Communication and SustainabilityPortland State is devoted to sustainability. But, for communication, what does that mean? Faculty and students have agreed that sustainability is a promise. The promise is that current and future generations will have the opportunity to enjoy productive and rewarding lives. We do that. Our courses and our research in communication engage students and community partners in activities that enrich the urban community. Students begin by studying how communication frames social life in conversation, media, organizations and cultures. We examine discourse – how we create meaning in communication and how communication sustains productive and rewarding lives. Students contribute to community sustainability every day through special classroom projects where they help build websites for non-profit groups, work in community radio, and learn how to talk about sustainable farming practices. And we do that in our research. Our faculty engage in projects that enrich our communities, with studies that examine how police profiling impacts neighborhoods, how government programs affect women’s health, how Indian tribes talk about the salmon fisheries, and how Facebook and Myspace influence voting. That means students discover the connections between forms of expression—whether it’s talking, texting, writing or broadcasting—and community sustainability.Click for more information on our commitment to sustainability.
Cynthia-Lou Coleman, PhD |
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Photos: Marta Barberini, Katelyn Bessette, Cynthia Coleman, Kristine-Anne Sarreal, and Melissa Shavlik