Join us! SCI Open House, Spring 2025

Communication ⧫ Connection ⧫ Community are the three keywords that define the mission of SCI. We seek to educate students and advance scholarship for communication, information and media; to build and sustain relationships; and to contribute to a more peaceful, just, and informed society.

This year, we will focus on widespread misinformation about science. We will offer a series of mini-workshops and a keynote presentation by a world-renowned expert. Learn about how misinformation affects all of us, and improve your ability to navigate the sea of misinformation. Whether you’re a prospective student, current student, alumni, stakeholder, or simply curious about the dynamic field of communication and information, this event is for you.

  • Date: Friday, April 11, 2025
  • Time: 4:00-6:30 PM, reception to follow
  • Place: University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
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Mini Workshops

Get a taste of the diverse programs offered by SCI through interactive 20-minute workshops. Choose two sessions to attend from the following options:

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Recognizing the Strategic Nature of Communication During a Crisis

Analyze communication strategies among organizations, media, and the public to improve communication management.

  • With Ji Young Kim, PhD, Associate Professor
  • Program: Communication
  • Time: 4:00-4:20 PM and 4:30-4:50 PM
  • Place: Kuykendall Hall 209
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Decoding the Misinformation Playbook: Resisting Top Strategies Used by Misinformation Creators

Learn how misinformation providers manipulate the process of creating understanding to persuade, deceive, and misinform the public.

  • With Krystyna Aune, PhD, Professor, Jessica Gasiorek, PhD, Professor and Juven Villacastin, MA candidate, Communicology
  • Program: Communicology
  • Time: 4:00-4:20 PM and 4:30-4:50 PM
  • Place: Kuykendall Hall 305
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Fact or Fiction? AI-Generated Images and Fake News in Science

How are AI-generated images and fake information shaping public perception of scientific discoveries? We discuss the ethical implications of AI-generated content in Journalism and science communication.

  • With Youjeong Kim, PhD, Associate Professor
  • Program: Journalism
  • Time: 4:00-4:20 PM and 4:30-4:50 PM
  • Place: Kuykendall Hall 306
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Libraries and Archives in Defense of Science and Democracy

Libraries and archives in the US are key lines of defense of our Constitutional Democracy and reliable scientific information but are increasingly under attack. We’ll examine this historic mission, the challenge, and how information professionals are trying to provide access.

Peace

Deep Listening and Communication for Leadership and Life

Explore the power of deep listening to enhance leadership, foster meaningful connections, and improve communication in professional and personal settings.

  • With Maya Soetoro, PhD, Associate Specialist, and Dan Milz, Ph.D., Associate Professor
  • Program: Matsunaga Institute for Peace
  • Time: 4:00-4:20 and 4:30-4:50 PM
  • Place: Kuykendall Hall 301

Presentations

Keynote: Communication of Science & Health in the Era of Misinformation

Dr. Viswanath is the lead author of the 2024 Consensus Study Report of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine: Understanding and Addressing Misinformation about Science. He will share key findings on the nature and scope of misinformation about science and its impact on individuals, communities, and society. He will also discuss effective solutions for mitigating the spread of misinformation and share actionable guidance toward reducing associated harms.

Kasisomayajula “Vish” Viswanath, PhD, is the Lee Kum Kee Professor of Health Communication in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

  • Time: 5:00 to 6:00 pm
  • Place: Art Building Auditorium, UH Mānoa
Kasisomayajula Viswanath

Kasisomayajula Viswanath

SCI Alumni Awards

After the keynote presentation, we will celebrate the outstanding achievements of SCI alumni and unveil this year’s Distinguished Alumni Awardees. Be inspired by the remarkable contributions of our alumni to the fields of communication and information, and witness the recognition of their exemplary work in shaping the future of our society.

  • Time: 6:00 to 6:30 pm
  • Place: Art Building Auditorium, UH Mānoa
Art Building, UHM

Networking Reception

Unwind and connect with fellow attendees at our reception in the Art building courtyard. This is your chance to mingle with our SCI community, which includes students excited to share highlights from their experiences this year.

  • Time: 6:30 pm
  • Place: Art Building Courtyard, UH Mānoa
Art Building, UHM

Questions?

Feel free to reach out to us with any questions you have regarding this exciting open-house event.

uhmsci@hawaii.edu

(808) 956-8881