Effective Communication for Emerging Contaminants: Using Audience-Focused Strategies to Overcome Challenges

Nyquist, Katie

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/103971 Copy

Description

Title

Effective Communication for Emerging Contaminants: Using Audience-Focused Strategies to Overcome Challenges

Author(s)

Nyquist, Katie

Issue Date

2019-05-21

Keyword(s)

• science communication
• PFAS
• per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
• disinfection byproducts

Abstract

As our scientific understanding of emerging contaminants grows through improved analytical methods, increased environmental monitoring, and ongoing health risk assessment we also face a growing challenge to communicate about emerging contaminants and the work we do to understand them better. Successful communication about emerging contaminants requires us to approach difficult topics such as uncertainty, evolving and complex science, and, in many cases, a lack of regulatory standards applied to emerging contaminants. The Minnesota Department of Health will share their challenges and successes in communicating about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, disinfection byproducts, and other emerging contaminants affecting water resources. This presentation will explore these challenges from an audience-centric perspective, highlighting the role of risk perception and science literacy in communication about emerging contaminants. The presentation will also include a discussion of the Minnesota Department of Health’s multi-pronged approach to improving communications about emerging contaminants in water, highlighting a new toolkit for drinking water systems and outreach and education grants to local partners.

Series/Report Name or Number

2019 Emerging Contaminants in the Environment Conference (ECEC19)

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/103971

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