Via online issue. 2 pages., Profile of a new faculty member in agricultural communications at the University of Florida. Includes a brief description of her career experience and interests.
Ruth, Taylor K. (author), Rumble, Joy N. (author), Galindo-Gonzalez, Sebastian (author), Lundy, Lisa K. (author), Carter, Hannah S. (author), Folta, Kevin M. (author), and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The Ohio State University
University of Florida
Association for Communication Excellence
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2019
Published:
United States: New Prairie Press
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 15 Document Number: D10430
24 pages., Via online journal., Faculty at land-grant universities are expected to engage in some form of Extension, or science communication, as part of the land-grant mission. However, critics have claimed these institutions are out of touch with their stakeholders’ needs and faculty mainly communicate with others in academia. This engagement with a homogenous group reflects the concepts of echo chambers, where people are only exposed to information that aligns with their beliefs and current knowledge and discredit opposing information. An explanatory mixed-methods design was used to understand land-grant faculty’s engagement in echo chambers. A survey was distributed to a census of tenure-track faculty in the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences to understand respondents’ engagement in echo chambers. Follow-up interviews were conducted with 13 of the survey respondents to further explore their audiences and channels used in science communication to understand their engagement in echo chambers. Survey results indicated faculty did not necessarily participate in echo chambers, but they also did not contribute to an open communication network. However, the interviews found participants were interested in reaching new audiences yet struggled to communicate with stakeholders. The participants also reported wanting to find alternative channels to peer reviewed journals to help disseminate their work. The findings from this study indicated faculty contributed to a type of echo chamber, but rather than viewing their stakeholders’ opinions as false, they simply did not hear the opinions. Agricultural communicators should work with land-grant faculty administrators to identify appropriate audiences and channels for science communication.
USA: Department of Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D10800
Notes:
138 pages., Thesis also is available online from Purdue University by open access, using the URL below., Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the Master of Science degree at Purdue University.
Contributed by author to the Agricultural Communications Documentation Center and University Library, University of Illinois., Purpose was to explain and predict Indiana residents' level of interest in engaging with Purdue University based on level of concern for social and community issues, level of anomie, past interactions with Purdue, and perceptions of Purdue. Findings confirmed that Extension's programmatic areas are addressing perceived needs in the state and that individuals are interested in these programmatic issues. "Land-grant universities can continue to rise to the challenge and deliver state-of-the-art education, research, and resources for all people, as long as they listen to the public and address critical social, community and stakeholder issues."
8 pages., Via online journal., The Agricultural Extension Service at the University of California (UC) was established in Humboldt County in 1913 preceding the nationwide establishment of the extension service in 1914.
Improving rangelands by controlling weeds and brush, seeding, fertilization, and grazing management has been a continuing theme of research by UC since the late 1800s.
Restoration of annual-dominated grasslands with native perennials has been a recurring research theme that continues to challenge grassland researchers.
The complexity of research questions and education programs increased when environmental issues including grazing effects on riparian areas, oak regeneration, wildlife habitat, and water quality began to influence range research and extension programs in the 1980s.
A more diversified range extension audience evolved with the increase in small farms and ranches and diversification of agency staff in response to affirmative action.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 199 Document Number: D09786
Notes:
Center for Public Issues Education in Agriculture and Nature Resources, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. 2 pages.