Bret Shaw

Bret Shaw is an Environmental Communication Specialist for the Division of Extension and a professor in the Department of Life Sciences Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He specializes in planning and evaluating strategic communication campaigns related to natural resource management. He teaches courses on social marketing, environmental communication, and science communication to undergraduate and graduate students, including those in the Ph.D. program in Science Communication.

Shaw’s work addresses issues such as water quality, invasive species prevention and sustainable land management. Shaw also conducts research on promoting local food systems in Wisconsin, with a focus on supporting farmers market managers and small- to mid-sized farmers. His current research explores how to use industry communication and marketing tools to improve the impact of Extension programming related to protecting natural resources and promoting sustainable agriculture practices.

Shaw received his Ph.D. in Mass Communication at UW–Madison, where he gained experience in strategic communication. Before his academic career, he worked as a market research manager in the technology industry in Silicon Valley.

Shaw has published in a diverse range of peer-reviewed journals including Society and Natural Resources, Journal of Environmental Psychology, Science Communication, Conservation Biology, Journal of Forestry, Environmental Management, Social Marketing Quarterly, Lake and Reservoir Management, Energy Policy, Politics and the Life Sciences, Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature & Culture, Human Dimensions of Wildlife, and American Behavioral Scientist, among others.

You can find a list of his publications on Google Scholar.