Climate Communication in Broadcast Meteorology A Workshop on Science and Storytelling Welcome ! Department of Natural & Applied Sciences September 20, 2014 Thom Davis Rick Oches Dave Szymanski

Premises : (1)Topics of climate change (or global warming) and media reports on such topics remain controversial with respect to public opinion and positions in the broadcast meteorology community. (1)With respect to Earth’s climate, earth and atmospheric scientists have accumulated a vast body of data from calibrated measurements and well-tested hypotheses using best practices in science. (1)Broadcast meteorologists have a vital, self-identified role as science communicators to the public and can be effective climate educators.

Do you think that global warming is happening? (n=433) Yes, and it is caused mostly by human activity.19% Yes, it is caused more-or-less equally by human 35% activity and natural events. Yes, and it is caused mostly by natural events.29% Don’t know.8% No.9% SOURCE: Maibach, E., Cobb, S. Leiserowitz A., Peters, E., Schweizer, V., Mandryk, C., Witte, J., (2011) A National Survey of Television Meteorologists about Climate Change: Education. George Mason University. Fairfax, VA: Center for Climate Change Communication Global warming refers to the idea that the world’s average temperature has been increasing over the past 150 years, may be increasing more in the future, and that the world’s climate may change as a result.

climate science ≠ climate communication

Approach to communicating with audiences on climate change AVOID ENGAGE COMPROMISE Comfort explaining climate science HIGHER LOWER Broadcaster Interviews (n=22)

Climate Communication in Broadcast Meteorology A Workshop on Science and Storytelling