Creative Tools for Increasing Public Participation
Biodiversity Project has been working on an initiative called “Weigh in on the Winnebago Waterways” for which we are providing both the project messaging and also a significant outreach plan. When we saw the Request for Proposals for a public engagement project in the Lake Winnebago region of Wisconsin, we knew that our proposal would include a new web-based tool to achieve the ambitious engagement goals set out over a tight timeline. With the help of an online engagement tool called MindMixer, we were able to submit a unique proposal, and develop an effective and extensive public...
Read MoreConsidering the Big Questions
How one environmental coalition is shaking things up If you’ve been part of one environmental coalition or network, you know how they all work. Steering Teams, conference calls, agendas, annual meetings and action items. Coalitions are necessary and often extremely effective ways for like-minded groups to share resources and tools. They can magnify voices and achieve social change and policy victories much faster than anyone one group can do alone. But they are also predictable. The work associated with coalition membership—webinars, listserves and committee meetings—can be both slow...
Read MoreGrowing Stronger Every Year: Update on the 1 Mississippi campaign
Since 2007, Biodiversity Project has coordinated the Mississippi River Network (MRN), a coalition that has grown to 45 groups, all of whom are working Mississippi River issues at local and national levels. What makes MRN special is its public education campaign called 1 Mississippi. This public education and outreach campaign connects everyday people to the River, informs them about the trouble it faces and encourages everyone to take action to help protect it. Biodiversity Project plays a key role as the bridge between the Network members and the public by combining the member...
Read MoreBoating to Bow Hunting: Public Opinion Research on Outdoor and Resource Issues
Research Resources for Values-based Communications Since 1995, Biodiversity Project has built communications strategies, campaigns and materials to inspire people to adopt environmental behaviors. These strategies, campaigns and materials are built around the deeply-held values that our audiences hold dear. In a perfect world, we’d be able to conduct public opinion research into the values and behaviors of every audience that we built a campaign for. Unfortunately, the world is not perfect. So while we conduct our own research whenever we can, we often depend on the fantastic research...
Read MoreMy! What big teeth you have!
Depicting wildlife truthfully In June 2010, twin babies were injured by a fox in East London. The children suffered serious bites on their arms and face, but recovered well. Without a doubt, this was a scary incident for both the children and the parents. Predictably, many local news outlets dwelled on the story in somewhat over-the-top and sensationalized ways for months. The overt message was to be scared of nature, especially as it enters our human world. Similar stories pop up in local news all the time, including in Chicago after a coyote injured a suburban homeowner’s dog. As is...
Read MoreTalking to hearts, not heads, in the climate debate
Using values-based messages to support climate science When science challenges established ideas (like the earth is the center of the universe) or religious beliefs (like creationism), the scientists themselves can be made into villains. Because some scientists struggle when communicating about their research, findings and theories to general public audiences, they often also struggle to overturn their own negative publicity. Yet, there are climate scientists who proudly consider themselves climate warriors—people whose job is to defend science and their research for the greater good. Some...
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