Uncertainty in Science

Communication for

Political Action

Research Storytelling

An exploration of what "scientific uncertainty" means and how to communicate "uncertain science."

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In collaboration with the Mellichamp Academic Initiative in Sustainability.

How to design communication strategies to promote engagement with the political process.

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With Sean Hastings of Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, Jenna Driscoll from the Santa Barbara Channel Keeper, and staff from the office of Assemblymember Monique Limon.

How to translate your research for non-expert audiences and distribute it through the right channels.

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With Tim Owens, former NPR correspondent (Washington, DC) and digital content producer.

Full Course Descriptions

Communication Core Courses: (8 units, required for focus)

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ESM 440 Strategic Environmental Communication (4 units) Lisa Leombruni

Students begin their training with a deep dive into communication, persuasion, and decision-making science to understand how their audiences will process environmental messages. Students study the elements of compelling storytelling and practice adapting their message to diverse audiences. By mastering the art of good storytelling, students are well-equipped to specialize in any communication approach.

*Enrollment in ESM 440 requires an application and approval by the instructor.

ESM 449 Environmental Communication Practicum (4 units) Lisa Leombruni

Training effective environmental communicators requires the opportunity to practice working in an applied setting, something the focus has built into its framework. In this capstone course, students apply their knowledge and communication skills to develop and implement their own communication campaign for an environmental organization.

*Enrollment in ESM 449 requires approval by the instructor.

Communication Electives: (Minimum 4 units and 2 electives required to complete focus)

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ESM 269 Survey Design and Environmental Public Opinion (2 units) Heather Hodges

For a communication campaign to be successful, one must first determine what type of message would be most compelling to a target audience. This course provides an essential toolkit for this audience research and impact evaluation. Students analyze the elements of successful survey design and implement these strategies in a survey they create themselves.

ESM 283 Environmental Negotiation (4 units) Staff

Due to the polarized nature of many environmental topics today, environmental leaders are continuously confronted by conflicting viewpoints and priorities. To help prepare students for this reality, this course trains them how to work with different stakeholders to reach mutually agreeable decisions.

ESM 430 Social Media for the Environment (1 unit) Lindsey Jurca & Matt King

In this hands-on workshop, students will learn best practices for increasing reach and effectiveness of messaging through targeted social media outreach. The workshop also covers how to identify target audiences and determine the best platforms to reach them with authentic, relevant messaging.

ESM 437 Writing Skills for Environmental Professionals (2 units) Lisa Leombruni

Effective communicators understand that strong writing skills and a well-structured argument are necessary to generate any form of compelling media or outreach. This course helps students become more comfortable with the writing process, giving them confidence in the power of their writing.

ESM 438 Presentation Skills for Environmental Professionals (4 units) Staff (currently not offered)

Students become adept presenters across a wide range of scenarios including project defenses, research conferences, and job interviews. After this course, students will have the skills and confidence to speak effectively in public.

EDS 240 Data Visualization and Communication (4 units) MEDS staff

Good environmental messaging often relies on facts and figures, but these tools are only effective if properly visualized. In this course, students gain exposure to different datasets and practice interpreting and presenting them for different audiences. This course is a part of the Master of Environmental Data Science program.

*Enrollment in EDS 240 requires approval by the instructor.

ESM 441 Environmental Media Production (2 units) Michael Hanrahan

With the growing popularity of video, the Communication focus provides students the opportunity to learn video production skills. Students learn the fundamentals of video production, including cinematography, lighting, sound, and editing. To gain confidence in media production, students work together to develop short, compelling videos on an environmental topic of their choice.

ESM 442 Communication for Civic Engagement & Grassroots Organizing (2 units) Heather Hodges

This is an exciting opportunity for students to gain practical exposure to a wide range of civic engagement surrounding the environment. Building upon lectures covering theoretical skills, students meet and learn from local environmental leaders across a broad spectrum of organizations.

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ESM 296 Equity & the Environment (2 units) Lisa Leombruni

This seminar-style course will provide an overview and foundational understanding of environmental justice. We will start by examining different attempts to define “environmental justice” and review a brief history of approaches to understanding and applying environmental justice. We will also consider how communication and outreach can support environmental justice outcomes.