SCR offers small grants to UO faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and undergraduate students to conduct science communication research that advances the missions of SCR and the University of Oregon. Our interdisciplinary research collaborations advance the science of science communication and improve the understanding and use of science.

Applications for the 2024 – 2025 grant program are now closed for faculty and graduate students. Applications for undergraduate students are accepted on a rolling basis.

2024 – 2025 Awardees

SCR Associates

Jesse Abdenour
Associate Professor, School of Journalism and Communication 

Project Title: Documentary Impact: A Multi-Method Investigation of Narratives, Concussion Safety and Brain Science.

“This project examines effective ways to communicate brain science involving sports concussions. I will create a film documenting how New Zealand rugby players, coaches and other stakeholders engage with scientific findings that show the sport can cause brain damage. I will then use this film to investigate how such messages might spur people to trust the science and engage in brain-safe behavior. The project could help identify how to make contact sports safer and how to get audiences to trust science more generally. This grant will help me continue to explore how narratives persuade audiences and affect their trust levels.“ 

Maxwell Ely
Lab Coordinator, School of Journalism and Communication 

Project Title: Relevant Images and Visual Abstracts for Science Communication

“This project aims to study the possible benefits of using relevant and irrelevant and no visual cues alongside research text. Grounded in previous literature, I plan to study if the use of images increases emotional responses and fosters better understanding and greater trust in research compared to not using images. I also plan to explore whether the use of relevant images will result in greater curiosity about the material and a greater desire to learn more about the topic. By studying how visual cues influence public engagement with research, the findings could help make scientific communication more accessible and compelling for diverse audiences.“ 

Seth Lewis
Professor and Shirley Papé Chair in Emerging Media Director: Journalism Program, School of Journalism and Communication

Project Title: The Disruptive Potential of Generative AI for Journalism

“This project examines how generative AI, such as ChatGPT, disrupts journalism by challenging core norms of authorship, originality, and professional identity. Using institutionalism, the study positions AI as both a transformative force in journalism and an emerging institution. It advances debates on generative AI’s implications for news and charts pathways for future research into its ethical, epistemic, and operational impacts. This grant supports interdisciplinary collaboration, including a graduate research assistant, to produce a high-impact publication and strengthen the project’s competitiveness for external funding, paving the way for deeper exploration of AI’s societal effects on journalism and beyond.“ 

Nick Light
Assistant Professor, Lundquist College of Business

Project Title: Subjective Knowledge Assessments and Anti-Science Attitudes.

“This research investigates how people form judgments about their scientific knowledge, examining when they assimilate perceived understanding from their communities versus make comparative assessments to other topics. Understanding these processes is crucial for science communicators contending with anti-science attitudes on pressing issues like climate change (for example, in choosing a neighborhood-based communication approach vs. one comparing issues). These SCR funds will help publish this work in a high impact journal, which will foster the reputations of UO and SCR as sources of societally important behavioral research, while supporting my growth as a scholar at the University of Oregon.“ 

Daniel Pimentel
Assistant Professor, School of Journalism and Communication

Project Title: Empathy in Action: Cultivating Altruism through Immersive Game Experiences

“As our experiences increasingly shift from physical to virtual environments, it’s crucial to address the social issues that persist in both realms (e.g., discrimination, toxic behavior). Support from the SCR small grants program will enable us to research how designers and storytellers can create virtual worlds and experiences that cultivate prosocial attitudes and motivate altruism both inside and outside of virtual environments.“ 

SCR Emerging Scholars

Akua Akakpo
Doctoral Student, School of Journalism and Communication

Project Title: The Impact of Electronic Word-of-Mouth on the Green Attitudes and Purchase Intentions of Environmental Novices
“This project examines the influence of electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) on green attitudes and behavior among individuals with limited environmental knowledge. Considering the tendency to exclude environmental novices from sustainability discourses and actions, we aim to uncover strategies for promoting sustainable behaviors by investigating the impact of green versus influencer values in eWOM communication. Focusing on novices emphasizes the need to design messages that foster understanding and action among those with limited environmental literacy. The SCR grant will provide us with essential funding and support for data collection and potentially broaden the reach of the study’s findings.”

Josie Brown
Undergraduate Student, School of Journalism and Communication

Project Title: Visualizing Scandinavian Climate Policy and Awareness

“This grant will allow me to create a photo essay that highlights the ways in which climate policy has been successful in Scandinavia, particularly in Copenhagen, Denmark. By investigating and observing climate forward policy in action and the various cultural attitudes towards climate issues, this photo essay will help highlight methods of Scandinavian science communication. Additionally, this grant will help me improve my photojournalistic storytelling skills and interviewing skills, while allowing me to develop a strong understanding of cross-cultural communication. I hope to create a meaningful visual representation of climate-based science communication as observed from an international perspective, and I am thrilled to have the support of the SCR!.”

Ester Kim
Undergraduate Student, Neuroscience

Project Title: Medical Risk Communication and Malpractice Litigation Intentions

“Our research seeks to better understand how different physician risk communication methods can influence patients’ intentions to litigate for malpractice. Specifically, we are investigating the impacts of using numeric v. verbal risk communication and using point-estimate v. range risk communication in hypothetical medical litigation. This SCR grant will allow me to begin the data collection necessary to understand whether the use of numeric information could improve medical risk communication between physicians and patients. This project enables me to work towards my future aspirations of pursuing a career in medical malpractice law by understanding the intricacies of medicine and law..”

Nakyung Lee
Doctoral Student, School of Journalism and Communication

Project Title: Examining Affect as a Motivator for Cognitive Processing in Parents’ HPV Vaccine Intentions for Their Children
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates HPV vaccines to be nearly 100% effective when administered before exposure, highlighting their high efficacy among young adolescents. However, HPV vaccine coverage remains lower than other adolescent vaccines. This SCR grant will allow me to empirically test the effectiveness of positive, negative, and mixed message frames, focusing on the role hope and fear, alongside the impact of text versus graph formats. Ultimately, this grant will help advance my career by providing the opportunity to develop expertise in evidence-based vaccine messaging and contribute to science communication to improve public health.”

James Phillips
Doctoral Student, School of Journalism and Communication

Project Title: Communicating the Cosmos: Identifying the Foundations, Formats, and Functions in the Emerging Field of Space Science Communication.

“This research is crucial as it aims to consolidate and advance the field of space science communication, emphasizing the gap in public understanding and engagement with space science. This review will enhance public participation and discourse in space science by identifying existing scholarship and establishing best practices. SCR’s Small Grant Program enables this work to take one giant leap in legitimizing and presenting the frameworks of space science communication scholarship to a global audience, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and establishing the University of Oregon as a leader in this emerging field.”

Jasper Zhou
Master’s Student, Geography

Project Title: Visualizing Glacier Retreat with 2D Maps: Cognitive and Emotional Perspective.

“My research explores how 2D cartographic designs influence perceptions of glacier retreat and climate change communication. This SCR small grant supports essential parts of the study, enabling me to complete my current research and advance geospatial communication techniques. By refining my methods and sharing insights at conferences, this funding strengthens my foundation for pursuing a higher degree and continuing impactful research in climate change communication. With this support, I aim to bridge the gap between scientific findings and public understanding, making climate data more accessible and engaging to broader audiences.”