Grad student study examines Islanders’ perceptions
MANITOULIN—Colin Stringer has spent much of the last decade delving into the intricate world of molecular and cellular biology, earning his Masters at Guelph, but his interests were piqued by how all things scientific are communicated. As part of his graduate diploma in Science Communication at Laurentian University, Mr. Stringer has undertaken a study of public perceptions of wind turbines.
Some 300 random Manitoulin Island and Blind River residents recently found a flyer in their mailbox introducing Mr. Stringer and his research and requesting their participation in the study.
The flyer explains that by agreeing to take part in the survey, respondents can “contribute to an understanding of residents’ perspectives of wind energy development in Ontario that could ultimately inform how we can be attentive and respectful to the concerns of those affected as we pursue a sustainable energy future.”
The flyer goes on to note that the 15 minute online survey asks respondents to select the answer that best represents their opinion for each of a series of questions and that the survey is entirely voluntary and that the information collected will remain confidential. “The identity of participants will not be collected,” notes the flyer.
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The Expositor caught up with Mr. Stringer at his current place of employment, a film company in New York City specializing in films about science. He explained how he came to his research project.
Although he grew up on the Island, he has spent most of the last few years living in southern Ontario, pursuing his education—but on his return to the Island on visits he could not help notice the subject was heavily charged. “I grew up on Manitoulin Island, I am a Haweater,” he said. “Lots of people I respect are on both sides of the issue.”
Mr. Stringer’s program has three semesters and is unique in North America in its approach. “It is based on a British/United Kingdom model,” he said. The program is being offered through collaboration between Laurentian University and Science North. “It is a relatively new program with a small class (13 students),” he said.
The collaboration with a science centre allows for the facility to act as a living laboratory to study how people view science.
The program meshes perfectly with Mr. Stringer’s interest in film as a communication medium. While the first semester delved into the theories of communication, the psychology of learning and how audiences perceive issues and the second focussed on perceptual processes and learning in formal settings, the third semester encompasses an independent research project and internships.
The minimum requirement for the program is a bachelor of arts and the participants come from a wide range of disciplines. “There are even two physicists in the program,” he said. “They tend to be underrepresented.”
As he looked into the research in the field, Mr. Stringer discovered that there are actually very few studies of public perceptions of wind turbines. “There has been some done in the UK and Europe, but only one in southern Ontario,” he said. “There is a huge void of wind energy perception studies in North America, especially in Ontario.”
The lack of North American studies is particularly important as there can be wide differences in attitudes and perceptions across different regions, explained Mr. Stringer. While the study in southern Ontario was also conducted in a rural region, Manitoulin and the North Shore have unique aspects and Ontario has a significantly different legislative environment and a specific set of events that have taken place in the province.
Mr. Stringer hopes that his study might provide insight in how science is communicated and what people on both sides of the issue may have in common and how information might be better and more respectfully communicated.
Chantal Barriault at Laurentian University is supervising the project. Any person interested in learning more about the study may contact her at 705-675-1151, extension 4139 (email cbarriault@laurentian.ca), or if there are questions regarding the ethics or complaints about the research itself, the Laurentian University research ethics officer may be contacted at ethics@laurentian.ca.
Mr. Stringer himself can be contacted at cstringer@laurentian.ca.
