By Delaware State University,
The state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) has engaged a trio of Delaware State University sociology professors and their research skills to help the agency improve its public engagement effectiveness.
DNREC awarded the University a $249,773 grant earlier this year to conduct the research, which will focus on traditionally underrepresented communities. Dr. Raymond Tutu, chair of the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, is the Principal Investigator of the grant. Dr. Anwar Ouassini and Dr. Laurin Parker, both Associate Professors of Sociology, are the co-PIs.
As part of the research, Del State will host virtual town hall meetings next month as part of a two-year research project to determine ways DNREC can improve public outreach and community engagement. The virtual town halls will be held throughout the winter with the first two to be conducted on Nov. 17 and Dec. 1, both at 6:30-8:30 p.m.
The researchers define traditionally underrepresented communities as “either a group of individuals living in geographic proximity to one another or a geographically dispersed set of individuals where either type of group experiences common conditions such as low income, high and/or persistent poverty, racial, ethnic and minority residential segregation, linguistic isolation, distressed neighborhoods and disproportionate environmental stressor burden.”
The sociology trio will research the Department’s external communications, review feedback from stakeholders, and evaluate the needs and limitations of its current and past outreach programs to effectively reach and engage underserved communities and determine possible improvements.
“DNREC has a long tradition of transparency and public engagement to ensure the wise management, conservation and enhancement of the state’s natural resources,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “But we can always do better. This partnership with the University and the resulting research will help us take our outreach efforts to the next level.”
Del State President Dr. Tony Allen believes that the university will also benefit from the work. “The project will provide research assistantship and internship opportunities to undergraduate students in the University’s Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice while enhancing the outreach component of the core values of the university,” Dr. Allen said.
The goals of the research are:
- To improve DNREC’s ability to conduct effective outreach regarding regulatory actions and policy development.
- To create awareness of DNREC’s processes and initiatives to underserved communities in Delaware.
- To develop robust methods by which DNREC can provide efficient and informative community-oriented education and outreach.
Dr. Tutu noted that DNREC will not be the only beneficiary of the research. “This project will provide research experience and opportunities to students in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice while enhancing Del State’s core values – outreach, scholarship, and community,” Dr. Tutu said.
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment.