Science Communication and Stakeholder Expertise: Insights from Sustainability Science

Authors

Brianne Suldovsky, Portland State UniversityFollow
Bridie McGreavy, University of Maine
Laura Lindenfeld, Stony Brook University

Published In

Environmental Communication

Document Type

Citation

Publication Date

5-5-2017

Abstract

Communicating science is a multifaceted and complex process, particularly in sustainability science where researchers directly engage with non-academic stakeholder partners. In this insight, we explore the relationship between science communication behaviour and perceptions of stakeholder scientific expertise in a large-scale sustainability-focused research project in the Northeastern United States. We find that higher levels of perceived scientific expertise are associated with dialogic and participatory models of communication, and lower levels of perceived scientific expertise are associated with dialogic and diffusion models of communication. This work, while small in scope, highlights the utility of attending to perceptions of expertise within stakeholder engagement contexts. Implications, limitations, and opportunities for future research are discussed.

Rights

© 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Locate the Document

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2017.1308408

DOI

10.1080/17524032.2017.1308408

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/25824

Citation Details

Suldovsky, B., McGreavy, B., and Lindenfeld, L. 2017. Science Communication and Stakeholder Expertise: Insights from Sustainability Science. Environmental Communication, 11(5):587-592.