identify strategies for communicating the serious public health consequences of climate change.


Advisory activities

Our faculty serve or have recently served as advisors to the following organizations:


Editorial contributions

Our faculty is currently guest editing special issues on climate change communication for the following journals: