Data and Misinformation in an Era of Sustainability and Climate Change Crises
Focused Research Program
Our Focus
The Data and Misinformation in an Era of Sustainability and Climate Change Crises FRP aims to understand the nature, origins, spread, impacts, and possibilities of disarming disinformation about the climate issue in an effort to address the climate crisis.
Through the FRP’s collaborative work, the BU Climate Disinformation Initiative was launched, which analyzes the nature, origins, spread, and impacts of climate change mis- and disinformation, as well as the possibilities of mitigating misinformed beliefs. Learn more about BU Climate Disinformation Initiative here.
Click here to view the slides from the FRP symposium titled “Taking on Climate Lies – Climate Disinformation Initiative at Boston University” held on May, 16 2023.
Focused Research Program led by:
- Chris Wells: Associate Professor, Journalism, COM
- Sarah Finnie Robinson: Senior Fellow, ISE
- Irena Vodenska: Professor, Finance, MET
Research Thrusts
1. The spread and evolution of climate change disinformation through social media
This thrust is building a catalog of prominent narratives of disinformation about climate change circulating in Twitter and Reddit, identifying major accounts promoting disinformation and the networks of which they are a part, and modeling shifting patterns of climate disinformation around key events.
Thrust Leaders
- Hyunuk Kim: Assistant Professor, Administrative Services, MET
- Gianluca Stringhini: Assistant Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering, ENG
- Irena Vodenska: Professor, Finance, MET
2. Climate disinformation and native advertising
This thrust extends related research to focus on the discussion of climate issues in native advertising, especially to identify how corporations engaged in native advertising are using the medium to affect public attitudes towards climate.
Thrust Leaders
- Michelle Amazeen: Associate Professor, Mass Communication, Advertising and Public Relations, COM
- Chris Wells: Associate Professor, Journalism, COM
3. Public attitudes and behavior in response to climate disinformation and correction
This thrust works to understand the prevalence of certain forms of climate misinformation among the American public, to compare and reconcile competing frameworks for understanding Americans’ understanding of this issue, and to test experimentally the effects of disinformation and the effectiveness of correction strategies.
Thrust Leaders