Our Research

Mason 4C Research: Activating trusted voices for climate solutions 

Mason 4C is a ‘think-and-do-tank’ that conducts communication research on public understanding of climate change and activates those insights through effective communication programs and trusted voices that increase engagement with climate solutions. Founded in 2007—and based at the Mason Department of Communication in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences—we engage in four broad activities:  

• Research on audiences, messages, and messengers to identify opportunities to build public understanding and political will for climate solutions;  

• Building public engagement programs featuring trusted communicators (weathercasters and other journalists, health professionals, and conservatives);  

• Helping government agencies, civic organizations, professional associations, and industry associations improve their climate communication; and  

• Training students and working professionals to develop their climate communication skills. 

Current research initiatives: 

• Climate Change in the American Mind polls—conducted with Yale twice yearly since 2008—are the nation’s most comprehensive resource on public opinion about climate change; they inform decisions made by governments, media, companies, and advocacy organizations. 

• Research syntheses to identify evidence-based “best practices” for communicating about climate change 

• Identifying and profiling high-priority “communities of practice” (e.g., doctors, meteorologists, fire chiefs) 

• Message testing research to develop an effective narrative on climate and human health 

• Launching soon: The Community Resilience Insights Survey Project (CRISP), an annual survey—in partnership with Fors Marsh—designed to help local, state, and federal government agencies maximize the effectiveness of their climate resilience programs and policies.