More information to come!
The Millennium Café runs 10-11am in the 3rd floor Café Commons of the MSC Bldg. Join researchers from across campus for a stellar cup of coffee and two <10 min interdisciplinary talks. All Millennium Café events are free and open to the Penn State community, include coffee and breakfast pastries, and are held in the third floor Café Commons of the Millennium Science Complex at University Park.
Toward Better Public Communication about Science, Health, and the Environment
Chris Skurka | College of Communications
To enhance public engagement with science, health, and environmental issues, it seems intuitive to simply present the public with appropriate information. Yet social scientific evidence has shown that increased knowledge does not necessarily translate to desired changes in beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors. Not to mention, media messaging about science, health, and environmental issues must compete for the public’s attention in a fractured, divisive media landscape. This talk will discuss findings from several studies that point to some promising messaging strategies that may help cut through the noise and shift public views and behavior, with particular attention to the role of emotion.
Win-Wins for Wild Meat: Reconciling Food, Environmental, and Global Health Security
Sagan Friant | Anthropology
The prevention of zoonotic diseases spread through wild meat is a complex challenge. Wild meat in Africa, colloquially referred to as “bushmeat”, is an important part of livelihoods, nutrition, and culture. Wild meat trade increases the frequency and geographic spread of animal exposures that could result in spillover of zoonotic diseases to humans. The RISK lab at Penn State runs a long-term research project studying risk factors for zoonotic disease transmission through hunting, trade, and consumption of wildmeat within socio-ecological systems. We are looking for new ideas and collaborations that can help to bring cutting-edge research and grass roots interventions to remote communities at the forefront of emerging health and environmental challenges.