Science Communication and Stakeholder Expertise: Insights from Sustainability Science* |
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Authors: | Brianne Suldovsky Bridie McGreavy Laura Lindenfeld |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Communication, Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA;2. Department of Communication and Journalism, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA;3. Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, School of Journalism, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA |
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Abstract: | Communicating science is a multifaceted and complex process, particularly in sustainability science where researchers directly engage with non-academic stakeholder partners. In this insight, we explore the relationship between science communication behaviour and perceptions of stakeholder scientific expertise in a large-scale sustainability-focused research project in the Northeastern United States. We find that higher levels of perceived scientific expertise are associated with dialogic and participatory models of communication, and lower levels of perceived scientific expertise are associated with dialogic and diffusion models of communication. This work, while small in scope, highlights the utility of attending to perceptions of expertise within stakeholder engagement contexts. Implications, limitations, and opportunities for future research are discussed. |
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Keywords: | Science communication expertise stakeholder engagement sustainability science |
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