Dr. Taylor Ruth is an Assistant Professor of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Communications at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Taylor received her B.S. degree in microbiology and cell sciences from the University of Florida but quickly discovered she enjoyed talking to members of the community about science more than being in the lab all day. After realizing her interest in public engagement but lack of communication training due to her degree, she pursued a M.S. and Ph.D. in agricultural communications from the University of Florida. During this time, she worked for the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences’ Center for Public Issues Education (UF/IFAS PIE Center), where she studied science communication issues that spanned from risk perceptions of GMOs to crisis communication related to the Zika virus. Her current research agenda centers around how consumers make decisions and process complex information related to food and natural resources, with a goal of bridging the gap between members of the public and scientific communities.

Watch their presentation on the SciComm YouTube channel.