From left to right: Bob Schnabel, Scott Brown, Bruce Burdick, Eliza Tse, Melissa Mitchum and Mengshi Lin.

A hand-picked group of CAFNR faculty recently had the opportunity to learn how to communicate science effectively to differing audiences. CAFNR agronomy alum and expert science communicator Mary Schon is guiding the third group of CAFNR Communications Fellows through comprehensive communications training, including speeches, presentations, quick “elevator speeches” and media interviews, and then be available for comment when the need arises to announce a discovery or explain the basis of an issue.

Fellows are selected based on the topic areas they represent. The program is designed to empower the Fellows to become advocates for their own program areas and for CAFNR. They include: Scott Brown, research assistant professor, agriculture and applied economics; Bruce Burdick, superintendent of Hundley-Whaley Research Center; Mengshi Lin, associate professor, food science; Melissa Mitchum, associate professor, plant sciences; Bob Schnabel, research associate professor, animal sciences; and Eliza Tse, professor and chair, hospitality management.

Scott Brown

Q: What is your expertise and what got you interested in it? 

A: My area of expertise relates to quantitative analysis of agricultural policy alternatives, primarily in the area of livestock and dairy policy. I worked extensively on the federal dairy policy passed in the 2014 farm bill that marks the largest change in dairy policy in decades and have been engaged with the Missouri legislature as they passed the “Missouri Dairy Industry Revitalization Act of 2014.”

Q: What is the most important communication challenge in your area?

A: The political environment can often be divided on the best policy direction for agriculture. My largest challenge is to help focus the debate away from the political views and instead focus on the quantitative impacts of the different policy alternatives. The quantitative focus can provide for better long-term agricultural policy outcomes.

Q: What is the most important thing you have learned so far as a CAFNR Communications Fellow?

A: I think the most critical piece I have learned by being in the program is to remember to communicate with audiences in a clear and concise manner so that my message comes through loud and clear. This program brought some refocus since interacting with audiences on a regular basis can make one lose sight of the best ways to deliver the message. In a nutshell, every presentation I make is a reflection of my work!

Bruce Burdick

Q: What is your expertise and what got you interested in it?

A: Expertise is corn and soybean production practices. Interest in using cover crops as a key component for improving soil health and reducing soil erosion. Interest began as a graduate student on a thesis project.

Q: What is the most important communication challenge in your area?

A: Communication to farmers directly via new communication avenues such as the internet, social media, while retaining the old-style avenues for farmers not adopting the new opportunities.

Q: What is the most important thing you have learned so far as a CAFNR Communications Fellow?

A: Communicating research results effectively to outside interests is more than a reiteration of a paper.  It must be told through a story to capture and retain interest.

Mengshi Lin

Q: What is your expertise and what got you interested in it?

A: My expertise is in the area of food safety and food quality. My research is focused on studying the changes of physical, chemical and microbiological properties of food components and food products during processing, storage, distribution and retail; and to develop novel and appropriate methods and techniques to improve food safety and quality. I am interested in serving as an ambassador for our College and Food Science Program and would like to take this unique opportunity for my professional development.

Q: What is the most important communication challenge in your area?

A: There exist some perception gaps between the basic research in food science and the media and public. I believe this is the most important communication challenge in my area.

Q: What is the most important thing you have learned so far as a CAFNR Communications Fellow?

A: The most important thing that I learned so far is that it is of critical importance to use clear and concise language for the audiences with little background in my area, and take an effective and efficient approach to disseminate my research to the public, the media, donors, benefactors and legislators.

Melissa Mitchum

Q: What is your expertise and what got you interested in it?

A: Molecular plant-nematode interactions. I’ve always been fascinated with the wide variety of mechanisms pathogens use to cause disease. In college, I learned that plants get sick too and have worked ever since on plant diseases that impact the world’s food supply.

Q: What is the most important communication challenge in your area?

A: Explaining the importance of our research to the public and farmers.

Q: What is the most important thing you have learned so far as a CAFNR Communications Fellow?

A: Effective communication requires planning and practice. You need to develop the skill of communication just like any other skill. If you want to be an effective science communicator, you need to know your audience. There are different ways of communicating your science to different audiences.

Bob Schnabel

Q: What is your expertise and what got you interested in it?

A: Animal Genomics. I became interested in genetics when my MS advisor suggested I test whether or not cattle DNA markers could be used in North American bison.

Q: What is the most important communication challenge in your area?

A: Presenting the benefits, and limitations, of genomic technologies to livestock producers.

Q: What is the most important thing you have learned so far as a CAFNR Communications Fellow?

A: Presenting the message you wish to convey as a story that the audience can relate to.

Eliza Tse

Q: What is your expertise and what got you interested in it?  

A: My area of expertise is in hospitality and tourism management, specifically how hospitality companies (like Marriott or Hyatt) compete with their competitors with their business strategies. That is, what is the impact of business strategies on company performance. What got me interested in this industry is due to: 1) The hospitality and tourism industry is one of the leading industries that contribute significantly to employment and revenue to the local economy; 2) This industry is a part of consumers’ changing lifestyle by providing them memorable dining, lodging and travel experiences.

Q: What is the most important communication challenge in your area?  

A: To convince the general public that this industry is a professional industry, just like medicine and law practice; 2) To make the policy makers recognize the industry is a major economic contributor and come up with a long-term, sustainable tourism policy.

Q: What is the most important thing you have learned so far as a CAFNR Communications Fellow?  

A: That it is important to make others (within the university community and external constituencies) aware of the contribution your field is doing. How to effectively communicate to people outside of your field about what you do and how your work impact their lives.