NYT2008110719322795C

September 24, 2015

12:00-1:00pm | Rabb Room, Lincoln Filene Center 

Tufts University Institute of the Environment

Matthew C. Nisbet

Slides and Audio

In this presentation, Dr. Nisbet will discuss his research analyzing the role that prominent public intellectuals like Bill McKibben, Naomi Klein, Jeffrey Sachs, Tom Friedman, and Andrew Revkin play in shaping debate over climate change. He will detail how public intellectuals establish their authority, spread their ideas, and shape political discourse, assessing the contrasting stories that they tell about the causes and solutions to climate change and related environmental problems.He will propose methods for building on his analysis and urge the need for forums that feature a diversity of voices, discourses, and ideas.

RELATED READINGS

Public Intellectuals and their Impact

  • Nisbet, M.C. & Fahy, D. (2015). The Need for Knowledge-based Journalism in Politicized Science Debates.Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 658, 223-234. [PDF]
  • Nisbet, M.C. (2014). Disruptive Ideas: Public Intellectuals and their Arguments for Action on Climate Change. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Climate Change, 5, 809–823. [HTML] [PDF]
  • Nisbet, M.C. (2013). Nature’s Prophet: Bill McKibben as Journalist, Public Intellectual, and Activist. Joan Shorenstein Center for Press, Politics, and Public Policy.  Discussion Paper Series, D-78 March.  Cambridge, MA: Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. [PDF] [Summary, Slides, Video]
  • Nisbet, M.C. (2011). Climate Shift: Clear Vision for the Next Decade of Public Debate. Washington, DC: American University, School of Communication. [HTML] [PDF]
  • Nisbet, M.C. (2015, May 11). Ecomodernists Spark Rhetorical Heat. Chronicle of Higher Education Review. [HTML]
  • Nisbet, M.C. (2015, May 4). A Call for Greater Diversity of Thought in Environmental Studies Courses. The Conversation. [HTML]

Framing and Climate Change Communication

  • Myers, T., Nisbet, M.C., Maibach, E.W., & Leiserowitz, A. (2012). A Public Health Frame Arouses Hopeful Emotions about Climate Change.  Climatic Change Research Letters, 1105-1121. [PDF]
  • Nisbet, M.C., Maibach, E. & Leiserowitz, A. (2011). Framing Peak Petroleum as a Public Health Problem: Audience Research and Participatory Engagement.  American Journal of Public Health, 101: 1620-1626. [HTML]
  • Maibach, E., Nisbet, M.C. et al. (2010). Reframing Climate Change as a Public Health Issue: An Exploratory Study of Public Reactions. BMC Public Health 10: 299 (HTML).
  • Nisbet, M.C. (2009). Communicating Climate Change: Why Frames Matter to Public Engagement. Environment, 51 (2), 514-518. (HTML) (PDF).
  • Nisbet, M.C. (2014). Engaging in Science Policy Controversies: Insights from the U.S. Debate Over Climate Change. Handbook of the Public Communication of Science and Technology, 2nd Edition. London: Routledge (pp. 173-185). [PDF] [HTML]