Eighteen respected scientists and researchers. Twenty-eight reviewers. Thirty pages of comments and reviews. The recently released genetically engineered crops study by the National Academies of Sciences (NAS) is a true consensus on GMOs. It aims to convey the complexity of genetically modified organisms. For communicators, genetically modified crops […]
If I could give one piece of advice to any student considering studying at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, it would be to explore the Life Sciences Communication (LSC) major. LSC focuses on both applied and theoretical communication issues. I started my education as a Biology major and began […]
Market successes are when companies fill an actual consumer need, while failures often occur when firms create a consumer need that wasn’t there or create a pointless product attribute to appeal to a consumer desire. This past week’s task was to scan a grocery store and determine real-life successes […]
Scientists are facing a daunting challenge: gaining public trust. It is important now, more than ever, for scientists to effectively communicate their science to the public. Increasingly, communication is happening on digital platforms and social media. How can a scientist gain public trust and communicate their work on […]
The Superbowl is right around the corner. I’ve never been a big fan of football, or had much interest in watching the actual game. To me, and many others, the Superbowl means commercials. Digital media and video content is on the rise and some of the most viewed […]
If you walk into any McDonald’s, it is almost a guarantee that the food will be consistent. A cheeseburger from McDonald’s tastes the same in Wisconsin as it does in Texas. This might not seem like a big deal, but there’s a lot that goes into ensuring that […]
How can we use science to get people to look at our advertisements? The short answer: visual theory. As a communications student, I notice advertising everywhere. I’m not always an expert on what makes a successful ad campaign. However, I’m always an expert on deciding what I like […]
Google search “GMO” and you might find images of massive tomatoes or syringes inserted into apples appearing in the search results. Understandably, consumers are concerned about genetic modification. Anti-GMO marketing by companies such as Chipotle and advertising campaigns that demonize genetic modification only perpetuate fear and consumer mistrust. The process […]
The 1990’s were an interesting time, at least I’ve heard. Having been born in 1996, I only lived through 4 years of the decade and don’t remember too much. The 90’s brought us some amazing consumer food products such as Quaker Instant Oatmeal Dinosaur Eggs and Little Hugs […]
Imagine gazing down at a freshly poured bowl of bright neon Fruity Pebbles. The small rice flakes sparkle and shimmer in a multitude of colors like stars in a milky night sky. It’s crispy, it’s irresistible, it’s yabba dabba good. As a child, Fruity Pebbles was a rare […]
Jordan Gaal 