UNDERSTANDING DISTRUST IN SCIENCE: COJO DEPT. RESEARCHES DATA DISCORD
cell information from Henrietta Lacks. When teaching science journalism, Landreville thinks it’s important for students to understand the past and where science has done harm, so they can be vigilant about protecting communities and their trust moving forward. Landreville sought to diversify science journalism by making inclusion and access focal points for the internships offered. In partnership with Wyoming Public Media, Landreville worked with many outstanding students, including a student who was raised on Assistant Professor in Chemical Engineering Karen the Wind River Indian Reservation Wawrousek, Brett Peterson and Julia Dickie in the newly remodeled engineering lab. interested in the intersection of science writing, journalism and health promotion in underserved Wyoming communities. In growing years, it has Reseachers like CooXooEii Black of the Wind River become apparent that Indian Reservation and graduate of Colorado College have increasing populations been able to access the funds from the NSF grant for research of civilians are on their home communities. While not a UW student, Black skeptical of data has worked with UW community members as he studies the scientists. With the intricacies of his Northern Arapaho culture and considers the circulation of fake needs of his community, especially in relation to public health news and narratives and wellbeing. surrounding unreliable Landreville sees a large need for these internships. reporting, it’s Photo of student researcher CooXooEii Dependable science writing is essential, especially in times understandable why courtesy of wyomingepscor.blogspot.com of crisis, like the current COVID-19 pandemic. So far, the there is such a distrust initial cohorts of interns have had great success: they have in public sciences and written and produced over 75 stories and are finding the media. University of Wyoming Communication Professor process illuminating. Kristin Landreville sought to understand this phenomenon through research with her students. “MY HOPE IS THAT WHAT [THE STUDENTS] Receiving an National Science Foundation (NSF) ARE DOING IS REALLY FRUITFUL,” SAID grant to conduct further study, Landreville recruited her best and brightest students, securing them internships in LANDREVILLE. communications through science writing. Landreville noted one of the barriers for laypeople when trusting scientist comes With a $10,000 support from Wyoming EPSCoR, from times in the past where, in the name of science, trusting mentors, interns and students have been supported through people were harmed and taken advantage of. For example, their internship process. The hope is that funding will the forced disease infection in Tuskegee, or the stealing of continue through the 2021-22 academic year.
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