Persuasive Communication of Evidence-Based Science: Opportunities, Hazards, and the Message Box Tool  

Speaker: Jonathan Patz, John P. Holton Chair of Health and the Environment, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Macmillan Visiting Scholar, Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont 

Wednesday, January 22, 2025, 12–2pm, with lunch served 

The goal of this Gund Leadership Academy is to improve participants’ communications skills, including interviews with the media and posting and reacting to social media content. By the end of this session, participants will be able to: 

1. Use lessons from the field of persuasive communication to more effectively communicate science to the media or general public and counter disinformation campaigns 
2. Learn how to construct a “message box” 
3. Learn how to better prepare and counter disinformation 

Part 1 (30 minutes): Jonathan Patz will begin with some basics on Persuasive Communications (itself, a field of science). Participants will learn natural reasons for unavoidable misperceptions of risk and be introduced to the problem of intentional deception, or disinformation, which is now widespread and requires improving our own critical thinking skills. Pre-reading: Using narratives and storytelling to communicate science with nonexpert audiences. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 111(Supplement_4). 

Part 2 (60 minutes): Jonathan will discuss his use of the Message Box tool to communicate about climate change and health. Participants will spend some time observing a few practice interviews and developing their own message boxes. 

Additional resources: 

When to suspect you're being exposed to intentional disinformation
Video on the "Truth Sandwich" 
The 5 key techniques used to disinform to call out bad actors and improve critical thinking when digesting information. 
Video on Debunking and Prebunking 

Strategic Coding Practices: How To Upscale Your Coding And Build Large Projects

Speaker: Nick Gotelli, Professor, Department of Biology, Gund Faculty Fellow, University of Vermont

Tuesday, February 5, 2025, 10am–2pm, with lunch served

Most researchers know how to build an R script to execute a relatively simple set of instructions. But this kind of coding quickly becomes slow, inefficient, and not reproducible for real-world projects, which may have many different data sets and interacting components. This workshop will teach you how to structure and organize your code into modular units that are flexible and easy to use, no matter how large or complex your project becomes. 

Requirements:  Pre-registration via email to Julianna White. The session organizer will be in contact with registrants to ensure that R and Rstudio software are installed and running on participants’ personal computer (mac or windows) before the session begins. (This will save time during the session by not having to troubleshoot for individual machines.)

Mental Modeler Short Course: Promoting systems modeling and knowledge integration through a free Fuzzy Cognitive Modeling Software

Speaker: Steven Gray, Professor, Michigan State University; Research Scientist, Collective Intelligence Unit IT University of Copenhagen;  Research Associate, National Institute of Standards and Technology. Link to more info.

Thursday, October 10, 2024. Lunch starting at 1pm. Training from 1:30-4:30  Farrell Hall.

Description

Understanding and modeling contemporary socio-environmental problems requires ‘systems thinking’ and computational skills so that researchers, teachers and students can conceptualize and define the complex connections between human and natural systems. Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping (FCM) provides a powerful approach to modeling, analyzing and teaching about socio-environmental problems because it is domain flexible, quantifies the often hard-to-define networked relationships within complex systems, integrates conceptual and empirical data, and provides insight into both system structure and behavior through dynamic scenario analysis. In this short afternoon course, we will review basic principles of FCM as a methodology for sustainability and conservation research using the Mental Modeler software. Ultimately the goal of this short course is to promote and increase the understanding of FCM as an approach to: (a) modeling complex socio-environmental systems, (b) integrating stakeholder and interdisciplinary knowledge in socio-environmental research and (c) teaching about complex sustainability topics.

Short Course Format and Software

The course will short include explanatory sections and group and individual modeling exercises. Group exercises will emphasize problem-solving and modeling techniques using the free online FCM software Mental Modeler (www.mentalmodeler.org) (so it is suggested that students bring their personal computers to the workshop).

Mentorship Training for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows

Speaker: Amy Prunuske, Principal Facilitator, Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER), University of Wisconsin

Thursday, October 3, 2024. Breakfast starting at 8:45. Training from 9-11am.  Waterman Memorial Lounge.

Mentorship training is an evidence-based, interactive approach that engages participants in collective problem solving and connects them with resources to optimize their mentoring practices. This training will focus on aligning expectations and maintaining effective communication in mentorship relationships. Limit 32 participants.

Facilitator Amy Prunuske is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Medical College of Wisconsin-Central Wisconsin. Dr. Prunuske teaches and mentors first and second year medical students and is the co-director of the Physician in the Community program. Her research interests are diverse and focus on medical education and community-engagement in rural areas.  She is a Master Facilitator with the National Research Mentoring Network.

How to Help Each Other and Ourselves: Skills and Knowledge for Wellness, Stress Management, and Inclusive Leadership

Speakers: Walter Brownsword III, Outreach Coordinator, Counseling and Psychiatry Services (CAPS), UVM Center for Health and Wellbeing; Annie Valentine, Education and Training Manager, UVM Center for Health and Wellbeing

February 8, 9-11am with breakfast available starting a few minutes early

Farrell 107

This workshop will discuss current mental health trends in higher education, specifically the graduate student population.  Presenters will describe the  public health approach to health and wellbeing, health equity,  and mental health literacy concepts. Presenters and participants will explore strategies to identify levels of stress and engage with tools to manage mental and emotional health needs.

Science to Policy Impact: What early-career researchers need to know

Speaker: Interdisciplinary scientist Heather Tallis, who recently led biodiversity and conservation programs at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Facilitator: Amanda Sardonis, Gund Institute Director of Policy and Partnerships

March 22, 9-11am with breakfast available starting a few minutes early

Aiken 103 (location to be confirmed)

What is the demand for policy-relevant research and expertise, and how can scholars effectively engage in the policymaking process? This workshop will explore the science-to-policy pipeline, and the various modes and levels of engagement, from responding to requests for information and developing relationships of trust and understanding with policymakers to framing policy-relevant research questions.

More about the speaker:
A broadly published scientist, policy advisor, passionate speaker and non-profit executive, Heather Tallis works to bridge nature, the economy and people's lives. Dr. Tallis led the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy nature portfolio under the Biden-Harris Administration, driving cross agency action on nature-based solutions, advancing efforts to account for nature in benefit-cost analysis, and with the US Global Change Research Program, creating the National Nature Assessment. Through previous work with The Nature Conservancy and the Natural Capital Project, she has used the tools of science, human centered design and innovation to infuse nature into decisions with local communities, governments and the private sector around the globe. As an interdisciplinary scientist, Dr. Tallis has brought biodiversity and conservation expertise to the World Economic Forum, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and the boards of local and global non-profit and research organizations.

Sharing Your Story Effectively: Crafting Your Key Messages, Personal Bios, and Social Media

Speakers: Lauren Milideo, Strategic Communications Manager for Gund Institute and UVM;  Tanya Tran, Social Media Manager, UVM Communications, and Basil Waugh, Media Relations Director, UVM Communications

April 12, 9-11am with breakfast available starting a few minutes early

Farrell 107                    

Think about and practice introducing yourself and your work/works to a wide range of audiences. From crafting personal bios to speaking with community groups, journalists, and government leaders, to building your presence on LinkedIn or other social media, participants will use this learning opportunity to help share their studies and interests with the public.

Policy Engagement Workshop

Facilitator: Stephen Posner, Gund Director of Policy
Panelists: Policy practitioners to be confirmed.

Wednesday, Sept. 28 from 10am-12pm

This workshop will empower participants to engage with policymakers and share what they do, what they know – and most importantly, why it matters – in clear, lively terms. Participants will learn from a panel of practitioners about how research and policy interact. We will prepare for opportunities to engage with policy through facilitated discussion, hands-on practice, and concrete tips and tools.

2 hours total, followed by an optional lunch with the panelists. RSVPs will be required

Getting the Resources You Need for Your Research: Grant Writing

Facilitators: Lini Wollenberg is a Gund Fellow and Research Professor at UVM, and Tom Dietz is a Gund Affiliate and University Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University.

Friday, Nov. 4, 2-4pm

Two experienced grant writers will lead this workshop providing real-world examples of proposals that get funded and ones that don’t. We’ll explore what goes into a proposal and what funders are looking for. Whether you’re new to the process or have been engaging in RFP cycles for years, you’ll benefit from this workshop.

Two hours total. RSVPs will be required.

Science Communication: Connecting with Your Audience to Share the Wonder and Joy of Your Research

Facilitator: Natalie Miller, Vermont Comedy Club

Wednesday, Dec. 7 from 2-4pm

Through this interactive workshop with Natalie Miller (Vermont Comedy Club), you’ll learn productive and effective communication strategies through improv exercises that teach us to listen closely and pay attention to our audiences. This will be a fun and participatory workshop on building your skills for more effective research communication with your stakeholders, policymakers, colleagues, advisors, future employers, the general public, or even your neighbor! This is an in-person-only session and space is limited.

The Future of Open Access: How Will it Impact You?

Panelists:

Meredith Niles (Associate Professor, Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences)
Mary Cushman (Professor of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology Divison and Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Medicine)
Dan DeSanto (Associate Professor, UVM Libraries)
Kendall Fortney (Program Director, Open Source Program Office)

Wednesday, March 8 from 12-1:30pm

This event will explore open access publishing and principles with UVM community members. Themes to be discussed include the cost of publishing, equity in publishing, the future of open access, and more. Following the panel discussion, the floor will be opened for questions and comments from the audience.
1.5 hours with lunch provided. RSVP requested, open to all.

Location: Davis Auditorium (between the Larner Learning Commons and UVMMC)

A hybrid option will be available closer to the date.

Leadership & Listening for Working with Communities

Facilitators: Elena Bennett is a Gund Affiliate and Professor of Sustainability Science at McGill University.
Monday, April 3, 2-4pm

This workshop will explore how two things can transform your leadership and ability to work with others: (1) knowing yourself better, and (2) listening better. We will do two main exercises: one to better understand ourselves, and a second to practice active listening. Both are key components of working with communities and other teams.

Two hours total. RSVPs required.