Frontiers in Outreach and Education: The Florida Red Tide Experience

Abstract

To enhance information sharing and garner increased support from the public for scientific research, funding agencies now typically require that research groups receiving support convey their work to stakeholders. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences-(NIEHS) funded Aerosolized Florida Red Tide P01 research group (Florida Red Tide Research Group) has employed a variety of outreach strategies to meet this requirement. Messages developed from this project began a decade ago and have evolved from basic print material (fliers and posters) to an interactive website, to the use of video and social networking technologies, such as Facebook and Twitter. The group was able to track dissemination of these information products; however, evaluation of their effectiveness presented much larger challenges. The primary lesson learned by the Florida Red Tide Research Group is that the best ways to reach specific stakeholders is to develop unique products or services to address specific stakeholders needs, such as the Beach Conditions Reporting System. Based on the experience of the Group, the most productive messaging products result when scientific community engages potential stakeholders and outreach experts during the very initial phases of a project.

Figure 1

Full and abbreviated Logos for the NIEHS PO1 grant

Figure 2

Examples of Florida Red Tide Epidemiologic Study Recruitment Outreach/Education Materials

Figure 3

Florida Red Tide Epidemiologic Study Outreach/Education Towel with Logo

Figure 4

Florida Red Tide Research Team Website (www.mote.org/NIEHSredtidestudy)

Figure 5

Florida Red Tide information sign for beaches (Florida Dept of Health, START, Mote Marine, University of Miami Oceans & Human Health Center, Florida Poison Information Center, and designed by Ms Wendy Stephan MPH)

Figure 6

Beach Conditions Reporting Website (www.mote.org/beaches)