Establishing National Ocean Service Priorities for Estuarine, Coastal, and Ocean Modeling: Capabilities, Gaps, and Preliminary Prioritization Factors

This report was developed to help establish National Ocean Service priorities and chart new directions for research and development of models for estuarine, coastal and ocean ecosystems based on user-driven requirements and supportive of sound coastal management, stewardship, and an ecosystem approach to management. (PDF contains 63 pages

Predictors of Refugees’ Ability to Pass the United States Citizenship Exam

Background: Passing the United States citizenship exam can be challenging for refugee populations for several reasons, including affordability of English classes, time restraints, medical stressors, and limited formal education. The purpose of this study was to examine factors that may influence a refugees’ ability to pass the citizenship exam, including English proficiency, education, employment, and completion of English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Methods: Refugee patients at the International Family Medicine Clinic (IFMC) in Central Virginia participated in a survey that assessed their levels of English proficiency and whether or not they had passed the citizenship exam. The survey included questions about gender, employment, country of origin, years of education, participation in English classes and barriers to attendance. Results: Refugees who had a higher level of self-reported English proficiency and more years of formal education were more likely to pass the citizenship exam. Other factors such as age, employment, English classes, and gender did not affect participants’ ability to pass the exam. Conclusion: Further research needs to identify successful models to help refugees obtain English fluency and assist them in passing the U.S. citizenship exam

Who Isn’t Biased? Perceived Bias as a Dimension of Credibility in Communication of Science with Policymakers

Identifying the determinants of success in communicating scientific information for use in policymaking has been a topic of longstanding interest for many fields. Perceptions of message and messenger credibility are recognized in many disciplines as key to information receptivity, and subsequent changes in attitudes, by decision-makers. Bias also appears as a component of credibility, but is not theoretically well-defined, and its effects can appear inconsistent. This study—comprised of interviews with congressional staff members with energy, environment, and science portfolios (n=16)—finds that perceptions of bias and expertise play a critical role in the way in which policymakers evaluate scientific information sources, building on early research on credibility and opinion change

New scales can be used to measure the short-term impact of public engagement on scientists

Most evaluations of public engagement work focus on the impacts on the public participants. But what about the benefits of public outreach on the scientists themselves? Karen Peterman, Elana Kimbrell, Emily Cloyd, Jane Roberston Evia and John Besley have created new scales to document the mutual exchange of ideas that is central to the public engagement approach, and the influence of this approach on scientists

Foundational Skills for Science Communication: A Preliminary Framework

Because science communication training programs are often developed by individuals or programs, different curricula frequently emphasize different skills. While there is great value in sharing these diverse approaches to this training, we saw an opportunity for the field to develop greater coherence. To that end, we examined work from science communication researchers, evaluators, and trainers and synthesized a set of recommendations for core skills that scientists should develop to communicate effectively with different publics.In order to work towards greater coherence across different training approaches supporting science communication and public engagement efforts, we present a preliminary framework that outlines foundational science communication skills. This framework categorizes different skills and their component parts and includes: identifying and aligning engagement goals; adapting to communication landscape and audience; messaging; language; narrative; design; nonverbal communication; writing style; and providing space for dialogue. Through this framework and associated practical, research, and evaluative literatures, we aim to support the training community to explore more concretely opportunities that bridge research and practice and to collectively discuss core competencies in science communication and public engagement.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/150489/1/Foundational Science Communication Skills paper - final, formatted 7-30-19_A.pdfDescription of Foundational Science Communication Skills paper - final, formatted 7-30-19_A.pdf : Main Articl

Introducing the JMBE themed issue on science communication

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A collaboratively derived international research agenda on legislative science advice

The quantity and complexity of scientific and technological information provided to policymakers have been on the rise for decades. Yet little is known about how to provide science advice to legislatures, even though scientific information is widely acknowledged as valuable for decision-making in many policy domains. We asked academics, science advisers, and policymakers from both developed and developing nations to identify, review and refine, and then rank the most pressing research questions on legislative science advice (LSA). Experts generally agree that the state of evidence is poor, especially regarding developing and lower-middle income countries. Many fundamental questions about science advice processes remain unanswered and are of great interest: whether legislative use of scientific evidence improves the implementation and outcome of social programs and policies; under what conditions legislators and staff seek out scientific information or use what is presented to them; and how different communication channels affect informational trust and use. Environment and health are the highest priority policy domains for the field. The context-specific nature of many of the submitted questions—whether to policy issues, institutions, or locations—suggests one of the significant challenges is aggregating generalizable evidence on LSA practices. Understanding these research needs represents a first step in advancing a global agenda for LSA research.Fil: Akerlof, Karen. George Mason University; Estados UnidosFil: Tyler, Chris. University College London;Fil: Foxen, Sarah Elizabeth. University College London;Fil: Heath, Erin. American Association for the Advancement of Science; Estados UnidosFil: Gual Soler, Marga. American Association for the Advancement of Science; Estados UnidosFil: Allegra, Alessandro. University College London;Fil: Cloyd, Emily T.. American Association for the Advancement of Science; Estados UnidosFil: Hird, John A.. University of Massachussets; Estados UnidosFil: Nelson, Selena M.. George Mason University; Estados UnidosFil: Nguyen, Christina T.. George Mason University; Estados UnidosFil: Gonnella, Cameryn J.. Herndon; Estados UnidosFil: Berigan, Liam A.. Kansas State University; Estados UnidosFil: Abeledo, Carlos R.. Universidad de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Al Yakoub, Tamara Adel. Yarmouk University; JordaniaFil: Andoh, Harris Francis. Tshwane University Of Technology; Sudáfrica. Tshwane University of Technology; GhanaFil: dos Santos Boeira, Laura. Veredas Institute; BrasilFil: van Boheemen, Pieter. Rathenau Instituut; Países BajosFil: Cairney, Paul. University of Stirling; Reino UnidoFil: Cook Deegan, Robert. Arizona State University; Estados UnidosFil: Costigan, Gavin. Foundation For Science And Technology; Reino UnidoFil: Dhimal, Meghnath. Nepal Health Research Council; NepalFil: Di Marco, Martín Hernán. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales. Instituto de Investigaciones "Gino Germani"; ArgentinaFil: Dube, Donatus. National University of Science and Technology; Zimbabu

Survivorship and size selection for smaller shells in the freshwater snail Campeloma decisum.

Selection is the driving force of evolutionary change. We studied selection on the freshwater snail Campeloma decisum. The purpose of this experimental study is to determine which phenotypic characters of C. decisum are selected for, and to explore the factors that lead to this selection. In order to examine survivorship, we collected both living and dead C. decisum along the shore of South Fishtail Bay in Douglas Lake, Cheboygan County, in northern lower Michigan. We took eight measurements of the shells, (overall width, aperture length, aperture width, distance from the last bar to the aperture, age, shell thickness, and number of whorls) of the live and dead snails, and we weighed shells of the dead snails. We performed several statistical analyses of the data, including F-tests, t-tests, and regressions to determine how the measurements were related and whether selection appeared to be occurring. The results of our statistical tests revealed that the living snails had consistently smaller average values for the shell measurements than the dead snails. We further discussed our results in the light of previous research on size-selection of snails by predators, environmental factors, and lifetime fitness.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/54872/1/3313.pdfDescription of 3313.pdf : Access restricted to on-site users at the U-M Biological Station

Who Isn’t Biased? Perceived Bias as a Dimension of Credibility in Communication of Science with Policymakers

Identifying the determinants of success in communicating scientific information for use in policymaking has been a topic of longstanding interest for many fields. Perceptions of message and messenger credibility are recognized in many disciplines as key to information receptivity, and subsequent changes in attitudes, by decision-makers. Bias also appears as a component of credibility, but is not theoretically well-defined, and its effects can appear inconsistent. This study—comprised of interviews with congressional staff members with energy, environment, and science portfolios (n=16)—finds that perceptions of bias and expertise play a critical role in the way in which policymakers evaluate scientific information sources, building on early research on credibility and opinion change.</p