John C. Besley Ph.D.

Ellis N. Brandt Professor of Public Relations

Department

Advertising + Public Relations

jbesley@msu.edu

Bio

Dr. Besley is a science communication and risk communication scholar who studies public views about science and scientists' views about communication. He also regularly consults with scientists and scientific organizations on communication strategy. His goal is to help science communicators make evidence-based, ethical, and strategic communication choices.

Part of this work is aimed at understanding how peoples' views about decision-makers and decision processes (i.e., trustworthiness and fairness beliefs) affect their overall trust in the products of science and technology (S&T). He is especially interested in topics with potential health or environmental impacts. Another element of his research focuses on understanding how scientists and science communicators think about communication and the infrastructure available to support communication by the scientific community.

Among other topic's, Dr. Besley's research has touched on public perceptions of agricultural biotechnology (i.e., genetic engineering), energy technologies (i.e., nuclear energy, hydrogen fuel cells), and nanotechnology. He has also conducted research into journalistic norms related to coverage of public engagement and research to better understand the impact of science communication training and other forms of support. This work has seen him and his colleagues survey more than 10,000 scientists and interview more than 250 scientists and other communicators across a range of scientific fields.

Dr. Besley is a co-author for the books Strategic Science Communication (JHU, 2022) and Science Communication for Scientists (Routledge, 2025). He has also published more than 125 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. This work has appeared in high-ranking journals including Risk Analysis, Science Communication, Public Understanding of Science, Environmental Communication, The Journal of Science Communication, and The Journal of Risk Research, as well as a range of edited volumes. He has received funding from the National Science Foundation, the United States Department of Agriculture, and a range of foundations. He is the previous associate editor for risk communication for Risk Analysis.

In addition to his regular research, Dr. Besley was the lead author for the 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 National Science Board chapters on public attitudes and knowledge about science and technology. This biennial report-Science and Engineering Indicators-is submitted to the executive branch and Congress and represents the definitive statement on Americans' views about S&T.

Michigan State University awarded Dr. Besley its William J. Beal Outstanding Faculty Award in 2021 and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) honored him as a fellow in 2018. In 2013, the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication awarded him the Hillier-Krieghbaum Under 40 Award. He also received a "rising star" award from the University of South Carolina in 2012.

As an instructor, Dr. Besley focuses on civic engagement and community relations, risk and crisis communication, science communication, and media relations. He also regularly brings students to Detroit, Chicago, and New York to visit strategic communication employers.

Dr. Besley earned his Ph.D. in Communication from Cornell University in 2006 and both master's (Public Administration, 2000), and bachelor's (Journalism, 1998) degrees from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. Prior to his Ph.D., Dr. Besley served as a policy analyst with Environment Canada's Policy and Communication's division working on international environmental issues.