Sarah Goodwin, Ph.D. - US grants

Abstract IOS 1311393 DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Assessment of Signals in Communication Networks

Communication is a cornerstone of animal behavior, mediating disparate interactions such as among predators and prey, parents and offspring, siblings, social groups, and prospective mates, to name a few. Sometimes multiple receivers are able to detect the same set of communication signals, and in these cases communication can be described as occurring within "networks." A major open question in animal behavior is whether signals used in communication networks are interpreted or assessed any differently than in single sender/ single receiver interactions. To address this question, the research team will investigate how signal receivers make direct comparisons among multiple signals. Research will be conducted on a songbird species, the Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina), and will aim to answer two questions; (i) how do females assess prospective mates when sampling multiple males that vary in preferred signal properties? and (ii) how do networks of males respond to territorial intrusions when threat levels as signalled in song varies? This project encompasses both lab and field components, by testing female preferences in an operant paradigm in the lab, and by using playback and a microphone array to test a network response to territorial intrusion in the field. Results from this project will address the hypothesis that relative signal strength can influence both mating decisions and territorial interactions, and could therefore ultimately affect the strength and/or direction of sexual selection. This project presents opportunities to train undergraduate researchers and also generate data suitable for senior theses. Furthermore, the Co-PI organizes a science outreach activity, the "Science Café," (www.oebsciencecafe.org) and findings will be presented by the co-PI to the community at a Café event in 2014.

All data created as a result of this project will be stored in replicate on hard drives subject to regular back-ups, and will be accessible to other researchers via request.

This grant explores how communicating science through a variety of video production techniques can be used to educate students, inform the scientific community, and engage the general public about the process and discoveries of current scientific research. Digital technological advancements and the wake of the global pandemic have created new opportunities for formal and informal learning through asynchronous viewing of videos. Understanding how various audiences respond to a spectrum of production styles and approaches will provide new strategies for improving science literacy through video, including among groups traditionally underserved by science communication and education. Furthermore, this project will assess how training early career scientists, particularly those from underrepresented groups, can elevate the science communication skill set of the next generation of STEM professionals.

This project will use both remote and in-person video recordings to combine interview footage, on-scene recording, and science talks with animation, music, and other post-production elements to tell the stories of science using the full palate of video production techniques. The resulting products include: videos and curricular resources for undergraduate biology students developed in collaboration with educators, short films for broader audiences, and science communication training for early career researchers from diverse backgrounds. The video products and trainings will be matched with evaluations, including validated surveys, focus groups, and novel assessment tools developed by the research team. Evaluating engagement and learning across diverse audiences will help identify fundamental principles of effective communication through science videos. This proposal was funded with support from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.