The Communication department at the University of Washington names public scholarship as one of its core principles, and in doing so states “a commitment to take one's research goals and findings beyond the academy.”(1) In a move to impart this core principle, the department has included among its core courses COM 502 – a graduate seminar designed to encourage dialogue about the importance and implications of public scholarship.
The Web page here is an extension of the discussions and ideas broached by the 2005-2006 cohort in COM 502. Graduates in the seminar were challenged to answer the “So what?” question – making a case for the relevance of their research to the public and suggesting potential public scholarship activities that stem from that research. Below is a summation of many of these ideas. As this page reveals, potential public scholarship activities are as broad and diverse as the areas of interest from which they sprout.
We encourage other scholars to answer the “So what?” question for themselves, and add suggestions on how to extend their own scholarship.
The Environmental Debate: Including Native Voices
__The Scholarship__:
Most individuals and groups will agree that the state and future of the environment is an exigent concern of our times. However, different communities have varying perspectives about the environment and how issues concerning the environment (i.e. dumping, regulation) should be addressed. Monique Lacoste’s research involves the analysis of Native American groups and the expression of their political identities as they advocate their views on environmental matters. In addition to understanding how indigenous groups articulate their stance on environmental issues and how the manner in which they speak out constructs a political identity, Lacoste is also interested in how the media represents and reconstructs the discourse of these indigenous groups.
__The Public Scholarship Application__:
Lacoste’s research alludes to a schism between government organizations addressing environmental issues (i.e. The Bureau of Indian Affairs) and tribal groups that are concerned about the environment. As an independent party acquainted with the positions and concerns of many sides, Lacoste will be able to help mediate the disconnect between opposing groups, and aid in the understanding of seemingly disparate goals.
A second public scholarship component of Lacoste’s research is the potential to serve as a clearinghouse of information on Native perspectives. As environmental regulations and matters are debated, there is a need for the inclusion of Native voices in the discussion. Lacoste’s expertise in Native identity and environmental issues provides an opportunity to help represent the drowned-out Native voice, by creating a Web site to talk about indigenous knowledge, collaborating with anthropologists and civic leaders, and providing training for organizations and tribes.
Strategic Messaging & Advocating for the Environment
__The Scholarship__:
Over the past decade, private citizens and various organizations have become increasingly troubled about the effects of global warming. And while there is debate on various effects and issues related to global warming, “scientists know for certain that human activities are changing the composition of the Earth's atmosphere”(2) – and it’s not a good thing. Justin Reedy is studying the discourse surrounding the issue of global warming, specifically asking, How do environmental advocacy groups communicate their concerns about global warming?
__The Public Scholarship Application__:
One of the problems with the current communication on global warming is mixed messages about the best forms of energy and the consequences of current energy consumption. Utilizing the knowledge and insight gained from studying the often-conflicting discourse on global warming, Reedy’s goal is to interact with advocacy groups and provide guidance on developing and implementing strategic messages to outside audiences.
As a sort of unpaid consultant, Reedy proposes helping organizations take three key steps in improving the salience and impact of their message:
- Identify current communication frames on global warming.
- Craft messages that will spur action by political actors and the general public.
- Suggest social movement strategies that will bolster the environmental cause.
Media Framing
__The Scholarship__:
The Iraq war. The development of a local charter school. The creation of a public policy measure. The public tends to evaluate these and other matters based on the consideration of selected issues – media frames that are chosen by consumers and that subsequently determine how one views the issue at hand. Chris Wells’ research focuses on the evolving media frames used to depict political issues and the effect of those frames on public opinion.
__The Public Scholarship Application__:
As an outgrowth of this scholarship, Wells seeks to help the general public be critically aware of the existing, evolving frames used by the media to discuss political issues. Through the use of an interactive Internet blog, Wells’ project will meet the following aims:
- Public education – to help people understand what frames are and how they work.
- To create opportunities for people to participate in their knowledge and understanding of blogs.
- To allow individuals to develop responses and counterstrategies for frames.
- To allow individuals to broach ideas about what kind of frames are missing from media coverage and identify frames that should be there.
By creating a blog that points to current news and creates forums for discussion and analysis, Wells sees this project as an opportunity to capitalize on increasing Internet access, spur public participation, and encourage a critical analysis of the news – much of which is online as well.
Film-inspired Tourism
__The Scholarship__:
What happens when culture turns into industry? What happens when people go to a country just to see a movie set? Sara Shmuel’s research explores the construction of cultural identity as promoted in popular film. When viewers of certain movies come to associate the cultural values and expectations of one locale with the physical landscape of another destination, the potential for cultural misappropriation and insensitivity to another country’s political, environmental and social climate can ensue.(3) Such is often the case with socially and environmentally irresponsible travel.
__The Public Scholarship Application__:
Misunderstandings about other locales can be prevented through awareness and education about ecotourism. Ecotourism is a deliberate effort at socially and environmentally responsible travel that seeks to appreciate the actual value of foreign destinations. In order to encourage more consumers to practice ecotourism as well as provide resources to individuals already interested in the issue, Shmuel proposes the development of a Web community that acts as a forum for people to learn about and discuss ecotourism. Modeled after user-friendly tourist Web sites, Shmuel’s site would include sections such as “Myths & Facts on Ecotourism,” “Ask the Expert,” public chat rooms, and a page highlighting ecotourism destinations and resources.
Evolution v. Intelligent Design
__The Scholarship__:
The current debate on teaching evolution as scientific fact, versus teaching it as a scientific theory along with alternative perspectives – namely, Intelligent design theory – has demanded the attention of the public and our country’s lawmakers. Julie Homchick’s interest in the rhetoric of science focuses on the discourse surrounding Intelligent design theory and education.
__The Public Scholarship Application__:
Homchick proposes the creation of a public organization called the Organization for the Public Understanding of Science (OPUS), whose primary aim will be the dissemination of information to the public about the current evolution-Intelligent design debate. In direct contrast to The Discovery Institute, OPUS’ collaboration of scientists, philosophers of science, sociologists of science, theologians, and rhetoricians, will argue against the teaching of Intelligent design, but will not take the view that the theory is wrong as a philosophical point of view. As a multilateral organization, OPUS will reach out to a broad public audience through its Web site, lectures, writing for consumer-based publications, and advising evolutionary scientists on effective rhetorical strategies to use in addressing the topic.
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