Abstract
Advancing environmental health literacy in support of environmental management requires inclusive science communication, especially with environmental justice communities. In order to understand experiences of environmental practitioners in the realm of science communication, the Center for Oceans and Human Health and Climate Change Interactions at the University of South Carolina conducted two studies on science communication and research translation with the center’s researchers and partners. This qualitative case study follows up with a select group of environmental practitioners on emergent themes from the initial work. It explores the specific topics of understanding, trust, and access and how those can become barriers or facilitators of public engagement with environmental activities and decision making. The authors conducted seven in-depth qualitative interviews with center partners whose work focuses on environmental water quality and impacts on human and environmental health. Key results indicate that the public may have limited understanding of scientific processes, establishing trust takes time, and access should be incorporated into the design of programs and activities to ensure broader reach. Findings from this research are relevant to other partner-engaged work and environmental management initiatives and provide insights on experiences, practices, and actions for equitable and effective stakeholder engagement and collaborative partnerships.
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Acknowledgements
This research was supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences under Award Number P01ES028942 granted to Principal Investigators Geoffrey Scott and Paul Sandifer. Authors Porter, Friedman and Kelsey are Community Engagement Core Investigators. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Author contributions
Conceptualization, K.A., B.Y., D.E.P. and D.B.F.; methodology, K.A. and B.Y.; software, K.A. and B.Y.; validation, K.A. and B.Y.; formal analysis, K.A. and B.Y.; investigation, K.A. and B.Y.; resources, K.A. and B.Y.; data curation, K.A.; writing—original draft preparation, K.A. and B.Y.; writing—review and editing, K.A., B.Y., D.B.F., D.E.P., and R.H.K.; supervision, D.B.F. and D.E.P.; project administration, K.A. and B.Y.; funding acquisition, D.B.F., D.E.P., and R.H.K. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding
This research was funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences under Award Number P01ES028942 granted to Principal Investigators Geoffrey Scott and Paul Sandifer.
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Altman, K., Yelton, B., Porter, D.E. et al. The Role of Understanding, Trust, and Access in Public Engagement with Environmental Activities and Decision Making: A Qualitative Study with Water Quality Practitioners. Environmental Management 71, 1162–1175 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-023-01803-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-023-01803-2