Science of Science Communication Scientific Interest Group

NEW! SciOSciComm SIG: Exposure matters -- Unpacking the effects of repeated exposure to messaging about health & environmental issues

In a typical research study testing the psychological effects of promotional media messages (for example, health communication campaigns), participants only get one exposure to the message. As a result, we know surprisingly little about how people’s beliefs, emotions, attitudes, and behaviors change as they repeatedly encounter promotional information about health and environmental issues.

At our April ScioSciComm SIG meeting, Dr. Chris Skurka of Pennsylvania State University will present the results from multiple longitudinal experiments, as well as the results from a meta-analysis on the role of message fatigue in persuasion. The findings from these studies move us toward a clearer understanding of how message repetition can lead to both intended and unintended outcomes. We hope to see you there virtually on April 3, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Teams meeting
Meeting ID: 293 204 692 931
Passcode: C2XY6vs3

About the SIG:

The NIH Science of Science Communication Interest Group (ScioSciComm-SIG) meets monthly to focus specifically on the scientific design and evaluation of science communication, with seminars/journal clubs highlighting both measures of effectiveness and methods to increase general success or target efforts to respond to specific goals.

The interest group is chaired by Drs. Chris Gunter (NHGRI), Grace Hébert (All of Us), and Erica Bizzell-Jones (NIDDK). Membership in the ScioSciComm-SIG will be open to all interested individuals within the NIH, who can join the Teams channel for more information and access to past recordings. For more information, contact Drs. Bizzell-Jones, Hébert, or Gunter.

Individuals needing a sign language interpreter or CART services (real-time transcription) to participate in this event should please enter your request into the request portal at Access Interpreting (usked.com) or email the NIH scheduling team at nih@ainterpreting.com.

Previous lectures:

2025 March 6: "Trust in scientists and their role in society" by Dr. Niels Mede, University of Zurich

2025 February 6: “From funding to findings: The evolution and future of ‘hype’ in science” by Dr. Neil Millar, University of Tsukuba

2024 December 5: “Mixed-methods approaches to examine harnessing communication strategies to mitigate health disparities,” Dr. Carina Zeyala, University of Maryland

2024 October 3: "The power of words: Stigma and its effects on health outcomes" by Dr. Brenda Curtis, NIH NIDA

2024 June 6: "Communicating research: systematic examination of strategies, tools and impacts" by Dr. Giuseppe Pellegrini, Observa Science in Society Network

2024 April 4: "You want a news release with that?" by Brian Lin, director of EurekAlert!

2024 March 7: "Socially responsible science communication in the age of generative AI," by Prof. Eric A. Jensen, University of Warwick, UK

2024 February 1: "Strategic science communication for building trust," by Dr. John Besley of Michigan State University

2023 October 5: “Quality of science communication: deep questions and practical suggestions," by Mr. Arko Olesk

2023 July 6: “Evaluating the effectiveness of science communication" by Dr. Kristin Bass, Director of Research Development at Rockman

2003 April 6: “Does science self-correct? What we’ve learned at Retraction Watch” by Dr. Ivan Oransky, Editor in Chief, Spectrum; Distinguished Writer in Residence, New York University's Arthur Carter Journalism Institute; and Co-Founder, Retraction Watch.

2023 February 2: “Community-based public health communication” by Carlos Rodriguez-Diaz, Associate Professor, Vice-Chair, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University

Chairs

Scientific Focus Areas

This page was last updated on Thursday, March 20, 2025