February 28, 2025
Public perceptions and actions related to wildfire and prescribed fire smoke: Results from recent surveys in the Pacific Northwest
In this seminar, Daniel Chapman will discuss his recent research findings on how public health and environmental agencies communicate wildfire smoke risks to communities in the Pacific Northwest, including insights on the timing and effectiveness of smoke warnings. He will present evidence showing that current institutional communications often lack proactive messaging and numeric risk information, while offering recommendations for improving public health messaging about smoke hazards, including the need for earlier warnings and more emphasis on specific protective actions people can take.
In-person: Hallie E. Ford Center room 115
Remote via Zoom
Speaker
Daniel A. Chapman, PhD is a distinguished Research Scientist at the University of Oregon who specializes in environmental social science and risk-related decision making. With expertise in climate change communication, environmental conservation, and disaster resilience, Chapman has made contributions to understanding how people process and respond to environmental challenges. His research, particularly his work on emotions in climate change communication published in Nature Climate Change, has garnered widespread recognition in the field. Currently affiliated with the University of Oregon’s Center for Science Communication Research and the Center for Wildfire Smoke Research and Practice, Chapman focuses on improving public health communications about environmental risks, particularly in relation to wildfire smoke in the Pacific Northwest. His impactful research has earned over 1,000 citations, establishing him as a leading voice in environmental psychology and public health communication.