575.753.81 - Communication of Environmental Information and Stakeholder Engagement
Description
This course provides students with the skills for communicating scientific environmental data and sustainable engineering design to stakeholders, including scientists in different fields, policy decision makers, and the interested public. The course covers the importance of clear communication of complex scientific information for the development and acceptance of technologies, public policy, and communitybased environmental initiatives. The key stakeholders for environmental engineers, scientists, and managers are specified. Methods of engagement and designing key messages are defined for global, national, and local issues of student interest. Major types of communication media are covered, including written communication and graphics, online communications in short- and long-form new media, and interactive communications such as surveys and citizen science to involve stakeholders in the creation and analysis of big data and dispersed information. The emphasis of the course is from the point of view of an environmental professional (not a marketing professional) and developing an effective sciencebased communications portfolio to share complex scientific information with a broad range of interested parties.
Instructor
Jill Engel-Cox
Course Structure
For each topic, overall principles will be explained and illustrated with case studies. Students will also be required to find their own examples and assess engagement methods on current topics. The primary assignments will be selection of a topic of interest and development of an engagement strategy and materials around that topic, including data analysis, graphics, articles, blog posts, video, etc.
Course Topics
Key topics covered in the class are:
- The importance of communicating science
- Methods of engagement for global, national, and local issues
- Types of interested parties, communication levels of detail, and messaging
- Written communications including graphs, maps, and articles
- Interactive communications, including survey analysis, facilitation, citizen science, and big data
- Online communications, including both short- and long-form media
- Overall science communications portfolios
Course Goals
Communication is an essential part of the career of a scientist and engineer, especially in the environmental field. The goal of this course for students to learn how to clearly and effectively communicate their expertise to a wide variety of interested parties, including other scientists/engineers, decisionmakers, and the interested public.
Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)
- Identify and explain environmental communication methods and media.
- Prepare and present complex environmental data to a wide variety of audiences.
- Engage with stakeholders to obtain information and incorporate it into their own work.
Textbooks
Required
Hund, G., Engel-Cox, J., and Fowler, K. (2016). A Communications Guide for Sustainable Development, Tri- Press. (Second edition). ISBN: 1950035018.
Available as eBook and paperback on Amazon.
Tufte, E. (2001). The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, Graphics Press.
Available as hardcopy book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble or from Graphics Press at http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/index.
Tufte, E. (1990). Envisioning Information, Graphics Press.
Available as hardcopy book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble or from Graphics Press at http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/index.
Tufte, E. (1997). Visual and Statistical Thinking: Displays of Evidence for Making Decisions, Graphics Press.
Available as eBook at http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/ebooks.
Required Software
Word processing, presentation, video, graphics, and spreadsheet software.
Student Coursework Requirements
It is expected that each class will take approximately 10-12 hours per week to complete. Most assignments will be generally short enough to complete in one week and designed to develop knowledge and skills. For the majority of the assignments, students will develop materials on a topic of their choice related to their work or an area of interest, applying each skill to that topic throughout the class. These materials will be compiled as a final portfolio project at the end of the semester.
Grading is on a 1,000 point scale. Details on overall points for each type of assignment are defined below and in the following section. This course will consist of three basic student requirements:
Assignments and Quizzes (60% of Final Grade Calculation)
Assignments include a mix of qualitative assignments (e.g., short reports) and quantitative problem sets. Quizzes are a short set of multiple choice or short answer questions.
Qualitative assignments are evaluated by the quality and completeness of the assignment. Quantitative assignments are evaluated by the technical approach as well as achieving the correct answer; however, if the final answer is in error but the methodology is correct, then only a few points will be deducted.
Therefore, it is very important to show work in full.
Assignments should be typed and put together in a professional manner. Please include name on the first page and a page number indicator (i.e., page x of y) on each page of submissions.
All assignments are due according to the dates provided. Late submissions will be reduced by one letter grade for each week late. If an assignment is more than 3 weeks late, then it will receive a grade of 0.
For example, when the grades for Module 5 are completed, then any assignments not turned in for Module 2 will receive a 0.
Final Communication Portfolio (20% of Final Grade Calculation)
Each student will select a scientific or engineering area that they are currently knowledgeable of and have data and information. The final assignment is a compilation and enhancement of the communications prepared on this topic as part of some of the assignments, as well as a presentation describing this portfolio. This final portfolio and presentation will be reviewed as a consolidated approach to communicate complex topics to different audiences.
Participation (Class Discussions) (20% of Final Grade Calculation)
The discussions in this class require posting some of the assignments to share and discuss with other students. Feedback received on the assignments related to the class project should be incorporated into the final portfolio. Thus, discussion is an essential and required part of the class. Each student is responsible for carefully reading all assigned material and being prepared for online discussion.
Discussion is interaction (i.e., responding to classmate postings with thoughtful responses) with at least two classmates. Evaluation of participation is based on contribution to discussions with the following grading elements:
- Timeliness – responses posted in the same week as the discussion
- Critical Thinking – quality and relevance of the submission responses
Grading Policy
Student assignments are due according to the dates provided. Grades will typically be given one week after assignment due dates.
Grading is on a point system. The total possible number of points for all the assignments during the entire class is 1,000. The total points distribution for the three types of assignments is as follows:
Requirement | Total # of points |
Assignments and Quizzes (20-40 points each assignment, 10 points each quiz) | 600 |
Project portfolio and presentation (200 points total) | 200 |
Discussions (about 25 points each) | 200 |
In general, points will correspond with grades as follows:
| Score Range | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 100-97 | = A+ |
| 96-93 | = A |
| 92-90 | = A− |
| 89-87 | = B+ |
| 86-83 | = B |
| 82-80 | = B− |
| 79-77 | = C+ |
| 76-73 | = C |
| 72-70 | = C− |
| 69-67 | = D+ |
| 66-63 | = D |
| <63 | = F |
Course Policies
Use of AI Generated Materials
Johns Hopkins University has an Academic Misconduct Policy that applies to this course, which you should carefully review (see Academic Policies section of the syllabus). The policy prohibits copying of text from the internet without clearly quoting and citing the source, which includes AI-generated text and images from programs such as ChatGPT. You may use AI tools to brainstorm or generate ideas, but you should document their use through citations and an acknowledgment at the end of your assignments about what program(s) you used and how you used them. If you choose to use an AI tool, be aware that it is frequently wrong and often provides low quality standardized responses that can be recognized by plagiarism checking software use in Canvas.Ultimately, all text, graphics, and materials submitted for assignments and discussions in this class should be your own creation and you should verify all facts and information with credible sources.
Academic Policies
Deadlines for Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses
Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar (https://ep.jhu.edu/student-services/academic-calendar/). Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.
Academic Misconduct Policy
All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students.
This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.
Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility
Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.
For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services at Engineering for Professionals, ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu.
Student Conduct Code
The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically.
For a full description of the code please visit the following website: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies-guidelines/student-code/
Classroom Climate
JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity.
If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).
Course Auditing
When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team [EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu] in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.