NCA seminar on communication and the environment

[David Boromisza-Habashi]

FYI -- preconference of interest to LSI researchers on Thursday of NCA.

DBH

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Talking a Better Environmental Future into Being through Public Meetings
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Manchester Grand Hyatt
Parlor Room 617
Sixth Level



Seminar Leaders: Laura Black, Ohio University; Danielle Endres,
University of Utah; Karen Tracy, University of Colorado

Rationale: Environmental issues are pressing concerns both globally
and locally. At the local level, a key way of addressing a particular
locale's issue is to bring people together in a public meeting. At the
public meeting, experts and government officials present, and citizens
ask questions and advance arguments. Through the talk of these public
meetings, various local and state agencies seek to ascertain community
sentiment, decide what kinds of growth are acceptable, carve out where
to put limited resources, and prioritize the importance of different
initiatives. Public meetings also act as spaces for citizens to engage
in decision-making processes, speak to and hear from other citizens,
and provide perspectives that may not otherwise be heard.

This half-day seminar brings together scholars with interests in
public groups, language and social interaction, public participation
in decision making, and environmental communication. Participants will
view a common case—a 2-hour webcast of a town meeting that occurred in
King County, Washington to address the issue of pollution in Puget
Sound—and reflect on the discursive practices, theoretical issues, and
practical implications of such public environmental meetings.

 Requirements:  Those interested in participating are initially asked
to view the webcast town meeting
(http://www.metrokc.gov/council/townhall/2007-05_puget_sound/index.htm)
and submit a 300-word abstract indicating which of the three questions
described below they would address, followed by a brief summary of a
claim that would be developed into an 8-10 page position paper if an
applicant is selected. Abstracts should be sent to the three seminar
leaders: blackl1 at ohio.edu, danielle.endres at utah.edu, and
karen.tracy at colorado.edu by August 1, 2008, and applicants will be
notified within three weeks as to selection.  Those selected as
seminar members will develop their position papers and send them to
the seminar leaders by October 31, 2008. Position papers will be
circulated to all participants in advance of the seminar.

 Issues to be Explored: Using a central case to aid reflection ,
seminar participants will discuss:

1) What are noteworthy discursive practices used by experts,
government officials, and citizens in this meeting? 2) How can we
theorize the role of public meetings in environmental issues? and 3)
What do communication scholars have to offer to members of the public
and/or civic leaders who are preparing for environmental public
meetings?  The seminar will begin with seminar members viewing several
short segments of the town meeting. Then, there will be three rounds
of discussion, one for each of the discussion questions posed.
Participants who had written a position paper addressing a question
will be given 2-3 minutes to highlight the key point of their paper
and then discussion will be opened to all.

-- 
David Boromisza-Habashi
Department of Communication
University of Colorado
Hellems 78, 270 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309

work (303) 735 5076
fax (303) 492 8411