Research Consortium

In the HSC research consortium faculty across four disciplines work to analyze communication practices, rhetoric, and language to better understand scientific controversies, clinical problems, and public health strategies. 

We are experienced collaborators who have partnered with researchers at academic medical centers and in STEM disciplines to secure funding, conduct quantitative, qualitative, and rhetorical research, and analyze and publish results. 

See the ongoing projects to learn more about opportunities for collaborating with HSC faculty.

Ongoing Projects

Industrialized animal food production has been criticized for creating major problems related to climate change, environmental injustice, animal suffering, and public health. The alternative protein sector – encompassing both the nascent cell-cultured meat industry (also known as lab-grown, clean, cultivated, or in vitro meat) and the long-standing but evolving enterprise of plant-based meat production – has emerged in response. This wide-ranging and multi-method research project examines the key narratives and networks of alternative protein advocates and opponents, as well as explores public opinion related to the future of meat and its alternatives.

It is widely understood that healthy eating is important for individual and community well-being. However, discussions about what exactly makes for a healthy diet, as well as how to best promote healthy eating among the general public, remain highly contentious. Using a range of qualitative, quantitative, applied and collaborative research methods, this project examines key healthy eating debates and tests practical interventions. Specific topics of interest include public perceptions of "ultra-processed foods," as well as targeted messaging campaigns to promote increased fruit and vegetable consumption in low-income communities.

"Exploring the Rhetoric of AI Slop." In development.

Long term, phenomenological study of medical education. This work follows students through their medical school training using in depth interviews each semester to better gauge their experiences of the potentially contrasting objectives of competency and compassion. 

A climate change reporting project designed to enhance local news coverage of climate change in the Southern New Jersey. The project featured collaboration between Rowan journalism students and professional news organizations to create news articles, social media outreach, and multimedia packages about climate change in the Atlantic City region. All of the content is being posted to a Rowan University-based website, South Jersey Climate News (sjclimate.news).

Dr. Reed's current research analyzes the role of stigma in medical communication--including stigma about Down syndrome in prenatal testing discourse and stigma about addiction in substance use disorder discourse. In her work, she aims to identify concrete strategies for reducing stigma (and perceived stigma) and facilitating better communication between medical professionals and patients.

Dr. Richards' current research analyzes how global corporations utilize social media and strategic PR—specifically CSR—to portray an image of sustainability while hiding systemic harms they have caused in historically marginalized communities. By comparing corporate storytelling with the real experiences of water insecurity, my work aims to examine communication strategies that perpetuate environmental inequality. 

Rui Shi - Health Misinformation

This project examines persuasive strategies that could effectively correct misinformation. In addition, the study explores how to help the scientific community communicate uncertainty to the general public while promoting health behaviors.