Matthew C. Nisbet

Matthew C. Nisbet

Associate Professor of Communication, Northeastern University

Matthew C. Nisbet, Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Communication Studies, Public Policy, and Urban Affairs  at Northeastern University. Nisbet studies the role of communication and advocacy in policymaking and public affairs, focusing on debates over over climate change, energy, and sustainability. Among awards and recognition, Nisbet has been a Visiting Shorenstein Fellow on Press, Politics, and Public Policy at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, a Health Policy Investigator at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and a Google Science Communication Fellow. In 2011, the editors at the journal Nature recommended Nisbet's research as “essential reading for anyone with a passing interest in the climate change debate,” and the New Republic highlighted his work as a “fascinating dissection of the shortcomings of climate activism."

Last week I bought my tickets for the Wilco concert in July at Wolf Trap. The “alt country rock” band from Chicago has sired two of the best albums of […]
On the road giving talks this spring and in several forthcoming articles, I recommend that one way to widen the net in terms of public engagement is to hook science […]
In following up in my my earlier post today regarding the season finale for Lost, google traffic to my blog points back to this site which proposes a provocative theory […]
Yesterday I focused on the need for “cross-talk” on matters of science policy, highlighting for example the importance of a middle ground perspective on science and religion. It had escaped […]
It’s the season finale for Lost tonight and the narrative threads are actually seeming to fit together. My only lingering question is where exactly Jack’s father fits in the mysterious […]
The Washington Post profiles Barton Seaver today, the chef who put 14th street’s Saint X on the map foodwise and then helped launch the ultra-successful Hook in Georgetown. Seaver is […]
Several colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have a new study out that shows not surprisingly that like-minded conversations drive attitude extremity relative to science policy. Analyzing data from a […]
At the Washington Post today, Dana Milbank reviews Rush Limbaugh’s Monday program. The peg is Wanda Sykes’ comments at this weekend’s White House Correspondents Dinner.Perhaps of greater interest, later in […]
The Washington Post’s media reporter has joined the ranks of those who fear the imminent demise of journalism. I don’t share this outlook. In fact, I see journalism–and science journalism […]
Over at Columbia Journalism Review, Curtis Brainard has an excellent round-up and analysis of what might be afoot at Scientific American as it merges editorial direction with Nature Publishing Group […]
If you read the NY Times or WPost in print, you’ve probably noticed over the past 6 months the regular full page ads that have been placed by Monsanto. Similar […]
Last week, John Holdren appeared for a 45 minute interview on NPR Science Friday with host Ira Flatow. Below the fold, I have pasted excerpts of his comments relative to […]
Everyone from Maureen Dowd to Allessandra Stanley have speculated as to why Elizabeth Edwards would endure the pain to go public with how she has dealt with her husband John’s […]
If you are like me, you are looking forward to the May 27 Champions League showdown between Man United and Barcelona. No doubt, many here in DC will be taking […]
With many ScienceBlogs readers probably taking in the new Star Trek film this weekend, I’ve opened this post as a thread for discussion.What do you think, a pitch perfect re-invention […]
Trekkies Bash New Star Trek Film As ‘Fun, Watchable’The only thing missing from the pitch perfect new Star Trek film is a strong soundtrack. The actors have been brilliantly cast […]
Pew has a detailed run down on the surge in motivation for information about swine flu. The brief analysis goes on to discuss strategies CDC had put in place to […]
The Global Language Institute has started a new index that ranks universities by number of media mentions. Below is their top ten universities.I have a few reservations and cautions about […]
That’s the revealing thesis of a new book reviewed at New York magazine, examining the disconnect between the reality of the Columbine shootings and the many false media reports and […]
The International Journal of Sustainability Communication is an important new open-access outlet for research and practitioner essays on environmental communication. In the latest issue, communication strategist Tom Bowman suggests that […]