Researcher(s)
- Madeline Greenly, , University of Delaware
Faculty Mentor(s)
- Jaclyn Czachorowski, DIGITAL CONTENT SPECIALIST/College of Agriculture and Natural Resources/Paradee Center, University of Delaware
Abstract
Cooperative Extension: Sharing Knowledge in Delaware
Student
Madeline
Greenly
English/Philosophy
Mentor
Jaclyn
Czachorowski
DIGITAL CONTENT SPECIALIST/College of Agriculture and Natural Resources/Paradee Center
The University of Delaware’s College of Agriculture and Science’s communication team plays a vital role in sharing and disseminating the scientific research conducted by its faculty and researchers. This research covers a wide range of topics, and their responsibility is to translate these complex studies and findings into clear and accessible information for the general public. The team spreads this information primarily through articles that are posted to either the UD site or to Daily Mail, and through graphics, which can promote events as well as be used as a tool to make science research more understandable. Some examples of this are fact sheets, which are small documents which showcase studies and findings and are made to be engaging and fun for the public. These fact sheets can be about plants and when to plant them, inform you about pests and how to get rid of them, and about what PH soil level is best for flowers or trees to grow. Over the summer, I have had the chance to work with the communications team on all of these. I learned to tailor my writing style to different audiences and platforms, ensuring that the content was accessible and relevant to the readers. In addition to writing, I gained hands-on experience in creating visual graphics to complement and enhance the written content. This included designing infographics, social media graphics, and promotional materials. All of these were important in making sure that the public was aware of the new events that Cooperative Extension was helping to organize. I now understand how crucial communications is, and how the team does an amazing job of promoting the University of Delaware and its staff, undergraduates, and graduate students work.