From consulting to training to managing projects, I've helped industry and government agencies communicate risks, involve the public, share complex science and technology, and conduct strategic communication.
Risk Communication
Risk Communication Planning for Bioterrorism and Other Public Health Emergencies
Developed one of the first state-level bioterrorism risk communication plans in the nation, coordinating activities of state, county, and local agencies. Also peer reviewed risk communication materials to be used in training from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Developed and presented to public health leaders workshops on risk communication for public health emergencies.
Risk Communication Planning for Cancer Cluster
Developed the risk communication plan for the Nevada State Health Division Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia cluster investigation in Churchill County, Nevada. This state-of-the-art investigation included over 10 agencies and the most advanced science ever applied to an investigation of this sort. Activities included developing a comprehensive, unified, and proactive health communication plan to keep the public updated on the investigation and helping build health risk communication capacity among investigation staff. The resulting plan was used to communicate risks effectively through the presentations of controversial results and was used as a template for the division’s bioterrorism response planning.
Risk Communication Training
Developed a modular approach to risk communication training and successfully taught scientists, engineers, managers, public health leaders, and communicators. Served as faculty in risk communication at the 40th Technical Writer's Institute at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Taught staff at national laboratories, regulatory agencies, and public health leadership institutes how to effectively communicate risks to the public. Regularly serve as an invited speaker and trainer at international conferences such as those for the Society for Technical Communication, Air and Waste Management Association, and Society of Women Engineers.
Documenting Environmental Risk
Served in a number of roles for environmental impact statements and other environmental documentation for such clients as the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Energy, and Bonneville Power Administration. On various projects, facilitated agency meetings, developed public involvement plans, edited, and helped author reports. Example projects include work to restore anadromous fish to the Yakima and Klickitat river basins in Washington State, a business sensitive assessment on a new tactical fighter, a Federal Consistency Determination for rocket testing off the California coast, development of a testing facility for nuclear submarines, and an assessment for the testing of a satellite deployment missile.
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Public Involvement
Community Relations Planning
Developed programs to allow communities to interact effectively with government agencies on environmental issues. For example, managed the task of supporting community relations efforts at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. Analyzed public information needs, and client and regulator concerns, to determine appropriate ways to communicate information concerning the efforts to cleanup hydrocarbon pollution at the Base. Led the creation of a community profile when the Base Community Relations Plan proved inadequate in characterizing the intended audience.
Responding to Public Comments
Gathered, consolidated, evaluated, and drafted responses to public comments on large environmental documents such as the Southeast Alaska Acoustic Measurement Facility environmental impact statement and an environmental impact statement to conduct safety enhancements to the U.S. nuclear reactor most like the Chernobyl reactor. Cut time from project schedule and budget while producing documentation that exceeded client and public expectations.
Planning for Public Involvement
Developed public involvement plan for environmental impact statement to manage solid waste at major nuclear facility. Analyzed agency, federal, and state requirements, analyzed audience expectations, and crafted plan to cost-effectively involve public in development and evaluation of environmental documentation.
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Science Communication
Understanding Science to Facilitate Public Involvement
Led a project to present the complex technical information concerning the history, construction, contamination, chemistry, and unknown aspects of the 177 underground storage tanks at the U.S. Department of Energy's Hanford Site to stakeholders helping the Department determine appropriate cleanup approaches. The resulting report, Hanford Tank Cleanup: A Guide to Understanding the Technical Issues, has been cited by industry, academia, and government as an innovative approach to presenting clear, user-friendly technical information. The report was also cited in the May 1996 volume of Scientific American Magazine. It has since won first place in international and national communication competitions and been published as a book.
Documenting a National Risk Assessment Approach
Co-led quality assurance activities for next-generation multimedia risk modeling software as part of a national effort for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a risk assessment of hazardous waste disposal levels. Helped developed the quality assurance program used by the project, as well as conducted testing on several key components of the system. Led documentation for the project, including developing a dozen technical documents such as testing information, specifications, and requirements documentation and writing a lay reader overview of the risk assessment effort that was used in part to provide information to Congress.
Documenting Environmental Monitoring
Served as lead communications person for annual reports documenting results of environmental monitoring at controversial federal nuclear facility. Coordinated input from multiple authors and agencies, resolved comments from review panel, and edited report to ensure consistency and ability to communicate with the public. Won national and international awards for documentation.
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Strategic Communication
Designing Internal and External Communication Programs
Led internal and external communication efforts for an 800-person research and development division specializing in environmental restoration, environmental technology development, and environmental policy and program development. Identified key audiences and information needs, developed and implemented strategies to reach those audiences, and evaluated program activities.
Charting the Organization's Future
Co-led strategic planning for public health preparedness for the Nevada State Health Division. Developed materials, facilitated meetings among state and county health district staff as well as other emergency responders, drafted the strategic plan, recommended resolutions to comments, and created the final plan, which covered strategies and tactics for the entire state from 2006 to 2008.
Documenting Requirements
Helped identify and document policies and procedures for the Science and Technology Directorate of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Developed materials describing science and technology resources available in emergencies, which were used in the 2006 TOPOFF 4 Continuity of Government National Exercise and received praise from emergency responders at the national level.
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