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 | Thank you for visiting the professional website of John C. Besley, an assistant professor of risk communication at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. My research focuses on understanding the role of the media in how people view and interact with public officials charged with managing health and environmental risks. Practically, this means I study public meetings and other forms of public consultation, as well as associated media coverage. My research appears in both communication and interdisciplinary social science journals. At present, I am particularly interested in whether people's perceptions that those responsible for risk decisions are procedurally fair or unfair affect how they feel about scientific risk and the legitimacy of the decisions. Procedural fairness can be understood as the degree to which those affected by a decision feel they are given a voice in the decision process as well as whether they feel they are treated with respect, dignity, and honesty. |
| Current Research:
Public Opinion and Media Coverage of Emerging Technologies  | At present, I am involved in several projects related to societal perceptions of nanotechnology in cooperation with researchers at the University of South Carolina, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Cornell University. In cooperation with Dr. Susanna Priest, I have received a $130,000 grant fromt the National Science Foundation to study the impact of media framing of nano-science. |
Public Engagment in Cancer Cluster Investigations
| We have largely completed research focused on media coverage and public opinion involved during public investigations of elevated cancer rates in seven American communities. The theoretical framework for this research appeared in Communication Theory in 2005 and additional studies have appeared in a range of journals, including Science Communication, Risk Analysis, and Policy Studies. Please see my CV for specific article references. |
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| Energy Technology and Public Opinion
 | I am current working on several projects related to energy, including a study of participants in citizen engagement participants about various forms of traditional and alternative energy, with a particular focus on hydrogen and fuel cell technology. I also expect to be conduct research during 2008-2009 on public opinion related to nuclear power in South Carolina with funding from the National Science Foundation. |
John C. Besley, Ph.D. (Cornell)
Assistant Professor, Science and Risk Communication
t. 803 777-3764
f. 803 777-4103
jbesley@sc.edu
Mailing Address:
600 Assembly Street
School of Journalism and Mass Communications
University of South Carolina
Coliseum, 4009C
Columbia, SC 29208 |
Curriculum Vitae |
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