The “Think-and-do Tank” Model: Action-oriented Climate Communication Research

Since its founding in 2007, the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication has pursued an approach to climate science communication that we call a "think-and-do tank" model. The "thinking" element involves strategic communication research intended to illuminate strategies to improve public engagement with climate change that, if applied at scale, will cultivate public and political will for climate solutions. The "doing" element involves translating these strategies into communication programs that engage the public and empower various communities of practice. We seek to identify trusted local voices in communities across America and support them as climate communicators with evidence-based communication tools. We illustrate the model with examples and suggest how other action-oriented science communication researchers can apply the approach.