skip to main content
US FlagAn official website of the United States government
dot gov icon
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
https lock icon
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Explore Research Products in the PAR
It may take a few hours for recently added research products to appear in PAR search results.


Title: The ECO framework: advancing evidence-based science engagement within environmental research programs and organizations
Abstract Despite widespread interest in science communication, public engagement with science, and engaged research, a large gap exists between the theories behind science engagement and how it is practiced within the scientific community. The scholarship of science engagement is also fractured, with knowledge and insights fragmented across discourses related to science communication, informal science learning, participatory research, and sustainability science. In the present article, we share a planning tool for integrating evidence and theory from these discourses into effective programs and projects. The ECO framework promotes three distinct and interacting modes of science engagement practice: formative engagement (listening and relationship building), codesign and coproduction (action-oriented partnerships), and broader outreach (expanding networks and dissemination). By planning engagement activities with attention to these three modes of engagement, scientists and scientific research organizations will be better poised to address urgent needs for stronger connections between science and society and increased use of scientific research in decision-making.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1637685
PAR ID:
10421080
Author(s) / Creator(s):
;
Publisher / Repository:
Oxford University Press
Date Published:
Journal Name:
BioScience
Volume:
73
Issue:
6
ISSN:
0006-3568
Format(s):
Medium: X Size: p. 422-432
Size(s):
p. 422-432
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. (, Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education)
    Westenberg, Dave J (Ed.)
    ABSTRACT Integrating primary scientific literature into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) curricula enhances critical thinking, scientific literacy, and communication skills but presents challenges due to complex terminology and data interpretation barriers. To address these challenges, a scaffolded journal club approach was implemented in a Cancer Biology course. The course utilized Hypothes.is web-based annotations, methods presentations, figure annotations, and structured discussions to promote active engagement with the literature. Additionally, integrated science communication assignments—including written, graphical, and video abstracts—provided diverse opportunities for students to develop scientific literacy. This structured approach is designed to facilitate comprehension, encourage proactive learning, and foster confidence in engaging with primary scientific literature. Student feedback highlighted improved ability to dissect research articles, enhanced presentation skills, and increased enjoyment of scientific reading. The journal club model and science communication assignments offer a replicable framework for enhancing primary scientific literature engagement across various STEM disciplines and educational levels. 
    more » « less
  2. ; ; (, Anatomical Sciences Education)
    Abstract Scientific associations exist to serve their members and advance their science. They also provide a platform for scientists to communicate their science and engage with the public, such as hosting free resources on their web pages and organizing outreach activities with local communities. Historically, scientific associations were often internally focused. Despite the common stereotype of exclusive clubs of gentleman naturalists, there are numerous examples since the 17th century of scientific associations encouraging public engagement. This became increasingly common, and throughout the last several decades, scientific associations like the American Association for Anatomy (AAA) have been working to make changes in how science, scientists, and the public work together to produce the best scientific outcomes. This viewpoint defines different levels of relationships between the scientist and the public and how they affect outcomes related to the public's trust in science and scientists. It then provides a historical perspective on how associations have contributed to the communication of science. Lastly, it discusses the role of associations in science communication and public engagement and whether it is important for associations and why. It concludes with examples of the strategic programs of AAA that demonstrate how scientific associations can support public engagement, resulting in benefits to the public, scientists, and the anatomical sciences. 
    more » « less
  3. ; ; ; ; (, PLOS One)
    Deniz, Elif Ulutaş (Ed.)
    Effective science communication and stakeholder engagement are crucial skills for climate scientists, yet formal training in these areas remains limited in graduate education. The National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) at Auburn University (AU) addresses this gap through an innovative program combining science communication training with co-production approaches to enhance climate resiliency of built, natural, and social systems within the Southeastern United States (US). This paper evaluates the effectiveness of two novel graduate-level courses: one focused on science communication for non-technical audiences and another combining co-production methods with practical internship experience. Our research employed a mixed-methods approach, including a comprehensive analysis of course catalogs from 146 research-intensive universities and qualitative assessment of student experiences through surveys and descriptive exemplars. Analysis revealed that AU’s NRT program is unique among peer institutions in offering both specialized science communication training and co-production internship opportunities to graduate students across departments. Survey data from 11 program participants and detailed case studies of three program graduates demonstrated significant professional development benefits. Key outcomes included enhanced stakeholder engagement capabilities, improved science communication skills, and better preparation for both academic and non-academic careers. These findings suggest that integrating structured science communication training with hands-on co-production experience provides valuable preparation for climate scientists. The success of AU’s program model indicates that similar curriculum structures could benefit graduate programs nationwide, particularly in preparing students to effectively communicate complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences and engage with stakeholders in climate resilience efforts. 
    more » « less
  4. (, Risk Analysis)
    Abstract Hazards and disasters arise from interactions between environmental and social processes, so interdisciplinary research is crucial in understanding and effectively managing them. Despite support and encouragement from funding agencies, universities, and journals and growing interest from researchers, interdisciplinary disaster research teams face significant obstacles, such as the difficulty of establishing effective communication and understanding across disciplines. Better understanding of interdisciplinary teamwork can also have important practical benefits for operational disaster planning and response. Social studies of science distinguish different kinds of expertise and different modes of communication. Understanding these differences can help interdisciplinary research teams communicate more clearly and work together more effectively. The primary role of a researcher is incontributory expertise(the ability to make original contributions to a discipline); butinteractional expertisein other disciplines (the ability to understand their literature and communicate with their practitioners) can play an important role in interdisciplinary collaborations. Developing interactional expertise requires time and effort, which can be challenging for a busy researcher, and also requires a foundation of trust and communication among team members. Three distinct aspects of communication play important roles in effective interdisciplinary communication:dialects,metaphors, andarticulation. There are different ways to develop interactional expertise and effective communication, so researchers can pursue approaches that suit their circumstances. It will be important for future research on interdisciplinary disaster research to identify best practices for building trust, facilitating communication, and developing interactional expertise. 
    more » « less
  5. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; (, The Journal of Neuroscience)
    Active communication between researchers and society is necessary for the scientific community's involvement in developing science-based policies. This need is recognized by governmental and funding agencies that compel scientists to increase their public engagement and disseminate research findings in an accessible fashion. Storytelling techniques can help convey science by engaging people's imagination and emotions. Yet, many researchers are uncertain about how to approach scientific storytelling, or feel they lack the tools to undertake it. Here we explore some of the techniques intrinsic to crafting scientific narratives, as well as the reasons why scientific storytelling may be an optimal way of communicating research to nonspecialists. We also point out current communication gaps between science and society, particularly in the context of neurodiverse audiences and those that include neurological and psychiatric patients. Present shortcomings may turn into areas of synergy with the potential to link neuroscience education, research, and advocacy. 
    more » « less
  • Citation Formats
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago
  • BibTeX
  • Save / Share this Record
  • Send to Email