Benjamin S Randall
an inside look at one of Colorado State University's most transcendent instructors, an emphatically passionate science communicator, and a student-career networking agent unlike any other.
“The more connections across campus we make, the more our students will be motivated to spread science communication—and that’s our goal here at the Center for Science Communication.” Joe leaned back, flashing a toothy grin. “And you know what? We’re just getting started.”
Like a Champ
After working for more than 10 years in television news as a reporter, photographer, and anchor, Joe Champ earned a master's from the University of Wisconsin and a Ph.D. from the University of Colorado.
His research focuses on the intersection of communication, culture, and the natural world. He has often collaborated with USDA Forest Service to study resource management issues faced by the agency.
Champ teaches in a variety of areas including the role of media in society (more accurately, media as society), TV/video production, and qualitative research methods at the graduate level.
Boundaries, Networking and Convergence
We hear these terms, or some version of them, every day with anyone and everyone touting the benefits of navigating borders, building relationships, and making connections.
I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Joseph Champ, one of Colorado State University’s most influential navigators of interdisciplinary networking. He explained that soon after he came to CSU in 2001, he became aware of the need for connections between natural resource scientists, land managers and communication research professionals.
“This is the interesting part—when I first began building these relationships, these agency communicators with the Forest Service, the National Park Service, and other science-focused organizations were coming to me saying that communication is changing, mass media are changing, you know—that technology is changing. It’s all going digital. They felt out of step with society,” Champ remembered. “And then they asked me what I had that could help them. What kind of students do you have, with what skills? And do they know how to communicate in this digital realm in ways that might transcend ignorance and skepticism about evidence-based land management?”
Feature Article
Narrative Podcast
What began as a high school storytelling project, has, gradually, morphed into More About More. This podcast, hosted, edited, and produced by myself, highlights countless aspects of our lives--perhaps best illustrated by the podcast's famous intro and outro slogan:
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More things you may want to know more about, more things you may not want to know more about, and certainly, a bunch of things you had no clue you could know more about.
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In this rendition of More About More, I sit down with Dr. Champ himself for an enlightening conversation. We outline some of the most fascinating moments of his career, talk about some of the individuals he's taught and inspired to take part in science communication, and, well, more; It's More About More.
