The Center for Science, Technology and Environmental Policy Studies (CSTEPS) is proud to announce the successful conclusion of a three-year partnership with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) on the project "Design and Evaluation for Effective Science Communication for the USGS Grand Canyon Uranium Project."

This initiative aimed to enhance USGS’s science communication strategies for its long-term study on uranium mining in the Grand Canyon region. Over three phases, CSTEPS researchers worked alongside USGS scientists to evaluate communication challenges, assess stakeholder needs, and develop science communication tools to improve public engagement and understanding of the project’s findings.

Project Highlights and Phases

Phase I: Laying the Foundation (Oct. 2021 – June 2022)

The first phase focused on establishing a strong foundation for the project through:

• Literature reviews on science and risk communication best practices.
• Context analysis of the USGS Grand Canyon Uranium Project, considering its historical, political, and scientific background.
• Development of a logic model to guide future science communication activities.

At this stage, the team analyzed USGS peer-reviewed publications, media coverage, and stakeholder networks to better understand past communication efforts and identify key areas for improvement.

Phase II: Understanding Stakeholder Needs (June 2022 – Oct. 2023)

The second phase centered on data collection through interviews and content analysis of public comments to assess stakeholder perceptions, knowledge gaps, and preferred communication strategies. Key activities included:

• Engaging stakeholders across multiple sectors to understand their concerns and questions.
• Identifying misconceptions and challenges in communicating uranium mining science.
• Summarizing key issues and opportunities to guide the development of communication tools in Phase III.

Phase III: Developing Communication Tool Prototypes (Oct. 2023 – Dec. 2024)

In the final phase, CSTEPS and USGS transformed research findings into three prototype communication tools designed to improve engagement with stakeholders. These tools were developed based on:

• Best practices identified in Phase I
• Stakeholder insights gathered in Phase II
• Collaborative feedback loops to refine messaging

At the project’s conclusion, three primary communication tools were developed and delivered to the USGS team, ensuring their practical application in future science outreach efforts:

• Message Maps – A structured framework to guide clear and consistent communication on key research findings.
• Research Topic Briefs – Concise, accessible summaries of complex scientific information of broad scientific topics tailored for diverse stakeholders.
• Interactive Visualization – A dynamic tool designed to enhance stakeholder engagement through data-driven storytelling.

Additionally, a comprehensive toolkit was created to tie these resources together. The toolkit provides step-by-step guidance on how the tools were developed, instructions for their use, and links to appendices outlining and aiding the full process.

These deliverables were designed to improve clarity, accessibility, and engagement in USGS science communication efforts related to the Grand Canyon Uranium Project.

Advancing Science Communication at CSTEPS

This collaboration reflects CSTEPS’ commitment to bridging science, policy, and public engagement. By integrating research-driven communication strategies into large-scale environmental projects like the Grand Canyon Uranium Project, CSTEPS continues to play a leading role in ensuring transparency, accessibility, and stakeholder trust in science communication.

For more information on CSTEPS’ work in science and technology policy research, stay connected with us for updates on ongoing and future projects!