College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
LSC chair and professor Dominique Brossard served as a committee member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s latest study on the impacts of genetically engineered crops. The 20 expert committee investigated the potential economic, agronomic, health, safety, and other impacts of genetically engineered crops and food. The committee’s report, ‘Genetically Engineered Crops: …
The Department of Life Sciences Communication sits at the top of the most recent rankings released by Academic Analytics comparing national communication and media studies programs. LSC ranks among the top 10 departments for articles per faculty member, citations per faculty member, and number of awards per faculty member, as well as in the top …
The Department of Life Sciences Communication is continuing its strong involvement in the National Academy of Sciences as chair Dominique Brossard and professor Dietram Scheufele have each been asked by the National Research Council to serve on new committees. Brossard is on a committee exploring “Science Literacy and Public Perception of Science,” while Scheufele is …
Each year, Wisconsin’s lakes and streams are visited by nearly 1.3 million anglers, making the state one of the top ten for angler activity. Collectively, these anglers spend over 21 million days fishing each season. While that’s 21 million potential days to hit the lake, teach a child to fish, or reconnect with old friends, …
Wisconsin’s lakes are one of its many treasures. However, the lakes and their surrounding ecosystems are fragile and susceptible to change. Over the decades, more lakeshore property owners have developed their shorelines by removing natural vegetation to take advantage of their lakes’ recreational opportunities, as well as added lawns and beaches to achieve the look …
Many scientists may still see talking to reporters or using social media to publicize their research as a poor use of their time, but a new study by researchers in the Department of Life Sciences Communication suggests otherwise. The department’s Science, Media and the Public(SciMeP) research group just published a study in Journalism & Mass Communications Quarterly that links scientists’ …
When it comes to science, socioeconomic status may widen confidence gaps among the least and most educated groups in society, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Science, Media and the Public research group. The findings, published in June in the journal Science Communication, show that similar levels of attention …
Research in the department has evolved alongside our changing media environment. With the advent of new media, we are now conducting studies on how various issues are communicated on a variety of platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Here is a sampling of research from our current students and faculty: Kristin Runge and others are …
A recent report by the International Journal of Public Opinion Research shows that research by LSC professors Dominique Brossard and Dietram Scheufele, along with alumna Shirley Ho, are among the 10 most cited as of October 1, 2013. Scheufele’s article on a media effects theory is the fourth most highly cited, while Brossard’s paper on …
Top scientists are not afraid to engage with the public in traditional and social media, according to new research by LSC’s Science, Media, and the Public (SCIMEP) lab published in The Scientist magazine. More importantly, public communication can also help boost their scientific careers. SCIMEP researchers found that scientists who interact more frequently with journalists had better …