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Career and Professional Development
Session Type: Special Event

The Art and Science of Evidence-based Communication: A Nutrition Scientist’s Guide

Sunday, June 30, 2024
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM CT
Location: W375C

Organized by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) and ASN

Learning Objectives

At the end of this activity, learners will be able to:
  • Identify the factors that influence consumer trust in science
  • Describe emotion and principles of behavioral economics and how they influence food decisions
  • Explore the hierarchy of scientific evidence and assessment for hazard and risk
  • Critically analyze media reporting on peer-reviewed research and implement best practices for effectively communicating evidence-based information

      • Chair(s)

    • Milton Stokes, PhD, MPH, RD (he/him/his)

      Senior Director, Food & Nutrition
      International Food Information Council
      Farmington, Connecticut, United States

      Disclosure(s): Bayer Crop Science: Consultant (Terminated, August 1, 2023)
      Porter Novelli for their client Bayer: Consultant (Terminated, January 1, 2023)

      • Speaker(s)

    • Andrew Brown, PhD (he/him/his)

      Associate Professor
      University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children's Research Institute
      Little Rock, Arkansas, United States

      Disclosure(s): Alliance for Potato Research and Education: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing); Speaker/Speaker's Bureau (Ongoing)
      American Egg Board: Grant/Research Support (Terminated)
      Calorie Control Council: Speaker/Speaker's Bureau (Terminated)
      Hass Avocado Board: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
      International Food Information Council Foundation: Speaker/Speaker's Bureau (Terminated)
      National Cattlemen’s Beef Association: Consultant (Terminated); Grant/Research Support (Terminated)
      Potatoes USA: Speaker/Speaker's Bureau (Terminated)
      Soy Nutrition Institute Global: Consultant (Ongoing)

    • Brandon McFadden, PhD

      Professor and Tyson Endowed Chair in Food Policy Economics
      Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness
      University of Arkansas
      Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States

      Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Tim Sellnow, PhD (he/him/his)

      Risk Communication Specialist
      Clemson University
      Clemson, South Carolina, United States

      Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    Nutrition scientists are in a position to both create knowledge and communicate findings, including to the public who must contend with a sea of inaccurate information. Consumers are juggling fearful headlines, competing priorities and complicated realities, adding layers of complexity to a scientist’s role in inspiring healthier yet realistic food choices. In this session, speakers will provide insights on the public’s perception of popular nutrition and health concepts, highlight the hierarchy of scientific evidence, explore the role of emotion in food decisions, and share best practices on how to inspire various audiences to make healthful, evidence-based nutrition decisions. Regardless of where you work—a research setting, in the classroom, clinical, community, or communication—elevating your science communication skills will help convey your expertise to the public.

    Presentations:

    • 8:00 AM – 8:10 AM CT
      Welcome and Introductions - The Art and Science of Evidence-based Communication: A Nutrition Scientist’s Guide

      Chair: Milton Stokes, PhD, MPH, RD (he/him/his) – International Food Information Council

    • 8:10 AM – 8:30 AM CT
      The Role of Behavior Economics in Consumer Food Choices and Implications for Science Communications

      Speaker: Brandon R. McFadden, PhD – University of Arkansas

    • 8:30 AM – 8:50 AM CT
      Hierarchy of Scientific Evidence

      Speaker: Andrew W. Brown, PhD (he/him/his) – University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children's Research Institute

    • 8:50 AM – 9:10 AM CT
      Practical Applications and Best Practices

      Speaker: Tim Sellnow, PhD (he/him/his) – Clemson University

    • 9:10 AM – 9:30 AM CT
      Panel Discussion - The Art and Science of Evidence-based Communication: A Nutrition Scientist’s Guide

      Chair: Milton Stokes, PhD, MPH, RD (he/him/his) – International Food Information Council

      Speaker: Andrew W. Brown, PhD (he/him/his) – University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children's Research Institute

      Speaker: Brandon R. McFadden, PhD – University of Arkansas

      Speaker: Tim Sellnow, PhD (he/him/his) – Clemson University