Michael Xenos

I am a Professor in the Department of Life Sciences Communication. My research focuses on the political dimensions of science communication, with a focus on how individuals perceive, make sense of, and form opinions about science related issues in an increasingly polarized public sphere. Within this context, key factors explored in my work include the role played by digital media use in how people engage with science, as well as how individuals’ predispositions and lived experiences interact with the broader political context to affect attitudes related to science issues. Along with my co-principal investigators, Lillie Williamson and Todd Newman, I am currently working on an NSF-funded project exploring attitudes toward science among Black Americans, and the extent to which research on medical mistrust can improve our understanding of how Black Americans engage with science information, as well as practical science communication efforts focused on Black American communities.