1
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Pouwels XGLV, Koffijberg H. Introducing Open Science in Teaching Health Economic Modelling. PHARMACOECONOMICS - OPEN 2024; 8:347-357. [PMID: 38236525 PMCID: PMC11058179 DOI: 10.1007/s41669-023-00469-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Open Science is gaining ground in all research fields, including health economics and outcomes research (HEOR). However, teaching Open Science is still in its infancy. This paper describes the design, implementation and evaluation of a teaching activity focusing on introducing Open Science during a Master's course during which participants have to develop a discrete event simulation. The teaching activity was organised as a series of lectures introducing different aspects of the Open Science philosophy and practices, such as good software coding practices, version control systems and reproducible research. The participants' increase in Open Science knowledge was elicited through a survey before and after the teaching innovation. After the teaching innovation, participants' knowledge of Open Science increased and they reported an improvement in Open Science-related skills, such as using a script-based statistical software, identifying and re-using open data, and collaborative script development. During the evaluation at the end of the course, the course participants mentioned that the Open Science-related content was interesting but would fit better within a course in which broader research-related content is taught. Based on this feedback, we will most likely narrow the scope of the Open-Science-related content in this course to Open Source Modelling which may better fit the scope of the course. This paper contains links to the teaching activities we developed and other resources which may be used to design teaching activities on Open Science. Herewith, we hope to inspire other teachers in including Open Science into their teaching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier G L V Pouwels
- Health Technology and Services Research, Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences, TechMed Centre, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.
| | - Hendrik Koffijberg
- Health Technology and Services Research, Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences, TechMed Centre, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
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2
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Borowiec BG. Ten simple rules for scientists engaging in science communication. PLoS Comput Biol 2023; 19:e1011251. [PMID: 37471282 PMCID: PMC10358936 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Brittney G Borowiec
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
- Freelance science writer and editor (website: www.bgborowiec.com)
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3
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Burch K, Guthman J, Gugganig M, Bronson K, Comi M, Legun K, Biltekoff C, Broad G, Brock S, Freidberg S, Baur P, Mincyte D. Social science - STEM collaborations in agriculture, food and beyond: an STSFAN manifesto. AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN VALUES 2023; 40:1-11. [PMID: 37359849 PMCID: PMC10150348 DOI: 10.1007/s10460-023-10438-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Interdisciplinary research needs innovation. As an action-oriented intervention, this Manifesto begins from the authors' experiences as social scientists working within interdisciplinary science and technology collaborations in agriculture and food. We draw from these experiences to: 1) explain what social scientists contribute to interdisciplinary agri-food tech collaborations; (2) describe barriers to substantive and meaningful collaboration; and (3) propose ways to overcome these barriers. We encourage funding bodies to develop mechanisms that ensure funded projects respect the integrity of social science expertise and incorporate its insights. We also call for the integration of social scientific questions and methods in interdisciplinary projects from the outset, and for a genuine curiosity on the part of STEM and social science researchers alike about the knowledge and skills each of us has to offer. We contend that cultivating such integration and curiosity within interdisciplinary collaborations will make them more enriching for all researchers involved, and more likely to generate socially beneficial outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karly Burch
- University of Auckland, Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand
| | | | | | | | - Matt Comi
- National Farm Medicine Center at Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, Marshfield, USA
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4
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Danylchuk AJ, Griffin LP, Ahrens R, Allen MS, Boucek RE, Brownscombe JW, Casselberry GA, Danylchuk SC, Filous A, Goldberg TL, Perez AU, Rehage JS, Santos RO, Shenker J, Wilson JK, Adams AJ, Cooke SJ. Cascading effects of climate change on recreational marine flats fishes and fisheries. ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY OF FISHES 2022; 106:381-416. [PMID: 36118617 PMCID: PMC9465673 DOI: 10.1007/s10641-022-01333-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Tropical and subtropical coastal flats are shallow regions of the marine environment at the intersection of land and sea. These regions provide myriad ecological goods and services, including recreational fisheries focused on flats-inhabiting fishes such as bonefish, tarpon, and permit. The cascading effects of climate change have the potential to negatively impact coastal flats around the globe and to reduce their ecological and economic value. In this paper, we consider how the combined effects of climate change, including extremes in temperature and precipitation regimes, sea level rise, and changes in nutrient dynamics, are causing rapid and potentially permanent changes to the structure and function of tropical and subtropical flats ecosystems. We then apply the available science on recreationally targeted fishes to reveal how these changes can cascade through layers of biological organization-from individuals, to populations, to communities-and ultimately impact the coastal systems that depend on them. We identify critical gaps in knowledge related to the extent and severity of these effects, and how such gaps influence the effectiveness of conservation, management, policy, and grassroots stewardship efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andy J. Danylchuk
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 160 Holdsworth Way, Amherst, MA 01003 USA
| | - Lucas P. Griffin
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 160 Holdsworth Way, Amherst, MA 01003 USA
| | - Robert Ahrens
- Fisheries Research and Monitoring Division, NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg 176, Honolulu, HI 96818 USA
| | - Micheal S. Allen
- Nature Coast Biological Station, School of Forest, Fisheries and Geomatics Sciences, The University of Florida, 552 First Street, Cedar Key, FL 32625 USA
| | - Ross E. Boucek
- Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, 2937 SW 27th Ave, Suite 203, Miami, FL 33133 USA
- Earth and Environment Department, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199 USA
| | - Jacob W. Brownscombe
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6 Canada
| | - Grace A. Casselberry
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 160 Holdsworth Way, Amherst, MA 01003 USA
| | - Sascha Clark Danylchuk
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 160 Holdsworth Way, Amherst, MA 01003 USA
- Keep Fish Wet, 11 Kingman Road, Amherst, MA 01002 USA
| | - Alex Filous
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 160 Holdsworth Way, Amherst, MA 01003 USA
| | - Tony L. Goldberg
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1656 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Addiel U. Perez
- Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, 2937 SW 27th Ave, Suite 203, Miami, FL 33133 USA
| | - Jennifer S. Rehage
- Earth and Environment Department, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199 USA
| | - Rolando O. Santos
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33181 USA
| | - Jonathan Shenker
- Department of Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 West University Boulevard, Melbourne, FL 32904 USA
| | - JoEllen K. Wilson
- Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, 2937 SW 27th Ave, Suite 203, Miami, FL 33133 USA
| | - Aaron J. Adams
- Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, 2937 SW 27th Ave, Suite 203, Miami, FL 33133 USA
- Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, 5600 US 1 North, Fort Pierce, FL 34946 USA
| | - Steven J. Cooke
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6 Canada
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5
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Bautista C, Alfuraiji N, Drangowska-Way A, Gangwani K, de Flamingh A, Bourne PE. Ten simple rules for improving communication among scientists. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1010130. [PMID: 35737640 PMCID: PMC9223317 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Communication is a fundamental part of scientific development and methodology. With the advancement of the internet and social networks, communication has become rapid and sometimes overwhelming, especially in science. It is important to provide scientists with useful, effective, and dynamic tools to establish and build a fluid communication framework that allows for scientific advancement. Therefore, in this article, we present advice and recommendations that can help promote and improve science communication while respecting an adequate balance in the degree of commitment toward collaborative work. We have developed 10 rules shown in increasing order of commitment that are grouped into 3 key categories: (1) speak (based on active participation); (2) join (based on joining scientific groups); and (3) assess (based on the analysis and retrospective consideration of the weaknesses and strengths). We include examples and resources that provide actionable strategies for involvement and engagement with science communication, from basic steps to more advanced, introspective, and long-term commitments. Overall, we aim to help spread science from within and encourage and engage scientists to become involved in science communication effectively and dynamically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Bautista
- Early Career Scientist Communication and Outreach Subcommittee, Genetics Society of America, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
- Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
- Regroupement Québécois de Recherche sur la Fonction, la Structure et L’ingénierie des Protéines (PROTEO), Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Données Massives (CRDM), Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Narjes Alfuraiji
- Early Career Scientist Communication and Outreach Subcommittee, Genetics Society of America, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Kerbala, Kerbala, Iraq
| | - Anna Drangowska-Way
- Early Career Scientist Communication and Outreach Subcommittee, Genetics Society of America, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Karishma Gangwani
- Early Career Scientist Communication and Outreach Subcommittee, Genetics Society of America, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Alida de Flamingh
- Early Career Scientist Communication and Outreach Subcommittee, Genetics Society of America, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Philip E. Bourne
- School of Data Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
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6
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MacLeod CJ, Brandt AJ, Dicks LV. Facilitating the wise use of experts and evidence to inform local environmental decisions. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lynn V. Dicks
- University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
- University of East Anglia Norwich UK
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7
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Ward M, Rawle F. Teaching the process of science through COVID-19 pandemic themes. BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY EDUCATION : A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 50:307-309. [PMID: 35293668 PMCID: PMC9082514 DOI: 10.1002/bmb.21616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Several predominant themes have emerged during the COVID-19 global pandemic that intersect with the nature and process of science. This paper identifies three such themes and briefly explores how they can be used as case studies and narrative cornerstones in teaching and learning. The themes include: (1) the understanding that science is cumulative and ever-changing, meaning that new findings may cause us to reconsider previous understandings; (2) the importance of citation tracking in the process of science; and (3) the need for accessible and purposeful science communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan Ward
- Department of Environmental and Life SciencesTrent UniversityPeterboroughCanada
| | - Fiona Rawle
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Toronto MississaugaMississaugaCanada
- Institute for the Study of University PedagogyUniversity of Toronto MississaugaMississaugaCanada
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8
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Santana C. Why citizen review might beat peer review at identifying pursuitworthy scientific research. STUDIES IN HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE 2022; 92:20-26. [PMID: 35104722 DOI: 10.1016/j.shpsa.2022.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In response to increasing fatigue with the failings of the peer review system, granting agencies are beginning to consider lotteries as an alternative. I argue that citizen review, in which non-scientists determine funding allocations, has advantages over both. This is particularly true when it comes to identifying which research is most pursuitworthy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Santana
- Department of Philosophy, University of Utah, United States.
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9
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Nash KL, Alexander K, Melbourne-Thomas J, Novaglio C, Sbrocchi C, Villanueva C, Pecl GT. Developing achievable alternate futures for key challenges during the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. REVIEWS IN FISH BIOLOGY AND FISHERIES 2022; 32:19-36. [PMID: 33424142 DOI: 10.22541/au.160166561.14686672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The oceans face a range of complex challenges for which the impacts on society are highly uncertain but mostly negative. Tackling these challenges is testing society's capacity to mobilise transformative action, engendering a sense of powerlessness. Envisaging positive but realistic visions of the future, and considering how current knowledge, resources, and technology could be used to achieve these futures, may lead to greater action to achieve sustainable transformations. Future Seas (www.FutureSeas2030.org) brought together researchers across career stages, Indigenous Peoples and environmental managers to develop scenarios for 12 challenges facing the oceans, leveraging interdisciplinary knowledge to improve society's capacity to purposefully shape the direction of marine social-ecological systems over the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). We describe and reflect on Future Seas, providing guidance for co-developing scenarios in interdisciplinary teams tasked with exploring ocean futures. We detail the narrative development for two futures: our current trajectory based on published evidence, and a more sustainable future, consistent with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, which is technically achievable using existing and emerging knowledge. Presentation of Business-as-usual and More Sustainable futures-together-allows communication of both trajectories, whilst also highlighting achievable, sustainable versions of the future. The advantages of the interdisciplinary approach taken include: (1) integrating different perspectives on solutions, (2) capacity to explore interactions between Life Under Water (Goal 14) and other SDGs, and (3) cross-disciplinary learning. This approach allowed participants to conceptualise shared visions of the future and co-design transformative pathways to achieving those futures. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION SI The online version contains supplementary material available at (10.1007/s11160-020-09629-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsty L Nash
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
| | - Karen Alexander
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
| | - Jess Melbourne-Thomas
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Castray Esplanade, Battery Point, TAS 7004 Australia
| | - Camilla Novaglio
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Castray Esplanade, Battery Point, TAS 7004 Australia
| | - Carla Sbrocchi
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
- Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, 2007 Australia
| | - Cecilia Villanueva
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
| | - Gretta T Pecl
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
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10
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Nash KL, Alexander K, Melbourne-Thomas J, Novaglio C, Sbrocchi C, Villanueva C, Pecl GT. Developing achievable alternate futures for key challenges during the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. REVIEWS IN FISH BIOLOGY AND FISHERIES 2022; 32:19-36. [PMID: 33424142 PMCID: PMC7778847 DOI: 10.1007/s11160-020-09629-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The oceans face a range of complex challenges for which the impacts on society are highly uncertain but mostly negative. Tackling these challenges is testing society's capacity to mobilise transformative action, engendering a sense of powerlessness. Envisaging positive but realistic visions of the future, and considering how current knowledge, resources, and technology could be used to achieve these futures, may lead to greater action to achieve sustainable transformations. Future Seas (www.FutureSeas2030.org) brought together researchers across career stages, Indigenous Peoples and environmental managers to develop scenarios for 12 challenges facing the oceans, leveraging interdisciplinary knowledge to improve society's capacity to purposefully shape the direction of marine social-ecological systems over the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). We describe and reflect on Future Seas, providing guidance for co-developing scenarios in interdisciplinary teams tasked with exploring ocean futures. We detail the narrative development for two futures: our current trajectory based on published evidence, and a more sustainable future, consistent with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, which is technically achievable using existing and emerging knowledge. Presentation of Business-as-usual and More Sustainable futures-together-allows communication of both trajectories, whilst also highlighting achievable, sustainable versions of the future. The advantages of the interdisciplinary approach taken include: (1) integrating different perspectives on solutions, (2) capacity to explore interactions between Life Under Water (Goal 14) and other SDGs, and (3) cross-disciplinary learning. This approach allowed participants to conceptualise shared visions of the future and co-design transformative pathways to achieving those futures. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION SI The online version contains supplementary material available at (10.1007/s11160-020-09629-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsty L. Nash
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
| | - Karen Alexander
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
| | - Jess Melbourne-Thomas
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Castray Esplanade, Battery Point, TAS 7004 Australia
| | - Camilla Novaglio
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Castray Esplanade, Battery Point, TAS 7004 Australia
| | - Carla Sbrocchi
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
- Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, 2007 Australia
| | - Cecilia Villanueva
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
| | - Gretta T. Pecl
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
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11
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Bodner K, Rauen Firkowski C, Bennett JR, Brookson C, Dietze M, Green S, Hughes J, Kerr J, Kunegel‐Lion M, Leroux SJ, McIntire E, Molnár PK, Simpkins C, Tekwa E, Watts A, Fortin M. Bridging the divide between ecological forecasts and environmental decision making. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Korryn Bodner
- Department of Ecology and Evolution University of Toronto Toronto Ontario Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Toronto Scarborough Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Carina Rauen Firkowski
- Department of Ecology and Evolution University of Toronto Toronto Ontario Canada
- Department of Biology McGill University Montreal Quebec Canada
| | | | - Cole Brookson
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
| | - Michael Dietze
- Department of Earth & Environment Boston University Boston Massachusetts USA
| | - Stephanie Green
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
| | - Josie Hughes
- National Wildlife Research Centre Environment and Climate Change Canada Ottawa Ontario Canada
| | - Jeremy Kerr
- Department of Biology University of Ottawa Ottawa Ontario Canada
| | - Mélodie Kunegel‐Lion
- Canadian Forest Service Northern Forestry Centre Natural Resources Canada Edmonton Alberta Canada
| | - Shawn J. Leroux
- Department of Biology Memorial University of Newfoundland St. John’s Newfoundland Canada
| | - Eliot McIntire
- Canadian Forest Service Pacific Forestry Centre Natural Resources Canada Victoria British Columbia Canada
- Faculty of Forestry Forest Resources Management University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | - Péter K. Molnár
- Department of Ecology and Evolution University of Toronto Toronto Ontario Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Toronto Scarborough Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Craig Simpkins
- School of Environment University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
- Department of Biology Wilfrid Laurier University Waterloo Ontario Canada
- Department of Ecological Modelling Georg‐August University of Goettingen Goettingen Germany
| | - Edward Tekwa
- Department of Zoology University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | | | - Marie‐Josée Fortin
- Department of Ecology and Evolution University of Toronto Toronto Ontario Canada
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12
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Wilson MJ, Perkin EK. Going rogue: what scientists can learn about Twitter communication from "alt" government accounts. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12407. [PMID: 34760391 PMCID: PMC8570174 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The inauguration of President Trump in the United States led to the active restriction of science communication from federal agencies, resulting in the creation of many unofficial "alt" Twitter accounts to maintain communication. Alt accounts had many followers (e.g., 15 accounts had > 100,000) and received a large amount of media attention, making them ideal for better understanding how differences in messaging can affect public engagement with science on microblogging platforms. We analyzed tweets produced by alt and corresponding official agency accounts to compare the two groups and determine if specific features of a tweet made them more likely to be retweeted or liked to help the average scientist potentially reach a broader audience on Twitter. We found adding links, images, hashtags, and mentions, as well as expressing angry and annoying sentiments all increased retweets and likes. Evidence-based terms such as "peer-review" had high retweet rates but linking directly to peer-reviewed publications decreased attention compared to popular science websites. Word choice and attention did not reflect official or alt account types, indicating topic is more important than source. The number of tweets generated and attention received by alt accounts has decreased since their creation, demonstrating the importance of timeliness in science communication on social media. Together our results show potential pathways for scientists to increase efficacy in Twitter communications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Wilson
- Freshwater Research Institute, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA, United States of America
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13
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Filming the Historical Geography: Story from the Realm of Maps in Regensburg. ISPRS INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEO-INFORMATION 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/ijgi10110764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Research on a specific topic requires the individualized cartographic methods of work that may be defined as the Realm of Maps. The double dimensionality in the Realm of Maps is understood here as a physical place—a studio workroom—and as a research method. In this study, we focused on the way of presenting a research method designed to study the topic of historico-geographical space in the form of a short film story. The second purpose is to indicate the legitimacy of combining two dimensions of working with maps, the real one and the virtual one, to be able to collect cartographic and descriptive sources in one scientific center. Our research on the Story from the Realm of Maps in Regensburg: ‘People Movement in Southeast Europe’ included a concept adopted by cartographical, historical, and geographical sources; the construction of a studio workroom; a script draft; individual sequences of the story in different types of media; editing the video, along with publishing it on an online video-sharing platform. We used as many different types of geomedia as possible, which, on the one hand, boosts the attractiveness of the film and, on the other, may hamper the proper perception of the main film plot. Finally, we recommend principles of map design for the film, with analog maps and maps created specifically for the short film, published using online video-sharing platforms.
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14
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Turner L, Munsie M, Levine AD, Ikonomou L. Ethical issues and public communication in the development of cell-based treatments for COVID-19: Lessons from the pandemic. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:2567-2576. [PMID: 34653406 PMCID: PMC8516140 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The significant morbidity and mortality of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) prompted a global race to develop new therapies. These include interventions using cell- or cell-derived products, several of which are being tested in well-designed, properly controlled clinical trials. Yet, the search for cell-based COVID-19 treatments has also been fraught with hyperbolic claims; flouting of crucial regulatory, scientific, and ethical norms; and distorted communication of research findings. In this paper, we critically examine ethical issues and public communication challenges related to the development of cell-based therapeutics for COVID-19. Drawing on the lessons learned from this ongoing process, we argue against the rushed development of cell-based interventions. We conclude by outlining ways to improve the ethical conduct of cell-based clinical investigations and public communication of therapeutic claims.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh Turner
- Department of Health, Society, and Behavior, Program in Public Health and Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Megan Munsie
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Aaron D Levine
- School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Laertis Ikonomou
- Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, 619 Biomedical Research Building (BRB), South Campus, Buffalo, NY 14214-8024, USA.
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15
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Jakopak RP, Western J, Monteith KL. Embracing Complexity and Context to Improve Science Communication. J Wildl Manage 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rhiannon P. Jakopak
- Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Avenue Laramie WY 82071 USA
| | - Jessica Western
- Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Avenue Laramie WY 82071 USA
| | - Kevin L. Monteith
- Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Avenue Laramie WY 82071 USA
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16
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Amorim CEG, Dasari M, Durgavich L, Hinde K, Kissel M, Lewton KL, Loewen T. Integrative approaches to dispersing science: A case study of March Mammal Madness. Am J Hum Biol 2021; 34 Suppl 1:e23659. [PMID: 34358377 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Public engagement is increasingly viewed as an important pillar of scientific scholarship. For early career and established scholars, navigating the mosaic landscape of public education and science communication, noted for rapid "ecological" succession, can be daunting. Moreover, academics are characterized by diverse skills, motivations, values, positionalities, and temperaments that may differentially incline individuals to particular public translation activities. METHODS Here we briefly contextualize engagement activities within a scholarly portfolio, describe the use of one public education program-March Mammal Madness (MMM)- to highlight approaches to science communication, and explore essential elements and practical considerations for creating and sustaining outreach pursuits in tandem with other scholarly activities. RESULTS MMM, an annual simulated tournament of living and fossil animal taxa, has reached hundreds of thousands of learners since 2013. This program has provided a platform to communicate research findings from biology and anthropology and showcase numerous scholars in these fields. MMM has leveraged tournament devices to intentionally address topics of climate change, capitalist environmental degradation, academic sexism, and racist settler-colonialism. The tournament, however, has also perpetuated implicit biases that need disrupting. CONCLUSIONS By embracing reflexive, self-interrogative, and growth attitudes, the tournament organizers iteratively refine and improve this public science education program to better align our activities with our values and goals. Our experiences with MMM suggest that dispersing science is most sustainable when we combine ancestral adaptations for cooperation, community, and storytelling with good-natured competition in the context of shared experiences and shared values.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mauna Dasari
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Lara Durgavich
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Katie Hinde
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Marc Kissel
- Department of Anthropology, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kristi L Lewton
- Department of Integrative Anatomical Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Tisa Loewen
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
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17
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Wood E, Ambrosini A, Wood K, Demetrio C, O'Malley WC, Stratton A, Elbroch LM. Online Noise as Illustrated by Pitfalls and Biogeography Associated With Common Names for Puma concolor. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2021.692607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Noise is the non-target search results that people encounter when searching for a particular topic of interest; it is also the cloud of distracting data that can obscure or deflect conservation communication. Online noise associated with large carnivores is particularly dense because their defining characteristics make them salient. Mountain lions (Puma concolor) exemplify noise associated with multiple vernaculars for a species in the crosshairs of conservation conundrums. We compared internet search results, Google Trends reflecting topic interest, use in science publications and sentiment in print and online media for P. concolor's most frequent vernacular names, “mountain lion,” “cougar,” “puma” and “Florida panther.” Puma and panther exhibited greater noise and salience than cougar or mountain lion, but, results for mountain lion, followed by cougar, yielded the highest biological relevance. Online sentiment negatively correlated with biological relevance, with positive sentiment highest for the noisiest vernaculars, puma and panther. As conservation practitioners, we must recognize that public outreach is part of our scientific agenda and be conscious of crafting communication that reaches and resonates with our intended audiences.
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18
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Priestley RK, Heine Z, Milfont TL. Public understanding of climate change-related sea-level rise. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254348. [PMID: 34242339 PMCID: PMC8270426 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Sea-level rise resulting from climate change is impacting coasts around the planet. There is strong scientific consensus about the amount of sea-level rise to 2050 (0.24–0.32 m) and a range of projections to 2100, which vary depending on the approach used and the mitigation measures taken to reduce carbon emissions. Despite this strong scientific consensus regarding the reality of climate change-related sea-level rise, and the associated need to engage publics in adaptation and mitigation efforts, there is a lack of empirical evidence regarding people’s understanding of the issue. Here we investigate public understanding of the amount, rate and causes of sea-level rise. Data from a representative sample of New Zealand adults showed a suprising tendency for the public to overestimate the scientifically plausible amount of sea-level rise by 2100 and to identify melting sea ice as its primary causal mechanism. These findings will be valuable for scientists communicating about sea-level rise, communicators seeking to engage publics on the issue of sea-level rise, and media reporting on sea-level rise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca K. Priestley
- Centre for Science in Society, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
- * E-mail:
| | - Zoë Heine
- Centre for Science in Society, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
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19
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Hinde K, Amorim CEG, Brokaw AF, Burt N, Casillas MC, Chen A, Chestnut T, Connors PK, Dasari M, Ditelberg CF, Dietrick J, Drew J, Durgavich L, Easterling B, Henning C, Hilborn A, Karlsson EK, Kissel M, Kobylecky J, Krell J, Lee DN, Lesciotto KM, Lewton KL, Light JE, Martin J, Murphy A, Nickley W, Núñez-de la Mora A, Pellicer O, Pellicer V, Perry AM, Schuttler SG, Stone AC, Tanis B, Weber J, Wilson M, Willcocks E, Anderson CN. March Mammal Madness and the power of narrative in science outreach. eLife 2021; 10:e65066. [PMID: 33616530 PMCID: PMC7899649 DOI: 10.7554/elife.65066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
March Mammal Madness is a science outreach project that, over the course of several weeks in March, reaches hundreds of thousands of people in the United States every year. We combine four approaches to science outreach - gamification, social media platforms, community event(s), and creative products - to run a simulated tournament in which 64 animals compete to become the tournament champion. While the encounters between the animals are hypothetical, the outcomes rely on empirical evidence from the scientific literature. Players select their favored combatants beforehand, and during the tournament scientists translate the academic literature into gripping "play-by-play" narration on social media. To date ~1100 scholarly works, covering almost 400 taxa, have been transformed into science stories. March Mammal Madness is most typically used by high-school educators teaching life sciences, and we estimate that our materials reached ~1% of high-school students in the United States in 2019. Here we document the intentional design, public engagement, and magnitude of reach of the project. We further explain how human psychological and cognitive adaptations for shared experiences, social learning, narrative, and imagery contribute to the widespread use of March Mammal Madness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Hinde
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, the Center for Evolution and Medicine, and the School of Sustainability, Arizona State UniversityTempeUnited States
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Carlos Eduardo G Amorim
- Department of Biology, California State University NorthridgeNorthridgeUnited States
- Department of Computational Biology, University of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Alyson F Brokaw
- Interdisciplinary Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biology, Texas A&M UniversityCollege StationUnited States
| | - Nicole Burt
- Department of Human Health and Evolutionary Medicine, Cleveland Museum of Natural HistoryClevelandUnited States
| | | | - Albert Chen
- Milner Centre for Evolution, University of BathBathUnited Kingdom
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Tara Chestnut
- National Park ServiceMount Rainier National ParkUnited States
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State UniversityCorvallisUnited States
| | - Patrice K Connors
- Department of Biological Sciences, Colorado Mesa UniversityGrand JunctionUnited States
| | - Mauna Dasari
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre DameNotre DameUnited States
| | | | | | - Josh Drew
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia UniversityNew YorkUnited States
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural HistorySyracuseUnited States
- Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, SUNY College of Environmental Science and ForestrySyracuseUnited States
| | - Lara Durgavich
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
- Department of Anthropology, Boston UniversityBostonUnited States
- Department of Anthropology, Tufts UniversityMedfordUnited States
| | | | | | - Anne Hilborn
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California RiversideRiversideUnited States
| | - Elinor K Karlsson
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
- Broad Institute of MIT and HarvardCambridgeUnited States
| | - Marc Kissel
- Department of Anthropology, Appalachian State UniversityBooneUnited States
- Department of Anthropology, University of Notre DameNotre DameUnited States
| | | | - Jason Krell
- Center for Science and Imagination, Arizona State UniversityTempeUnited States
| | - Danielle N Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleEdwardsvilleUnited States
| | - Kate M Lesciotto
- Department of Clinical Anatomy, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Sam Houston State UniversityHuntsvilleUnited States
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State UniversityState CollegeUnited States
| | - Kristi L Lewton
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
- Department of Integrative Anatomical Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesUnited States
- Department of Mammalogy, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles CountyLos AngelesUnited States
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University School of MedicineBostonUnited States
| | - Jessica E Light
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, the Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections, and the Interdisciplinary Program in Ecology and Evolution, Texas A&M UniversityCollege StationUnited States
| | - Jessica Martin
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State UniversityTempeUnited States
| | - Asia Murphy
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkUnited States
| | - William Nickley
- Department of Design, The Ohio State UniversityColumbusUnited States
| | | | | | | | - Anali Maughan Perry
- Engagement & Learning Services, ASU Library, Arizona State UniversityTempeUnited States
| | | | - Anne C Stone
- Human Evolution and Social Change, the Center for Evolution, and Medicine, and the Institute of Human Origins, Arizona State UniversityTempeUnited States
| | - Brian Tanis
- Department of Biology, Oregon State University-CascadesBendUnited States
| | - Jesse Weber
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadisonUnited States
| | - Melissa Wilson
- School of Life Sciences and the Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State UniversityTempeUnited States
| | - Emma Willcocks
- Department of Biology, Brown UniversityProvidenceUnited States
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20
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Copiello S. Other than detecting impact in advance, alternative metrics could act as early warning signs of retractions: tentative findings of a study into the papers retracted by PLoS ONE. Scientometrics 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s11192-020-03698-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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21
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Altman K, Yelton B, Hart Z, Carson M, Schandera L, Kelsey RH, Porter DE, Friedman DB. "You Gotta Choose Your Words Carefully": Findings from Interviews with Environmental Health Scientists about Their Research Translation Perceptions and Training Needs. JOURNAL OF HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2020; 25:454-462. [PMID: 32631135 PMCID: PMC7416540 DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2020.1785060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Scientists are trained to communicate research in a technical manner but often lack the skills to communicate scientific findings to the general public. Effective communication and research translation are increasingly important competencies for researchers and have broader benefits to scientists and society. The aim of the study was to assess the perceptions, experiences, and training needs relative to science communication and research translation of project investigators associated with the Center for Oceans and Human Health and Climate Change Interactions at the University of South Carolina. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with the Center's investigators. Interview transcripts were coded and analyzed for emergent themes related to science communication and research translation. Investigator descriptions of their research varied in length, and researchers mentioned multiple target audiences. Most investigators preferred in-person and written communication channels and felt "comfortable" communicating uncertain findings to the public despite no formal science communication training. Investigators suggested training focused on plain language development for target communities, assessment of audience needs, and formatting research findings for various groups. Working with multiple target audiences that have preferred communication channels necessitates a comprehensive approach to science communication training to enhance two-way communication between scientists and stakeholders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katya Altman
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Brooks Yelton
- Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Zac Hart
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Margaret Carson
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Louisa Schandera
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - R. Heath Kelsey
- University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD, USA
- NIEHS Center for Oceans and Human Health and Climate Change Interactions, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Dwayne E. Porter
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- NIEHS Center for Oceans and Human Health and Climate Change Interactions, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Daniela B. Friedman
- Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- NIEHS Center for Oceans and Human Health and Climate Change Interactions, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
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22
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Lennox RJ, Harcourt R, Bennett JR, Davies A, Ford AT, Frey RM, Hayward MW, Hussey NE, Iverson SJ, Kays R, Kessel ST, Mcmahon C, Muelbert M, Murray TS, Nguyen VM, Pye JD, Roche DG, Whoriskey FG, Young N, Cooke SJ. A Novel Framework to Protect Animal Data in a World of Ecosurveillance. Bioscience 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biaa035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Surveillance of animal movements using electronic tags (i.e., biotelemetry) has emerged as an essential tool for both basic and applied ecological research and monitoring. Advances in animal tracking are occurring simultaneously with changes to technology, in an evolving global scientific culture that increasingly promotes data sharing and transparency. However, there is a risk that misuse of biotelemetry data could increase the vulnerability of animals to human disturbance or exploitation. For the most part, telemetry data security is not a danger to animals or their ecosystems, but for some high-risk cases, as with species’ with high economic value or at-risk populations, available knowledge of their movements may promote active disturbance or worse, potential poaching. We suggest that when designing animal tracking studies it is incumbent on scientists to consider the vulnerability of their study animals to risks arising from the implementation of the proposed program, and to take preventative measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Lennox
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Laboratory for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, part of the Norwegian Research Centre (NORCE), Bergen, Norway
| | - Robert Harcourt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Joseph R Bennett
- Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science and the Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alasdair Davies
- Conservation Technology Unit of the Zoological Society of London, London, England
| | - Adam T Ford
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Remo M Frey
- Department of Management, Technology, and Economics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Matt W Hayward
- Centre for Conservation Ecology, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa, with the College of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom, and with the School of Environmental and Life Sciences, the University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nigel E Hussey
- Department of Biological Sciences, the University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sara J Iverson
- Ocean Tracking Network, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Roland Kays
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, and with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, both in Raleigh, North Carolina
| | - Steven T Kessel
- Daniel P. Haerther Center for Conservation and Research, the John G. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Clive Mcmahon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Monica Muelbert
- Instituto de Oceanografia, Rio Grande, Rio Grande de Sul, Brazil
| | - Taryn S Murray
- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Grahamstown, South Africa
| | - Vivian M Nguyen
- Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science and the Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jonathan D Pye
- Ocean Tracking Network, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Dominique G Roche
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Biology, the University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Frederick G Whoriskey
- Ocean Tracking Network, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Nathan Young
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Steven J Cooke
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science and the Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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23
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Lennox RJ, Veríssimo D, Twardek WM, Davis CR, Jarić I. Sentiment analysis as a measure of conservation culture in scientific literature. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2020; 34:462-471. [PMID: 31379018 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Culturomics is emerging as an important field within science, as a way to measure attitudes and beliefs and their dynamics across time and space via quantitative analysis of digitized data from literature, news, film, social media, and more. Sentiment analysis is a culturomics tool that, within the last decade, has provided a means to quantify the polarity of attitudes expressed within various media. Conservation science is a crisis discipline; therefore, accurate and effective communication are paramount. We investigated how conservation scientists communicate their findings through scientific journal articles. We analyzed 15,001 abstracts from articles published from 1998 to 2017 in 6 conservation-focused journals selected based on indexing in scientific databases. Articles were categorized by year, focal taxa, and the conservation status of the focal species. We calculated mean sentiment score for each abstract (mean adjusted z score) based on 4 lexicons (Jockers-Rinker, National Research Council, Bing, and AFINN). We found a significant positive annual trend in the sentiment scores of articles. We also observed a significant trend toward increasing negativity along the spectrum of conservation status categories (i.e., from least concern to extinct). There were some clear differences in the sentiments with which research on different taxa was reported, however. For example, abstracts mentioning lobe finned fishes tended to have high sentiment scores, which could be related to the rediscovery of the coelacanth driving a positive narrative. Contrastingly, abstracts mentioning elasmobranchs had low scores, possibly reflecting the negative sentiment score associated with the word shark. Sentiment analysis has applications in science, especially as it pertains to conservation psychology, and we suggest a new science-based lexicon be developed specifically for the field of conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Lennox
- NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Laboratory for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Nygårdsgaten 112, Bergen, 5008, Norway
| | - Diogo Veríssimo
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SZ, U.K
- Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, 34 Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BD, U.K
- Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, 15600 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA, 92027, U.S.A
| | - William M Twardek
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Colin R Davis
- Insilicor Analytics, 98 Caroline Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 0S9, Canada
| | - Ivan Jarić
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, Na Sádkách 702/7, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, Department of Ecosystem Biology, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31a, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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24
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Copiello S. Digital multimedia tools, research impact, stated and revealed preferences: a rejoinder on the issue of video abstracts. Scientometrics 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s11192-020-03370-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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25
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Murchie KJ, Diomede D. Fundamentals of graphic design—essential tools for effective visual science communication. Facets (Ott) 2020. [DOI: 10.1139/facets-2018-0049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Guidance on improving the visual aspects of science communication range from “recipe”-style instructions to hyper-focused aspects of data visualization. Currently lacking in the peer-reviewed literature is a primer in graphic design tailored to a high-level overview of basic design principles and associated jargon related to layout, imagery, typeface, and colour. We illustrate why these aspects are important to effective communication. Further, we provide considerations on when to solicit professional assistance and what to expect when working with graphic designers. Having the fundamental principles of good design in your toolbox facilitates the production of effective visual communication related to your research and fruitful scientist–designer collaborations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen J. Murchie
- Daniel P. Haerther Center for Conservation and Research, John G. Shedd Aquarium, 1200 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, USA
| | - Dylan Diomede
- Diomedesign, 563 Sunset Ave., West Chicago, IL 60185, USA
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26
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Sopinka NM, Coristine LE, DeRosa MC, Rochman CM, Owens BL, Cooke SJ. Envisioning the scientific paper of the future. Facets (Ott) 2020. [DOI: 10.1139/facets-2019-0012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Consider for a moment the rate of advancement in the scientific understanding of DNA. It is formidable; from Fredrich Miescher’s nuclein extraction in the 1860s to Rosalind Franklin’s double helix X-ray in the 1950s to revolutionary next-generation sequencing in the late 2000s. Now consider the scientific paper, the medium used to describe and publish these advances. How is the scientific paper advancing to meet the needs of those who generate and use scientific information? We review four essential qualities for the scientific paper of the future: ( i) a robust source of trustworthy information that remains peer reviewed and is ( ii) communicated to diverse users in diverse ways, ( iii) open access, and ( iv) has a measurable impact beyond Impact Factor. Since its inception, scientific literature has proliferated. We discuss the continuation and expansion of practices already in place including: freely accessible data and analytical code, living research and reviews, changes to peer review to improve representation of under-represented groups, plain language summaries, preprint servers, evidence-informed decision-making, and altmetrics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie M. Sopinka
- Canadian Science Publishing, 65 Auriga Drive, Suite 203, Ottawa, ON K2E 7W6, Canada
| | - Laura E. Coristine
- Department of Biology, The University of British Columbia—Okanagan Campus, 1177 Research Road, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Maria C. DeRosa
- Department of Chemistry, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Chelsea M. Rochman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada
| | | | - Steven J. Cooke
- Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
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Hays GC, Bailey H, Bograd SJ, Bowen WD, Campagna C, Carmichael RH, Casale P, Chiaradia A, Costa DP, Cuevas E, Nico de Bruyn PJ, Dias MP, Duarte CM, Dunn DC, Dutton PH, Esteban N, Friedlaender A, Goetz KT, Godley BJ, Halpin PN, Hamann M, Hammerschlag N, Harcourt R, Harrison AL, Hazen EL, Heupel MR, Hoyt E, Humphries NE, Kot CY, Lea JSE, Marsh H, Maxwell SM, McMahon CR, Notarbartolo di Sciara G, Palacios DM, Phillips RA, Righton D, Schofield G, Seminoff JA, Simpfendorfer CA, Sims DW, Takahashi A, Tetley MJ, Thums M, Trathan PN, Villegas-Amtmann S, Wells RS, Whiting SD, Wildermann NE, Sequeira AMM. Translating Marine Animal Tracking Data into Conservation Policy and Management. Trends Ecol Evol 2019; 34:459-473. [PMID: 30879872 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2019.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Revised: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
There have been efforts around the globe to track individuals of many marine species and assess their movements and distribution, with the putative goal of supporting their conservation and management. Determining whether, and how, tracking data have been successfully applied to address real-world conservation issues is, however, difficult. Here, we compile a broad range of case studies from diverse marine taxa to show how tracking data have helped inform conservation policy and management, including reductions in fisheries bycatch and vessel strikes, and the design and administration of marine protected areas and important habitats. Using these examples, we highlight pathways through which the past and future investment in collecting animal tracking data might be better used to achieve tangible conservation benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Helen Bailey
- Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Solomons, MD 20688, USA
| | - Steven J Bograd
- NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Environmental Research Division, Monterey, CA 93940, USA
| | - W Don Bowen
- Population Ecology Division, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4A2, Canada
| | - Claudio Campagna
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Marine Program, Buenos Aires, 1414 Argentina
| | - Ruth H Carmichael
- University Programs, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, AL 36528, USA; Department of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Paolo Casale
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Andre Chiaradia
- Conservation Department, Phillip Island, Nature Parks, Victoria, Australia
| | - Daniel P Costa
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - Eduardo Cuevas
- CONACYT - Research Center of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Universidad Autonoma del Carmen, Campeche 24180, Mexico; Pronatura Peninsula de Yucatan, Yucatan 97205, Mexico
| | - P J Nico de Bruyn
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
| | - Maria P Dias
- BirdLife International, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK; MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Center, ISPA - Instituto Universitário, 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carlos M Duarte
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Daniel C Dunn
- Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Peter H Dutton
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Nicole Esteban
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, UK
| | - Ari Friedlaender
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA; Institute for Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 965060, USA
| | - Kimberly T Goetz
- National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Ltd (NIWA),Greta Point, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Brendan J Godley
- Marine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn TR10 9EZ, UK
| | - Patrick N Halpin
- Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Mark Hamann
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Neil Hammerschlag
- Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science, Abess Center for Ecosystem Science & Policy, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA
| | - Robert Harcourt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Autumn-Lynn Harrison
- Migratory Bird Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC 20008, USA
| | - Elliott L Hazen
- NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Environmental Research Division, Monterey, CA 93940, USA
| | - Michelle R Heupel
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
| | - Erich Hoyt
- Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Bridport, Dorset, UK; IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, Gland, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas E Humphries
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Connie Y Kot
- Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - James S E Lea
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Helene Marsh
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Sara M Maxwell
- School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, University of Washington, Bothell Campus, Bothell, WA 98011, USA
| | - Clive R McMahon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; Ecology and Biodiversity Centre, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7004, Australia; Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, NSW 2088, Australia
| | - Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara
- Tethys Research Institute, 20121 Milano, Italy; IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, Gland, Switzerland
| | - Daniel M Palacios
- Marine Mammal Institute and Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Newport, OR 97365, USA
| | - Richard A Phillips
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
| | - David Righton
- Cefas Laboratory, Suffolk, NR33 0HT, UK; School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Gail Schofield
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, E14NS, London, UK
| | - Jeffrey A Seminoff
- Marine Turtle Ecology and Assessment Program, NOAA-Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Colin A Simpfendorfer
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - David W Sims
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK; Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK; Centre for Biological Sciences, Building 85, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Akinori Takahashi
- National Institute of Polar Research, Tachikawa, Tokyo 190-8518, Japan
| | - Michael J Tetley
- IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, Gland, Switzerland
| | - Michele Thums
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre (M096), University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Philip N Trathan
- IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, Gland, Switzerland
| | - Stella Villegas-Amtmann
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - Randall S Wells
- Chicago Zoological Society's Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, c/o Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL 34236, USA
| | - Scott D Whiting
- Marine Science Program, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions, Kensington, WA 6151, Australia
| | - Natalie E Wildermann
- Marine Turtle Research, Ecology and Conservation Group, Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric, Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4320, USA
| | - Ana M M Sequeira
- IOMRC and The University of Western Australia Oceans Institute, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
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Moore JW, Nowlan L, Olszynski M, Jacob AL, Favaro B, Collins L, Williams-Davidson GTL, Weitz J. Towards linking environmental law and science. Facets (Ott) 2018. [DOI: 10.1139/facets-2017-0106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Gaps between environmental science and environmental law may undermine sound environmental decision-making. We link perspectives and insights from science and law to highlight opportunities and challenges at the environmental science–law interface. The objectives of this paper are to assist scientists who wish to conduct and communicate science that informs environmental statutes, regulations, and associated operational policies (OPs), and to ensure the environmental lawyers (and others) working to ensure that these statutes, regulations, and OPs are appropriately informed by scientific evidence. We provide a conceptual model of how different kinds of science-based activities can feed into legislative and policy cycles, ranging from actionable science that can inform decision-making windows to retrospective analyses that can inform future regulations. We identify a series of major gaps and barriers that challenge the successful linking of environmental science and law. These include (1) the different time frames for science and law, (2) the different standards of proof for scientific and legal (un)certainty, (3) the need for effective scientific communication, (4) the multijurisdictional (federal, provincial, and Indigenous) nature of environmental law, and (5) the different ethical obligations of law and science. Addressing these challenges calls for bidirectional learning among scientists and lawyers and more intentional collaborations at the law–science interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan W. Moore
- Earth to Ocean Research Group, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Linda Nowlan
- West Coast Environmental Law, Vancouver, BC V9A 3N6, Canada
| | - Martin Olszynski
- Faculty of Law, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Aerin L. Jacob
- Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative and Liber Ero Fellowship Program, Canmore, AB T1W 1P6, Canada
| | - Brett Favaro
- Fisheries and Marine Institute, Memorial University, St. John’s, NL A1C 5R3, Canada
| | - Lynda Collins
- Faculty of Law, Centre for Environmental Law and Global Sustainability, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | | | - Jill Weitz
- Salmon Beyond Borders, Juneau, AK 99801, USA
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Lamb CT, Gilbert SL, Ford AT. Tweet success? Scientific communication correlates with increased citations in Ecology and Conservation. PeerJ 2018; 6:e4564. [PMID: 29666750 PMCID: PMC5899883 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Science communication is seen as critical for the disciplines of ecology and conservation, where research products are often used to shape policy and decision making. Scientists are increasing their online media communication, via social media and news. Such media engagement has been thought to influence or predict traditional metrics of scholarship, such as citation rates. Here, we measure the association between citation rates and the Altmetric Attention Score—an indicator of the amount and reach of the attention an article has received—along with other forms of bibliometric performance (year published, journal impact factor, and article type). We found that Attention Score was positively correlated with citation rates. However, in recent years, we detected increasing media exposure did not relate to the equivalent citations as in earlier years; signalling a diminishing return on investment. Citations correlated with journal impact factors up to ∼13, but then plateaued, demonstrating that maximizing citations does not require publishing in the highest-impact journals. We conclude that ecology and conservation researchers can increase exposure of their research through social media engagement and, simultaneously, enhance their performance under traditional measures of scholarly activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clayton T Lamb
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sophie L Gilbert
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States of America
| | - Adam T Ford
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
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Ponzio NM, Alder J, Nucci M, Dannenfelser D, Hilton H, Linardopoulos N, Lutz C. Learning Science Communication Skills Using Improvisation, Video Recordings, and Practice, Practice, Practice. JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY & BIOLOGY EDUCATION 2018; 19:19.1.15. [PMID: 29904514 PMCID: PMC5969400 DOI: 10.1128/jmbe.v19i1.1433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Doctoral students in science disciplines spend countless hours learning how to conduct cutting-edge research but very little time learning to communicate the nature and significance of their science to people outside their field. To narrow this disparity, we created an unusual course titled Communicating Science for doctoral science trainees at Rutgers University. Our goal was to help students develop an advanced ability to communicate their research clearly and accurately and to emphasize its value and significance to diverse audiences. Course design included classroom instruction supplemented with improvisation, video recordings, and ample opportunity for students to practice and receive immediate, constructive feedback in a supportive environment. A multidisciplinary faculty with expertise in science, education, communication, and theater arts taught this course. PhD students came from diverse scientific disciplines, ranging from biology and chemistry to civil engineering. Students also completed a capstone project in which they worked with a professional in the academic or private sector to explore a possible career aspiration. Assessment was in the form of feedback on students' oral and poster presentations, and written abstracts about their research. Student evaluations and comments about course format and content were mostly positive and also provided input for ways to improve the course. We discovered that the diversity of scientific backgrounds among our students enhanced their ability to learn how to communicate their science to others outside their disciplines. We are leveraging the success of our initial course offering to reach other student and faculty groups at Rutgers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas M. Ponzio
- Department of Pathology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and Rutgers School of Graduate Studies, Newark, NJ 07101
| | - Janet Alder
- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Rutgers School of Graduate Studies, Piscataway, NJ 08854
| | - Mary Nucci
- Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
| | - David Dannenfelser
- Theater Arts program – Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
| | | | | | - Carol Lutz
- Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and Rutgers School of Graduate Studies, Newark, NJ 07101
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Abstract
The aim of this special issue on science communication is to inspire and help scientists who are taking part or want to take part in science communication and engage with the wider public, clinicians, other scientists or policy makers. For this, some articles provide concise and accessible advice to individual scientists, science networks, or learned societies on how to communicate effectively; others share rationales, objectives and aims, experiences, implementation strategies and resources derived from existing long-term science communication initiatives. Although this issue is primarily addressing scientists working in the field of biomedical research, much of it similarly applies to scientists from other disciplines. Furthermore, we hope that this issue will also be used as a helpful resource by academic science communicators and social scientists, as a collection that highlights some of the major communication challenges that the biomedical sciences face, and which provides interesting case studies of initiatives that use a breadth of strategies to address these challenges. In this editorial, we first discuss why we should communicate our science and contemplate some of the different approaches, aspirations and definitions of science communication. We then address the specific challenges that researchers in the biomedical sciences are faced with when engaging with wider audiences. Finally, we explain the rationales and contents of the different articles in this issue and the various science communication initiatives and strategies discussed in each of them, whilst also providing some information on the wide range of further science communication activities in the biomedical sciences that could not all be covered here.
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