Sustainability Spotlight
GREEN MEDIA
Thanks to the efforts of Kristen Alley Swain, assistant professor of journalism, KU students are gaining valuable experience in the complexities of conveying sustainability-related topics in the media. Swain has incorporated sustainability topics into her science writing classes through service learning projects that teach her students to communicate difficult scientific concepts while educating the public.“I want to help future journalists learn how to judge competing claims and help audiences understand the complexities of climate change, energy, biodiversity and other critical environmental issues,” Swain said. “Solid, explanatory news coverage about sustainability could engage citizens on a global scale and inspire innovative solutions.”
One way of accomplishing this is through collaborative efforts between students in different disciplines. In her science and medical writing class, Swain paired journalism and biology students to learn from one another on service learning projects about biodiversity and energy conservation. Last spring, students produced video interviews with Biodiversity Institute scientists for “The Life of the Planet,” an interactive feature on the Natural History Museum’s Web site.
Swain’s students also discovered creative ways to document the design and construction of the Kansas Project Solar House entry in the international Solar Decathlon competition. They produced feature stories, media tip sheets, videos and audio slide shows. Over two years, her classes also partnered with the Kansas Corporation Commission Energy office to develop interactive quizzes for a traveling touch-screen kiosk about energy efficient practices and products. Both projects were sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.
As public awareness about sustainability grows, journalists will play an increasingly vital role in translating the complicated and controversial information that citizens will need to make important decisions. With skills gained through science communication projects, Swain’s students will be poised to face that challenge as they begin their careers.
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