Title:
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The communication and public understanding of academic research relating to the environmental and health impacts of electrical vehicles
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Electric vehicle (EV) research has gained increasing prominence over the last
decade as EVs have become the only alternative means of personal
transportation available for public purchase and use compared to conventional
petrol/diesel road vehicles. Enhancing public understanding of alternative
technologies is particularly important in the case of EVs; an innovative
technology with climate change mitigation potential. Thus far, research on
communication has focused on the influences on scientific knowledge uptake of
diverse public characteristics. This research has been dominated by consumer
perspectives within urban contexts. This study therefore explores EV
knowledge mobilisation from academia, via key communication intermediaries
(media, industry, non-governmental organisations, policy-makers) to publics in a
peri-urban setting; characterised as a rural landscape with pockets of
urbanisation. Cornwall, UK provides the geographical case of such a landscape.
Academic knowledges pertaining to the environmental and human health
impacts of EVs were critically examined using qualitative content analysis, with
the same analysis method used to gain insights into how these knowledges
have been portrayed by the communication intermediaries above. The active
roles of academics in the communication process, and diverse publics as
knowledge assimilators, were also explored through semi-structured interviews
(academics) and focus groups (publics within Cornwall). The findings highlight
a disparity between academic research and the knowledges entering the public
domain. Although sophisticated communication techniques have been
developed to enhance public awareness of climate change science, these seem
to be missing from EV communications. The key findings of this study highlight the need for meticulously planned communications, with audiences profiled in
detail and communication structured reflexively. This study therefore develops
and illustrates the relevance to EV knowledge mobilisation of existing theories
and practices, including participatory geographies, citizen science and systems
network thinking. It highlights opportunities to achieve a shift towards a
participatory network of EV knowledge mobilisation within specific contexts in
order to improve public understanding of these knowledges. Interestingly, the
history of science literature can provide 'a suite of lost communication methods
that have previously been successful. Furthermore, the need to catalyse a
generational shift, whereby science engagement becomes more prevalent
amongst publics through reflexive engagement and education, is also
examined.
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