Effective Public Engagement Research Articles

Cyber anti-intellectualism and science communication during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, science communication played a crucial role in disseminating accurate information and promoting scientific literacy among the public. However, the rise of anti-intellectualism on social media platforms has posed significant challenges to science, scientists, and science communication, hindering effective public engagement with scientific affairs. This study aims to explore the mechanisms through which anti-intellectualism impacts science communication on social media platforms from the perspective of communication effect theory.MethodThis study employed a cross-sectional research design to conduct an online questionnaire survey of Chinese social media users from August to September 2021. The survey results were analyzed via descriptive statistics, t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and a chain mediation model with SPSS 26.0.ResultsThere were significant differences in anti-intellectualism tendency among groups of different demographic characteristics. The majority of respondents placed greater emphasis on knowledge that has practical benefits in life. Respondents’ trust in different groups of intellectuals showed significant inconsistencies, with economists and experts receiving the lowest levels of trust. Anti-intellectualism significantly and positively predicted the level of misconception of scientific and technological information, while significantly and negatively predicting individuals’ attitudes toward science communication. It further influenced respondents’ behavior in disseminating scientific and technological information through the chain mediation of scientific misconception and attitudes toward science communication.ConclusionThis research enriches the conceptual framework of anti-intellectualism across various cultural contexts, as well as the theoretical framework concerning the interaction between anti-intellectualism and science communication. The findings provide suggestions for developing strategies to enhance the effectiveness of science communication and risk communication during public emergencies.

Lexicalisation in Media Reports of Recurrent Diphtheria Outbreak in Nigeria: Implications for Health Communication

Linguistic studies on media coverage of pandemics and outbreaks in Nigeria, including the COVID-19 pandemic, Ebola, and Lassa fever, have been extensive. However, the linguistic analysis of media reports on the diphtheria outbreak remains underexplored. This study addresses this gap by examining the lexical choices employed in framing the diphtheria outbreak in Nigeria. Twenty articles from four popular Nigerian newspapers – The Punch, The Guardian, The Vanguard, and The Premium Times – were examined to discover the prevalent frames and associated lexical choices. The articles were collected between January and August 2023, a significant period marked by the resurgence of the disease and extensive reporting on its impact on victims. Using frame theory and lexical priming theory as analytical frameworks, the study identified frames such as health crisis, victim, government response, global aid and response, vaccination shortfall/hesitancy, public health awareness, past antecedent, and collaborative effort. Common lexical choices included terms like “deadly,” “surge,” and “critical situation,” which emphasize fear and urgency. This emotive tone is used purposefully to attract readers’ attention and prime them to interpret the outbreak as an urgent public health issue. Frames like Public Health Awareness and Government Response are concerned with informing the public. Several other frames, most notably Vaccination Shortfall/Hesitancy and Collaborative Effort, serve as a rallying cry. They highlight the need for increased vaccination coverage, collaboration among stakeholders, and public participation in health measures. Through framing and lexical choices, the media shapes public opinion, influences perceptions, and guides individual and collective responses to health issues like the diphtheria outbreak. The relevance of this study lies in its contribution to understanding how media framing and lexical choices impact public health communication, ultimately aiding in more effective health crisis management and public engagement strategies.

Genetic Engineering in Insect Management: New Frontiers in Pest Control

Genetic engineering is transforming the landscape of pest management, offering innovative solutions to longstanding challenges in agriculture and public health. Traditional methods, such as chemical pesticides, have led to significant ecological harm and widespread resistance among pests, necessitating new strategies for sustainable control. Advanced technologies, including CRISPR-Cas9, RNA interference (RNAi), and gene drives, have emerged as powerful tools to precisely target pest species while minimizing off-target effects. CRISPR enables precise genome editing, offering ways to suppress populations of disease vectors like Anopheles gambiae, which transmits malaria, while RNAi provides species-specific pest control by silencing essential genes. Gene drives can propagate beneficial traits through populations to curb the spread of vector-borne diseases. Technical challenges like off-target mutations, resistance development, and delivery barriers for RNAi remain significant hurdles. Integrating these genetic tools with traditional Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches could enhance sustainability by reducing reliance on chemical pesticides and promoting ecological balance. The use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in pest control also raises ethical and ecological concerns, particularly regarding the release of gene drive organisms that could irreversibly alter ecosystems. Addressing these challenges requires robust regulatory frameworks, international collaboration, and effective public engagement to foster trust. Public skepticism, often fueled by misinformation, poses a barrier to acceptance, highlighting the need for transparent communication and community involvement. Field trials, such as the release of genetically modified Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in Brazil and Florida, have shown promising results in reducing disease transmission, yet scaling up these efforts requires significant investment and regulatory clarity. Future research priorities include refining gene-editing precision, developing self-limiting gene drives, and enhancing RNAi delivery systems. By advancing interdisciplinary research and fostering global cooperation, the scientific community can harness genetic technologies to create more sustainable and effective pest control solutions, ultimately securing food systems and public health while mitigating environmental impact.

Transforming Global Crisis Communication Through Digital Twins Enhancing Media Response Strategies With Machine Learning

In an increasingly interconnected and crisis-prone world, effective communication during emergencies remains a critical challenge. This study systematically explores the transformative role of digital twins and machine learning (ML) in enhancing crisis communication strategies across multiple domains, including pandemics, natural disasters, cybersecurity incidents, and social media engagement. A total of 259 peer-reviewed articles were analyzed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to ensure a rigorous and transparent review process. The findings highlight that digital twins provide real-time, high-fidelity simulations of crisis dynamics, enabling decision-makers to anticipate challenges, allocate resources efficiently, and optimize emergency responses. Concurrently, machine learning techniques such as deep learning, predictive analytics, and natural language processing (NLP) facilitate misinformation detection, sentiment analysis, and the prediction of public emotional responses. The integration of digital twins and machine learning demonstrates significant advancements in crisis management by offering a data-driven framework for improving situational awareness, reducing response time, and enhancing communication transparency. In pandemic scenarios, digital twins optimize healthcare logistics, while machine learning mitigates misinformation. In natural disasters, these technologies enable dynamic resource allocation and adaptive communication. Similarly, in cybersecurity crises, digital twins simulate attack scenarios, and ML tools detect threats in real time. Moreover, social media analysis through ML identifies public sentiment trends and key influencers to ensure effective public engagement.

Strategic planning and evaluation for effective public engagement

Assessing the impact of public engagement with science (PES) programs has been a long-standing challenge due to the lack of explicit, audience-specific goals and a related lack of evaluation against goal-relevant outcomes. In this practice insight, we present the strategic planning and evaluation process for PES at KIPAC, detailing the steps of setting and assessing long-term behavioral goals, short-term objectives, and tactics. We provide examples to demonstrate the implementation of the strategic plan, and make recommendations for practitioners at the individual, program, and institutional levels to strategize, conduct, and sustain their PES efforts with intention.

The Application of Nanotechnology in Various Food Categories and Packaging

Nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize the food industry by enhancing safety, quality, and shelf life. However, public acceptance is crucial for successful commercialization. This study provides a comparative analysis of consumer perceptions, attitudes, and willingness to purchase nanotechnology-based products across various food categories (processed foods, beverages, dairy, meat, fresh produce) and packaging applications (active, intelligent, biodegradable). Findings indicate that acceptance varies significantly based on food category and packaging type. Key influencing factors include perceived risks/benefits, knowledge/awareness, trust in regulations, and sociocultural/demographic variables. The study emphasizes the need for effective risk communication, transparent labeling, and public engagement to enhance consumer trust. Insights can guide policymakers, researchers, and industry in developing targeted strategies to address concerns and promote responsible nanotechnology development in the food sector.

Toward a public outreach and community engagement strategy on cancer in Newfoundland and Labrador: an initial road map and recommendations

Abstract Background: The province of Newfoundland and Labrador has one of the highest incidence and mortality rates for cancer among the Canadian provinces. Sharing accessible knowledge on cancer is an important part of cancer control and population health efforts. However, bringing useful health information and knowledge exchange events to residents requires an efficient and accessible system. Objectives: We aimed to create a road map and recommendations for effective public outreach and community engagement on cancer in Newfoundland and Labrador. Methods: We used the following information, experience, or public engagement tools to gather information to inform our work: discussions with the members of the Public Interest Group on Cancer Research, researchers' experiences with recruitment and knowledge translation activities, feedback provided to 2 public conferences delivered (Public Conference on Genetics delivered in 2020 and Public Conference on Cancer delivered in 2022—where the target audience was general public), and 2 public town halls (one in-person, one virtual) and 2 individual consultation sessions with key stakeholders. Information gathered was then summarized. Results: We identified a rich set of cancer-related topics for which to organize public events on cancer. In addition, a large number of public outreach and engagement options were identified, emphasizing the fragmented, inefficient, and resource-intensive nature of public outreach and community engagement efforts in the province. Based on the information collected, we developed an initial road map and recommendations to inform future public engagement activities and strategies. In addition, our group has started to implement the road map for our current and future public engagement activities. Conclusions: We present key cancer-related topics that are of public interest and issues and opportunities for recruitment and delivery of knowledge and events to residents of Newfoundland and Labrador. This information can be useful for researchers, organizations, and the health care system in the province. However, more inclusive consultations, larger collaborations, funding, and systematic data collection are needed to build a province-wide public outreach network on cancer and to identify more comprehensive public engagement options. The work presented here can potentially guide these efforts. Our work is also expected to inspire other provinces, states, and communities to assess their public outreach status and help develop road maps co-led by patients to progress their public engagement efforts in cancer.

Impacts of government social media on public engagement in low-carbon practices focusing on Japan

This study investigates the role of Government Social Media (GSM) in enhancing public engagement with Low-Carbon Practices (LCP) in Japan. Motivated by the need to foster sustainable development and mitigate climate change impacts, this research utilizes negative binomial regression model analyzing 1022 posts from nine Japanese government social media accounts. Our findings reveal that increased media richness negatively correlates with engagement, suggesting that content depth over visual appeal is more effective for LCP-related communication. Surprisingly, the dialogic loop reduces engagement, indicating complex public reactions to governmental initiatives. Content themes related to governmental actions and LCP information significantly enhance engagement, while emotional valence shows minimal impact. The study introduces 'social media capital' as a moderating factor, which mitigates the negative effects of dialogic loops and media richness on engagement, and influences the impact of content themes. These insights provide a foundation for future research and guide the development of effective public engagement strategies in environmental policy. The study highlights the need for nuanced GSM strategies that prioritize information quality and relevance to increase public participation in low-carbon initiatives.

Public engagement with science: a novel researcher-led collaboration with a major UK science centre

ABSTRACT Science communication is a key component of the academic process. Science centres provide researchers with an opportunity to convey their findings directly to the public, who in turn can be sure that they are receiving information from a trusted source. Therefore, this paper focuses on a new researcher-led public engagement project situated within a major UK science centre. The project utilises three freestanding digital touchscreen kiosks that provide visitors with the opportunity to learn about science through active participation (e.g. interactive research studies) as well as through more traditional knowledge exchange routes (e.g. static images with text), and it tested the effectiveness of onscreen QR codes as a means for maintaining public engagement beyond the initial kiosk experience. Data collected from nearly 10,000 visitor interactions demonstrated a preference for the interactive activities (5,000 complete datasets were collected) over the more traditional passive knowledge exchange content, and the QR codes were shown to provide a promising route to continued engagement. We recommend this approach to scientists, educators, and designers, seeking to develop an effective, practical, updatable, and cost-effective public engagement exhibit within a public science space.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in Nigeria: A Review of Challenges and Opportunities

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is crucial for mitigating climate change by capturing and storing CO₂ emissions from industrial processes and power generation. This paper reviews the challenges and opportunities of implementing CCS in Nigeria, based on literature from 2014 to 2024. Key challenges include technical barriers like inadequate infrastructure and limited expertise, economic constraints due to high costs, and regulatory issues from the lack of a comprehensive legal framework. Public perception and awareness also pose significant social challenges. However, Nigeria has substantial opportunities for CCS due to its geological potential for CO₂ storage in depleted oil and gas fields and saline aquifers. Economically, CCS can create jobs, stimulate technological innovation, and position Nigeria as a CCS leader in Africa. Environmentally, CCS can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The paper concludes with policy recommendations, including subsidies, tax incentives, and a robust regulatory framework, to promote CCS in Nigeria. It emphasizes the need for investments in research and development, public-private partnerships, and effective public engagement strategies to address challenges and harness opportunities, contributing to global climate change mitigation and sustainable development.

A Pragmatic Presupposition Analysis in Sir David Attenborough’s Climate Change Speeches

Climate change is a critical global issue that requires effective communication and public engagement to drive necessary actions and policy changes. Despite the critical importance of climate change communication, this topic has been limited in its coverage within discourse analysis research, making this study’s investigation particularly significant. This study aims to examine the communication strategies used by a prominent public figure, namely Sir David Attenborough, in addressing climate change issues. To achieve that, this study conducts a qualitative analysis of Sir David Attenborough’s discourse on climate change, with a specific focus on the role of presuppositions in framing his communication strategies. Through analyzing a corpus of his public speeches, this investigation identifies and categorizes the presuppositional triggers employed by Attenborough, particularly those that elicit existential presuppositions triggered by definite descriptions (78% of observed triggers) and structural presuppositions such as restrictive relative clauses (14% of observed triggers). This analysis provides insights into how Attenborough effectively conveys notions of ownership, shared responsibility, and inspires action through strategic use of presuppositions. Examining the persuasive strategies of a prominent public figure, this study makes a valuable contribution to the field and future investigations on climate change communication.

Fostering connection: Principles and practices for well-designed public engagement in physics

Public engagement stands at the core of fostering meaningful connections between physicists and the public, amidst growing public skepticism toward science and scientists. Increasing representation requires a transformative approach to public engagement, emphasizing a collaborative and bidirectional interaction that transcends conventional outreach models. In this paper, we articulate and promote the principles of effective public engagement for physicists. We highlight the successful collaboration between the American Physical Society (APS) Public Engagement and the APS Division of Plasma Physics (DPP) members in developing plasma kits for PhysicsQuest. By sharing insights, examples, and lessons learned, we aim to inspire a cultural shift within the physics community, fostering more inclusive and impactful engagement with diverse audiences.

Effects of message frames and visual cues on cell-cultured meat communication: sensation seeking as a moderator

Cell-cultured meat presents environmental and ethical advantages; however, negative public acceptance remains a significant hurdle. To generate more effective public engagement on this topic, we conducted two online experiments exploring the impact of message framing and food cues (Experiment 1) and the moderating role of an individual's personality trait, sensation seeking, (Experiment 2) on the perception of cultured meat news shared via social media. Our findings revealed that messages employing individual benefit-framing, as opposed to societal benefit-framing, resulted in more positive perceptions of cultured meat. Incorporating direct food cues in the communication led to reduced risk perception, a more favorable attitude, and increased intention to purchase cultured meat. Furthermore, sensation seeking was shown to be a significant moderator for the effects of the message features. Theoretical and practical contributions are discussed.

Environmental risk analysis of a Ramsar site: a case study of east Kolkata wetlands with PSR framework.

The East Kolkata Wetlands (EKWT), designated as a Ramsar Site for its crucial role in sewage water purification, agriculture and pisciculture, faces escalating environmental threats due to rapid urbanisation. Employing the pressure-state-response (PSR) framework and Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA), this study spans three decades to elucidate the evolving dynamics of EKWT. Using Landsat TM and OLI images from 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2021, the research identifies key parameters within the PSR framework. Principal component analysis generates environmental risk maps, revealing a 46% increase in urbanisation, leading to reduced vegetation cover and altered land surface conditions. The spatial analysis, utilizing Getis-Ord Gi* statistics, pinpoints risk hotspots and coldspots in the EKWT region. Correlation analysis underscores a robust relationship between urbanisation, climatic response and environmental risk. Decadal ERA exposes a noteworthy surge in high-risk areas, indicating a deteriorating trend. Quantitative assessments pinpoint environmental risk hotspots, emphasizing the imperative for targeted conservation measures. The study establishes a direct correlation between environmental risk and air quality, underscoring the broader implications of EKWT's degradation. While acknowledging the East Kolkata administration's efforts, the research recognises its limitations and advocates a holistic, multidisciplinary approach for future investigations. Recommendations encompass the establishment of effective institutions, real-time monitoring, public engagement and robust anti-pollution measures. In offering quantitative insights, this study provides an evidence-based foundation for conservation strategies and sustainable management practices essential to safeguard the East Kolkata Wetlands.

ANALYSIS OF FACTORS INFLUENCING SATISFACTION WITH USING THE MOBILE LAPOR APPLICATION IN INDONESIA

The rapid digital growth in Indonesia has prompted the government to leverage digital-based services to address the needs and concerns of its citizens. In this context, the LAPOR (People's Online Aspiration and Complaints Service) mobile application and website have been established as a means for Indonesians to voice complaints, aspirations, and requests for information to government agencies. However, user satisfaction with the LAPOR application has been suboptimal, as evidenced by user ratings and comments on platforms such as Playstore and AppStore. This research aims to identify the factors influencing user satisfaction with the LAPOR mobile application in Indonesia. The study focuses on variables including ease of use, security privacy, system quality, speed of platform response, and attitude toward use. The research methodology involves primary data collection through the distribution of questionnaires via Google Form to Indonesian users residing in specific regions. The validity and reliability of the research are ensured through rigorous testing of dependent, independent, and intervening variables. The findings of the research highlight the significant influence of security privacy on system quality, ease of use on user satisfaction, and system quality on ease of use. These results provide valuable insights for the government of Indonesia to enhance the effectiveness of the LAPOR system in addressing public complaints and aspirations. By addressing these factors, the government can improve user satisfaction and engagement with the LAPOR mobile application, ultimately leading to more effective public service delivery and citizen engagement.
 Keywords:
 Mobile Application, User Satisfaction, Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Public Complaints, Indonesia Public Service Delivery

Reflections from the 'Hold the door open' project: Inviting older adults across the UK to shape dissemination of health research findings.

This project sought to expand patient and public involvement (PPI) practices to the development of research finding dissemination with people aged 55+ years. The project is innovative due to its UK-wide approach and use of PPI to plan better ways to share findings of health research with older adults, extending PPI beyond research project initiation to support dissemination activities. The aim of this study is to understand how to develop effective public engagement activities with older adults to disseminate findings of health research. We hope to promote greater inclusivity and advance our understanding of this demographic. This project combined three approaches: (i) an online questionnaire to ask what activities older adults enjoy; (ii) online planning workshops seeking public contributors'input in event planningand (iii) community events to share research findings and raise awareness of PPI. Activities were carried out in Cardiff, Belfast, Glasgow and Tewkesbury. The planning workshops clarified that in-person activities and offering options for activities were important. Based on feedback from our contributors, all our events focused around a talk and questionand answersession. Other short activities included light exercise and a writing activity. Our multiphase approach helped us develop informative activities that reflected the questionnaire results and the feedback from the workshops, as we tailored our events to each location. A phased approach allowed both researchers and contributors to gradually deepen their understanding. Further awareness raising is needed to develop the role older adults currently hold in health research activities. Working closely with existing communities can help broaden diversity. Thirty-three public contributors helped facilitate this project. Two of these also contributed to this article by writing a reflection of their experiences, one of whom also provided feedback for the article.

On Being a Computer Science Communicator

Facilitating more effective public engagement with a computer science perspective.

Strategic Initiatives for Large Transport Infrastructure Planning: Reinforcing Sustainability in Urban Transportation through Better Stakeholder Engagement

An efficacious stakeholder engagement process is instrumental in achieving success in large transport infrastructure projects. This is due to the integral role of public stakeholders’ participation in the decision-making process. The purpose of this study is to explore the key components that are essential for an effective public stakeholder engagement process in large transport infrastructure projects. The paper entails an in-depth analysis of stakeholder management processes, large transport infrastructure complexities, and stakeholder engagement as a holistic framework. A mixed-methods approach is adopted, together with a comparative case study design utilizing various data from large transport infrastructure projects. The findings demonstrate that the engagement framework and objectives are the key components of large transport infrastructure planning. Moreover, such components are dependent upon the characteristics of public stakeholders and the project scope. These findings can assist transport planners in devising effective techniques for stakeholder engagement during the initiation of such projects.

Book review: John C. Besley and Anthony Dudo, Strategic Science Communication – A Guide to Setting the Right Objectives for more Effective Public Engagement

Book review: John C. Besley and Anthony Dudo, <i>Strategic Science Communication – A Guide to Setting the Right Objectives for more Effective Public Engagement</i>

The development of public engagement as a core institutional role for parliaments

ABSTRACT Public engagement has become a noticeable activity for parliaments across the world. However, we lack understanding of its role despite considerable developments in scholarly work on public engagement in the sciences and on deliberative and participatory democracy by social scientists. This article provides a framework to understand the significance of parliamentary public engagement and to evaluate its effectiveness. It explains how parliamentary public engagement has emerged because of a representational shift in who is doing the representing in parliament and in what is represented, following key societal changes. We define parliamentary public engagement, showing the importance of differentiating between the activity, its effects and broader democratic ideals. We identify information and education as the types of engagement activity most developed by parliaments, with much still to do in consultation and participation activities. The article finishes with a discussion of seven key challenges in developing and implementing effective institutional parliamentary public engagement practices.