Scientific article
OA Policy
English

Communicating invasion: understanding social anxieties around mobile species

Published inGeografiska annaler. Series B, Human Geography, vol. 97, no. 2, p. 155-167
Publication date2015
Abstract

concerning invasive alien species emerge and how ordinary citizens understand, receive and appropriate them. It explores the ambivalence of scientists and policy-makers using emotive or highly charged terms and vocabulary, arguing that many make strategic yet cautious use of fear to raise awareness. Based both on in-depth interviews of scientists and/or expert policy-makers involved in communicating with the public about invasive species, as well as citizen focus groups, it further discusses how individuals reflect critically on the terms used in written documents. We argue that the various scientific uncertainties concerning the impacts of invasive species foster and feed other domains of social anxiety beyond the usual concern previous research has shown for xenophobic connotations. These include wider fears about environmental technology, science and expertise, changing environments, and threats to human health

Keywords
  • Invasive species
  • Social anxiety
  • Focus groups
  • Xenophobic terms
  • Reception
  • Uncertainty
Funding
  • Swiss National Science Foundation - NaVille
Citation (ISO format)
ERNWEIN, Marion, FALL, Juliet Jane. Communicating invasion: understanding social anxieties around mobile species. In: Geografiska annaler. Series B, Human Geography, 2015, vol. 97, n° 2, p. 155–167. doi: 10.1111/geob.12071
Main files (1)
Article (Accepted version)
accessLevelPublic
Identifiers
Journal ISSN0435-3684
815views
342downloads

Technical informations

Creation18/10/2015 17:38:00
First validation18/10/2015 17:38:00
Update time14/03/2023 23:43:44
Status update14/03/2023 23:43:44
Last indexation31/10/2024 01:36:51
All rights reserved by Archive ouverte UNIGE and the University of GenevaunigeBlack