The Kentucky Geological Survey and another University of Kentucky group, the Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies Department are working on new ways to use dialogue in addressing environmental issues in Appalachia.
UK Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies Professor Lauren Cagle said the grant funded research focuses on gathering community involvement up front as opposed to science communication experts providing answers.
“At the end of the project, we want to make sure that we have some very tangible outcomes for community members. So, we want to make sure that we have developed and tested communications about geological data that people can actually use to solve real problems in their everyday lives,” explained Cagle.
Cagle says ten member advisory boards will be established in Pike, Johnson, Floyd, Martin, and Magoffin counties. Next summer the boards would present the citizen-researcher final product to large groups of people in eastern Kentucky counties.
Stu Johnson held an extended interview with Lauren Caglel:
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