STU JOHNSON

CREDIT KYAGR.COM

The Kentucky Geological Survey and the University of Kentucky are working on new ways to use dialogue in addressing environmental issues in Appalachia.

UK Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies Professor Lauren Cagel said the grant funded research focuses on gathering community involvement up front as opposed to science communication experts providing answers.

“At the end of the project, we want to make sure that we have some very tangible outcomes for community members.  So, we want to make sure that we have developed and tested communications about geological data that people can actually use to solve real problems in their everyday lives,” explained Cagel.

Cagel says ten member advisory boards will be established in Pike, Johnson, Floyd, Martin, and Magoffin counties.  Next summer the boards would present the citizen-researcher final product to large groups of people in eastern Kentucky counties.

Stu Johnson held an extended interview with Lauren Cagel. Listen here.