Edward Maibach

Speaker abstract

Effectively Communicating with the Public and Decision‑Makers about [Insert Your Priority Science Issue Here]: Five Guiding Principles
Effective science communication is neither a magic bullet, nor a substitute for science education or for meaningful efforts to engage the public in dialogue and decision‑making about important issues that are grounded in science, but it is nevertheless critically important. Fortunately, getting the communication right is, as they say, "not rocket science," but it does require adherence to a disciplined, research‑based process that focuses more on the audience than on the communicator. This presentation will focus on five guiding principles that can help physical science organizations both get their messages right, and get their messages heard.

View the presentation (Powerpoint)

Biography

Edward MalbachEd Maibach is a University Professor and director of the Center for Climate Change Communication at George Mason University.  With over 25 years of experience as a researcher and practitioner of public health communication and social marketing, Ed now focuses exclusively on how to mobilize populations to adopt behaviors and support public policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help communities adapt to the unavoidable consequences of climate change.

Ed previously had the pleasure to serve as Associate Director of the National Cancer Institute, as Worldwide Director of Social Marketing at Porter Novelli, as Chairman of the Board for Kidsave International, and in academic positions at George Washington University and Emory University.  He earned his doctoral degree at Stanford University and his MPH at San Diego State University.