The University of Massachusetts Amherst

Why Public Engagement?

As citizens and as scholars, we have an interest in today’s debates about public policy, conversations about the state of the world, and imagining a different future. Read more about the Public Engagement Projects' Mission and Vision

Upcoming Events

Data Visualization for Effective Science Communication With Diverse Audiences

Monday, May 8, 2023
10 – 12:00 PM EST
Via Zoom

Participants will learn about various approaches to visualizing scientific findings and data for effective communication with diverse audiences. Focus will be on both key principles of effective data visualization as well as concrete skill-building among participants. Register here.

 
Making Research Matter, with Dr. Aynne Kokas on Monday, March 20th, 4-5:15 pm, ILC N345 (Hybrid)
Please join us to talk about public engagement and making research matter with Dr. Aynne Kokas, Associate Professor of Media Studies at the University of Virginia. Dr. Kokas will share her wealth of experience in engaging with the press, the public, and government officials about her expertise on Sino-U.S. media and technology relations. 
 
RSVP here In the RSVP you will indicate if you will attend in-person or remotely (the event is hybrid), and if you would like to have your public engagement plans workshopped by our guest speaker.
 

Linda R. Tropp, PEP Co-Director, recently co-authored a new report on the psychological processes that drive social division and threaten American democracy

Linda R. Tropp, PEP Co-Director, recently co-authored a new report on the psychological processes that drive social division and threaten American democracy. In the report, Renewing American Democracy: Navigating A Changing Nation the authors analyze America’s current social divides through the lens of social science to understand how threats–both real and perceived–shape our sense of identity, our feelings of belonging, and our perceptions of status and power relations in society, all of which have downstream impacts on our behavior, and ultimately, the health of our democracy. Read more at Beyond Conflict. 

Linda Tropp, PEP Co-Director, discusses a new report from the nonprofit organization Beyond Conflict that analyzes America’s social divides through the lens of social science

Linda Tropp, PEP Co-Director, discusses a new report from the nonprofit organization Beyond Conflict that analyzes America’s social divides through the lens of social science to understand how demographic, social and cultural changes in the U.S. can affect perceptions of threats to our identities, feelings of belonging and perceptions of status and power. Read more at WHMP. 

Michael Rawlins, 2015 PEP Fellow, is interviewed about local impacts of climate change in a local TV weather special

Michael Rawlins, 2015 PEP Fellow, is interviewed about local impacts of climate change in a local TV weather special. Rawlins, associate director of the Climate System Research Center explains “If we don't sufficiently mitigate our use of fossil fuels, some of the temperature increases we could see in this area could amount to up to six to eight degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century." Rawlins also said “I’m really encouraged by the adoption of renewable energy in this region. There is a chance we could avoid some of the worst climate impacts if we reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.” Read more at WWLP. 

Rebecca Spencer, 2015 PEP Fellow, appears on a local TV program to discuss the role word games can play in helping one’s brain as they age

Rebecca Spencer, 2015 PEP Fellow, appears on a local TV program to discuss the role word games can play in helping one’s brain as they age. “Unfortunately you can get really good at Wordle, or Scrabble, or whatever it is, and it just doesn’t translate to those things that are usually the practical skills we need” like remembering a grocery list, she says. Read more at Mass Appeal. 

Miliann Kang, 2016 PEP Fellow, was recently quoted in an article about the significance of Asian hair salons

Miliann Kang, 2016 PEP Fellow, was recently quoted in an article about the significance of Asian hair salons. Kang explains, the sort of tenderness in the work itself, Kang said, is also critical in fostering special connections and a comforting space. “I think there’s a stereotype where there’s all this bonding that automatically happens, and that takes away from the fact that it actually takes a lot of work by the business owner as well as the hairdressers to create that sense of welcome and care,” Kang said. Read more at NBC News.  

Matthew Lackner, 2018 PEP Fellow, explains why we likely won’t ever see rooftop wind turbines in the same way that we have rooftop solar panels

Matthew Lackner, 2018 PEP Fellow, explains why we likely won’t ever see rooftop wind turbines in the same way that we have rooftop solar panels. Lackner, director of the Wind Energy Center, said “When it comes to residential, most areas have limits of towers you can install on your house or something, so you can’t really get a turbine up very high. You’re also, in most residential areas, surrounded by other houses and trees and things like that that block the wind low down, so wind speeds tend to be very low right near a house.” Read more at Popular Science.

Elizabeth Sharrow, 2020 PEP Fellow, appeared on the Diane Rehm podcast to discuss the 50th anniversary of the passing of Title IX that prohibits gender-based exclusion in education

Elizabeth Sharrow, 2020 PEP Fellow, appeared on the Diane Rehm podcast to discuss the 50th anniversary of the passing of Title IX that prohibits gender-based exclusion in education. She said, “There is an important and dramatic story of social and educational change that has been brought about in education and in sports. At the same time, these opportunities have not necessarily been available to all women equally.” Read more at DianeRehm.org. 

Erin Baker, 2017 PEP Fellow, is quoted in an article about the focus governments and companies should have on the green technologies of the future

Erin Baker, 2017 PEP Fellow, is quoted in an article about the focus governments and companies should have on the green technologies of the future. Baker, faculty director of the Energy Transition Institute, says that one of the greatest needs is making the electrical grid reliable. “Some of that investment is technologies but some of that investment is more processes, business models, and regulations,” she says. Read more at Vox. 

Thomas Zoeller, 2016 PEP Fellow, is quoted in an article examining the dangers posed by chemicals present in the wastewater of oil and gas drilling

Thomas Zoeller, 2016 PEP Fellow, is quoted in an article examining the dangers posed by chemicals present in the wastewater of oil and gas drilling. He says that one of the biggest concerns is what he calls “invisible outcomes” – if somebody doesn’t die right away from chemicals you can’t trace, but then suffers from chronic or deadly diseases later in life attributable to the chemicals. When it comes to growing crops with produced water, he says, “you may not be able to say that this is going to be harmful, but you sure as hell can’t say it’s going to be safe.” Read more at Inside Climate News. 

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In appreciation of their generous support, the UMass Public Engagement Project would like to thank the Office of the Provost, University Relations, and the Colleges of Natural Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences,  Humanities and Fine Arts, Engineering, Public Health and Health Sciences, and Education.  The UMass Public Engagement Project also recognizes and appreciates in-kind contributions and collaborations with the Center for Research on Families and the Institute for Social Science Research. 

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