June 12: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

As Canada faces the urgent challenge of climate change, effective science communication is key to advancing climate adaptation strategies. However, translating expert climate knowledge into messages that resonate with the public remains a significant challenge. This presentation, based on a novel study of Canadian climate academics, will identify underutilized levers of engagement to effectively mobilize climate knowledge and reach a broader audience. The research emphasizes the need for an interdisciplinary approach to climate science communication that engages both scientists and communities.

While climate academics recognized the influence of factors such as political beliefs, trust in science, misinformation/disinformation, and economics, they attributed less importance to the religious and cultural background of their audience. This is noteworthy, as academic literature recognizes barriers such as religious and cultural affiliations. Additionally, Canada’s cultural diversity—over two-thirds of the population identifies as religious, and more than 450 ethnic origins were reported at the last census—presents a unique opportunity for climate science communication. The influence of religion, culture, and community values on climate change attitudes remains understudied but essential for effective outreach. Tailoring climate science communication to recognize religious beliefs, lived experiences, and various other aspects of individual and community backgrounds can benefit and shape the public’s acceptance of climate science, and science more generally.

Aligned with the conference theme of “Connecting People: engaging with scientists/researchers/knowledge creators,” this session will highlight the importance of building connections between knowledge creators and the public. Participants will engage in real-time polling to reflect on their perceptions of the study’s findings, exploring strategies for overcoming barriers and improving climate science communication with diverse communities. By exploring how to incorporate these underappreciated factors into communication strategies, we can develop more inclusive and effective outreach efforts.

Presenter: Tara Wood

Born in Scotland, Tara Wood (she|her), BSc, MA grew up on the shores of Lake Huron within the traditional treaty territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation and the traditional harvesting territory of the Métis Nation of Ontario (Region 7) and the Historic Saugeen Métis. She attended Concordia University in Tiohtià:ke / Montréal QC where her undergraduate degree in Biology coupled with an Honours in Religions and Cultures sparked her interest in science communication, especially as it concerns audiences of diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. Tara’s undergraduate thesis was Vaccine Hesitancy Among Religious Communities and its Implication for Science Communication in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Having focused on conservation biology, Tara participated in a service trip to the Galápagos Islands where she saw first-hand the impacts of climate change and made this a focus of her Master’s degree from Concordia University’s department of Religions and Cultures; her thesis was entitled Public Knowledge of Climate Change in Canada - A Study of Canadian Climate Academics' and Science Communicators Perspectives. Tara was co-chair of the 29th Annual Graduate Interdisciplinary Conference (AGIC), a settler member of the Concordia Department of Religions and Cultures Equity & Diversity Committee and a two-time Concordia Merit Scholarship recipient. She enjoys teaching, LEGO, travel, hockey, and looking after her rescue cats. Tara is currently exploring PhD programs that will advance her research at the intersection of science communication, emerging technologies, and religious and cultural dynamics.