Free public lecture by Distingushed Professor S. Shyam Sundar of the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. Sundar is the founding co-director of the Media Effects Research Laboratory, housed in the Bellisario College. He has been studying the psychology of online news consumption for more than 20 years. His experiments have identified several important elements of digital media technologies that shape the perceived credibility of internet-based information. Sponsored by the Institute for CyberScience at Penn State as part of monthly seminar series exploring the frontiers of cyberscience research.

There has been deepening concern about political polarization in public attitudes toward the scientific community and/or scientific knowledge. Many attribute this polarization to psychological deficiencies among conservatives as compared to liberals. This attribution, however, is inconsistent with our knowledge of basic psychology and the empirical literature on how ideology influences science attitudes. Drawing from interdisciplinary research in the fields of communication, psychology, and political science, we review the scientific literature on partisanship and public attitudes about science, what drives perceptual divides about many science topics, and what lessons we may draw for more effective science communication across ideological and value differences.

About Erik Nisbet

Erik C. Nisbet (Ph.D., Cornell University) is an associate professor of communication, environmental policy, and political science at the Ohio State University, a member of the Human Dimensions of the Environment research group at the Ohio State University, and a faculty associate at the OSU Mershon Center for International Security Studies. Erik’s research focuses on the intersection of science and politics while informing best practices for communicating across ideological and value differences. Erik has published more than thirty journal articles and book chapters, including in Nature Climate Change, Public Understanding of Science, and Science Communication. His research has also been supported by multiple grants from the National Science Foundation.

Sascha Meinrath, the Palmer Chair of Telecommnications in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, will present a free public lecture titled "Hacking the 21st Century: Data Integrity in the Era of Cyber Siege" as part of the University's Research Unplugged series. While an integral and helpful part of our lives, technology can come with its own host of frustrating problems. From ID theft and hacking of personal information, to changes in the economy itself, Meinrath will investigate the current trends in technological development, and discuss what can be done to change course and protect ourselves from the dark side of today's digital Faustian bargains.

University-wide information session about opportunities to study abroad.

Free public lecture by photographer Lynsey Addario, the author of this year's Penn State Reads book of the same title. More info: http://pennstatereads.psu.edu/

Panel discussion about truth in the media. Event co-sponsored by Pennsyvlania News Media Association, Centre Daily Times, WTAJ, WPSU and others. Participants from the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications include keynote speaker Russell Frank, panelist Russ Eshleman and Dean Marie Hardin, who will provide closing remarks. Free tickets needed to attend. Register at https://townhallonthemedia.eventbrite.com

Information session about spring semester embeded trip to Costa Rica coordinated by the Department of Advertising/Public Relations. Travel dates March 2-11, 2018. Trip includes media and agency visits, visits to non-governmental organization work sites a rain forest tour and more. More info: Colleen Connolly-Ahern (cuc15@psu.edu)

Ask questions and learn about majors in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. Info session for all students, hosted by Bellisario College Peer Mentors.