Edna Anderson-Taylor Communication Institute
About us

 

The Need for the Institute

Communication is central to each of the most pressing issues of public concern today. These include addressing the science denialism that hampers effective responses to problems like climate change and public health emergencies. The rapidly evolving media and technology landscape raises concerns about the future of journalism, social media's part in promoting conspiracies and disinformation, the privacy and security of our personal data, and the ways in which artificial intelligence will touch all of our lives. These concerns intersect with longstanding societal antagonisms around race, class, and gender identity. All of these pose challenges for how we can educate and advocate for change in ways that are both effective and ethical.

It is increasingly clear that no one set of scholars or practitioners will be able to address such large, interconnected problems. An interdisciplinary approach that draws from a range of knowledges from different academic disciplines and professions is needed. The Institute meets this need by serving as a crossroads that brings together scholars, practitioners, and students from across campus, our local community, and well beyond to think about the role communication plays in these problems—and how we can best work to address them.

 

Primary Mission & Goals

The primary mission of the Institute is to support and promote innovative communication research, education, and practice that address society's most pressing concerns. The Institute pursues this mission by offering a range of opportunities, including a speaker series, workshops, symposia, and research support. The goals of these activities are to

1. Broaden our understanding of the vast landscape of contemporary communication research and, by doing so,

2. Break down barriers between academic disciplines and approaches, scholars and practitioners.