Communication

CeMEB Advanced course
Marine Evolution under Climate
Change
Communication
A failure to communicate
Tim Minchin
The idea that (...) the science of
anthropogenic global warming
is controversial is a powerful
indicator of the extent of our
failure to communicate. The
fact that 30 percent of the
people just bristled is further
evidence still. (audience laughs)
The fact that that bristling is
more to do with politics than
science
is
even
more
despairing.
Advertising
Have you or have you not heard... ?
A-well-a, everybody's heard about the bird
Bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a, bird, bird, bird, the bird is the word
A-well-a, bird, bird, bird, well, the bird is the
word
A-well-a, bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a, bird, bird, bird, well, the bird is the
word
A-well-a, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a, bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a, bird, bird, bird, well, the bird is the
word
A-well-a, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a, don't you know about the bird
Well, everybody knows that the bird is the
word
A-well-a, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
(Surfin’ bird, The Trashmen, 1963)
What’s the word?
Ernest Gallo
What’s the word? Thunderbird
How’s it sold? Good and cold
What’s the jive? Bird’s alive
What’s the price? Thirty twice.
We call it life...
"Theres something in these pictures you can't see."
"It's essential to life."
"we breath it out."
"Plants breath it in."
"It come from animal life, the oceans, the earth, and the fuels we
find in it."
"It's called Carbon Dioxide, CO2."
"The fuels that produce CO2 have freed us from a world of back
breaking labor."
"Lighting up our lives."
"Allowing us to create and move the things we need, the people we
love."
"Now, some politicians want to label Carbon Dioxide a pollutant."
"Imagine if they succeed."
"What would our lives be like then?"
(Competitive Enterprise Institute -CEI, 2006).
Why does science education matter?
Lancet. 1998 Feb 28;351(9103):637-41.
MMR (measles, mumps &
rubella) vaccine responsible for
autism
Why does science education matter?
% of MMR vaccination in UK
91 %
80%
85%
1997-1998
2003-2004
2008-2009
Measles cases in UK
56 cases
1000 cases
1998
2007
In the meantime...
Fraud, lost is MD, etc.
BUT…
The power of an ambassador
The power of an ambassador
Lack of literacy can kill…
Vaccine-Preventable Outbreaks (2008-2014)
Source: http://www.cfr.org
What about ocean acidification?
Ocean and Human health
Ocean and human health
Direct impact?
No
Indirect impact?
Yes
Food quantity and quality
Climate feedback
Loss for blue innovation
Tourism, culture, etc.
Ocean literacy
= an understanding of the ocean’s influence on you and your
influence on the ocean
An ocean-literate person understands:
 The essential principles and fundamental concepts
 Can communicate about the ocean in a meaningful way
 Is able to make informed and responsible decisions regarding
the ocean and its resources
Different levels
Industry
Scientists
Citizens
Politics
Existing initiative
Bridge between cultures
Documents
Education
A will to communicate
OCEAN ACIDIFICATION COMMUNICATION WORKSHOP
(2012 journalist; 2014 policy makers)
Engage with policy makers
Engage the dialogue across disciplines
Socio-economic
consequences
Policy-oriented documents
International Reference Users Group
(iRUG)
Documents for all stakeholders
Communicate / educate
(Fauville et al. 2013)
The driver of change
Hands-on
Loan kit
e.g. University of Trieste
e.g. OCB lesson plan for OA hands-on experiences
e.g. University of Messina
Creation of ressources by students
e.g. Ridgeway school project
What we do: A 3 steps curriculum
Step 1: What is OA and its impact on marine ecosystems? Virtual lab on OA
Step 2: How does OA impact us? Interactive discussion on OA
Step 3: What can we do? Carbon footprint calculator
STEP 1
The virtual lab
pH 8,1: TODAY
Lesson on OA
Run experiment on sea
urchin larvae
Impact of seawater pH on sea
urchin larvae development rate
pH 7,7: END CENTURY
A success...
... and it works !
Out of the blue
In a context
Increased knowledge on ocean acidification
BUT
You need a context
STEP 2
Sea urchin larvae are smaller in low pH water
SO WHAT???
Students can browse at their own pace
Students can leave comment and question
Conclusions
Ocean acidification WILL have impacts on marine species and
ecosystems
This can be dramatic (species extinction)
It is complicated and we need more data
BUT WE NEED TO ACT NOW
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
What can we do? = decrease CO2 emissions
- Spread the word
- Change our behaviours
STEP 3
Carbon footpring
students’ life style
Takes into account user’s location
Synchronization behavior - emission
Make a difference?
(Weber & Matthews, 2008)
Eat less meat
Unplug computers
Etc.
Take a “bad” citizen
Teach him/her how to save energy
[e.g. turn off computers and electric equipment when not in use]
Save energy AND save money
Spend it for…
1) i-phone, computer, etc.
2) A city trip with Ryan Air
The International Student Carbon Footprint
Challenge
Get an international view on CO2 footprint
Learn from each other
Envision solution together
>20000 participant
40 countries
The International Student Carbon Footprint
Challenge
(Fauville et al. In prep)
All open access
/
I2I homepage: http://i2i.loven.gu.se
Carbon Footprint calculator: http://i2i.loven.gu.se/footprint.html
Ocean acidification virtual lab: http://i2i.loven.gu.se/AcidOcean.html
Ocean acidification virtual talk: http://voicethread.com/share/1978581/
Virtual Marine Scientist:
http://www.ipkl.gu.se/english/Research/research_projects/vm
s/
New project: Inquiry
to Sea
Limitation: science supply paradigm
Next challenge: targetted communication?
A problem of scale…
GLOBAL challenges
GLOBAL options:
LOCAL challenges
LOCAL options
[management, adaptation, etc.]
CO2
Are you talking to me?
Six Americas
A science based on values
Can you taste ocean acidification?
(Dupont et al. 2014)
A sea of opportunities
Take advantage of ocean passion to:
- collected data (citizen science)
- fight for the cause (Ocean Ambassadors)
“Be a teacher! Even if you're not a teacher, be a
teacher” (Tim Minchin)
Conclusion
A strong will to communication in the
community
A strong will to take actions
A need for a more targeted and value
oriented communication strategy to
improve ocean and OA literacy
Overall conclusion
???
We have the expertise but we lack coordination
A national program needed to play a key role
Why a Swedish OA program?
Global scale
- Confirm leading position in the field
- Allow to play a major role
Local scale: a true multidisciplinary approach
- Identify society relevant questions
[e.g. social science: what information is needed]
- Identify local problems / hotspots
[e.g. chemistry, biology, socio-economy]
- Identify/ explore solutions
[e.g. biology/engineering: adaptation strategy for aquaculture]
[e.g. law: existing law for management of local stressors]
- Efficient communication
[e.g. education, psychology, social science]