Scientists, Experts, and Civic Engagement

Amy E. Lesen is Research Associate Professor at Tulane University's Center for Bioenvironmental Research.

’Simultaneously a memoir of civically engaged scholars and a practical guide for developing such projects, this book makes the compelling argument that education is civic engagement. Drawing together scholars and practitioners of community engagement, Lesen’s volume addresses the role of the university in shaping our youth and in promoting civic participation in the social and natural sciences. A strong argument for new democratic pedagogies in the academy, this book demonstrates what knowledge, values and action can look like in the university. Scientists, Experts, and Civic Engagement couldn’t be timelier given our socially uncertain and rapidly changing times.’ Barbara L. Allen, Virginia Tech University, USA ’Communities negatively impacted by environmental, economic, social and human health disasters are frequently the target of studies by academics, but receive little to no benefits. Amy E. Lesen provides excellent, thoughtful and beneficial guidance to scientists and academics as well as to the impacted communities on the methods and terms of civic engagement that will strengthen the studies and benefit the communities involved before, during and after the research is carried out. Benefits to the impacted communities are critical to assisting them in their survival.’ Wilma A. Subra, President, Subra Company, USA ’Scientists traditionally earn their economy of prestige through their research that culminates in peer-reviewed publications. In Scientists, Experts, and Civic Engagement: Walking a Fine Line, Dr Lesen and her co-authors present strong arguments and approaches for changing the traditional paradigm, and they urge scientists to use their special approach to research questions to address the social needs that affect communities in an exponentially expanding global economy.’ Robert A. Thomas, Loyola University New Orleans, USA

• Contents: Preface, Amy E. Lesen. Part I Civically Engaged Academicians: Theories, Challenges, and Opportunities: 'When you leave town, I'll leave town': insights from a civically engaged researcher in postdiluvian New Orleans, Richard Campanella; Beyond Pasteur's quadrant: science and the liberal arts in a democracy, Amy Koritz; Somewhere between the ideal and the real, the civic engagement 'expert' learns and lets go, Margaret Molly Olsen; Community enrollment: colleges and the fault lines between academic and civic engagement, Stephen Tremaine. Part II How We Engage: Modes of Participation from Digital Social Media to Radical Democracy: Effective engagement: critical factors of success, Janice Cumberbatch; Participatory action-citizen engagement: when knowledge comes from the academy and the community, Kristina J. Peterson; 'We can't give up': a conversation about community engagement, Albert P. Naquin, Amy E. Lesen and Kristina J. Peterson; A new paradigm for science communication? Social media, Twitter, science, and public engagement: a literature review, Amy E. Lesen. Index.