Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/20
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this year (2019-2020) was residents of the state of Florida, reached through the project's informational website: preventmosquitoes.org. A secondary target audience was communication scientists, mosquito control professionals, and health provider educators. The communication scientists received research results from journal articles and conference presentations about effective communication methods. The mosquito control professionals and health provider educators received research results and professional development opportunities on effective mosquito control messaging. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two presentations were scheduled to be conducted at the 2020 American Mosquito Control Association's conference on mosquito control messaging.However, due to COVID-19, the AMCA meeting was canceled. We hope to share this content next year. The three fact sheets at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_series_prevent_and_protect provide guidance on communicating effectively to different audiences and on using social media to communicate about mosquito control. The fourth fact sheet, still in development, highlights how to develop a waste collection program -- such as a "tire amnesty day" -- to mitigate mosquito-friendly environments. This fact sheet also includes a checklist to help individuals and groups develop a local collection program. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?As noted previously, results have been dissmenated through journal articles, conference paper presentations, and professional development opportunities. Several aspects of the project's outreach/communication and educational materials were also entered into the Association of Communication Excellence's Critque and Awards Contest. This project received awards in the following categories: Issue Management Category Award of Excellence (top award in the category) for Prevent & Protect campaign Issue Management Category Gold Award for Prevent & Protect campaign Website Development Gold Award: Prevent & Protect website Social Media Videos Silver Award: Prevent & Protect behind-the-scenes video series Promotional Publishing Bronze Award: Prevent & Protect impact report The website (preventmosquitoes.org) continues to draw viewers interested in mosquito control messages. In the past year, the following web analytics have been seen: 6,298 web views 5,285 unique visitors top pages include: lesson plans print media toolkit social media plan videos illnesses The videos on the website that were created close to the end of last year's reporting cycle also draw views: UNTAMED SCIENCE VIDEO SERIES VIEWS: Mosquito diversity - 983 Disease transmission - 862 Personal responsibility - 633 Mosquito control - 1,823 What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
This year (2019-2020) focused on communicating about the project. The project director led the effort to develop numerous journal articles and conference papers related to the project. These articles and papers covered topics as varied as (1) how mosquito control messages are communicated to various audiences, (2) Integrating electronic field trips in science classes, (3) Identifying sources and channels used by the public to seek mosquito control Information. And the papers were presented at several conferences for agricultural communication, science communication, and mosquito control. In addition, three Instructional fact sheets were created, with one more still In development, on communicating effectively about mosquito control topics. Updated content and graphics on dengue, West NIle Virus, and Zika were added to the website. New content and graphics on Eastern Equine Encephalitis were also added.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Parker, C., McLeod-Morin, A., Honeycutt, S. (2020). Mosquito education that doesnt suck. American Entomologist, Signals, 66(1), 20-23. https://doi.org/10.1093/ae/tmaa002
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
McLeod-Morin, A., Beattie, P., Stone, W., Kent, K., Loizzo, J., Telg, R. (2020). The science of mosquitoes: Youths perceptions, engagement, and learning from a Skype in the Classroom science communication program. Advancements in Agricultural Development, (1)2, 79-89. https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v1i2.51
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
McLeod-Morin, A., Beattie, P., Rampold, S., & Telg, R. (2020). Exploring social media engagement of a mosquito control campaign: Comparing engagement rates per content type and content frame. Journal of Applied Communications, 104(1). https://doi.org/10.4148/1051-0834.2299
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Lindsey, A., McLeod-Morin, A., Anderson, S., Poulin, A. (2020, March). Fighting the bite: Assessing risk perceptions of mosquito borne illnesses using the Risk Perception Attitude (RPA) framework. Paper presented at the International Crisis and Risk Communication Conference, Orlando, FL.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Krebs, C., Loizzo, J., Stone, W., & Telg, R. (accepted). Scientist Online: Entomologists experiences engaging with school audiences through Skype in the Classroom. Frontiers in Science and Environmental Communication.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
McLeod-Morin, A., Shaw, M., Warwick, C. R., & Telg, R. (2020, February). Whats All the Buzz About? An assessment of the online content of Florida Mosquito Control Programs. Paper presented at the 2020 National Agricultural Communication Symposium, Louisville, KY.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
McLeod-Morin, A., Shaw, M., & Telg, R. (2019, Nov. 18-20). A content analysis of Florida mosquito control websites. Florida Mosquito Control Association Annual Conference, St. Augustine, FL.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Dinglasan, R. (November 18 & 19, 2019). Activities and Collaborations within the Southeastern Center of Excellence in Vector Borne Diseases. Washington D.C. Educational Visit.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Shelli D. Rampold, Sandra Anderson, Angela Lindsey, and Ricky W. Telg (2019). Educating the Florida Public About Mosquito Con-trol: Public Perceptions, Knowledge, and Information Search Behaviors
Florida Mosquito Control Association Conference. November 14, 2019, Daytona, Florida
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Rampold, S.D., Anderson, S., Lindsey, A., & Telg, R.W. (2020, March 16-18). Engaging community residents in mosquito control: Public perceptions, knowledge, and information search behaviors. 86th Annual American Mosquito Control Association (Canceled due to COVID-19). Portland, Oregon.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
McLeod-Morin, A. (2020, March 16-18).Comparing the information needs of the Florida public with Florida mosquito control programs online content. 86th Annual American Mosquito Control Association (Canceled due to COVID-19). Portland, Oregon.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Dinglasan, R. (October 28-29, 2019). Activities and Collaborations within the Southeastern Center of Excellence in Vector Borne Diseases. Washington D.C. Educational Visit.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Dinglasan, R. (November 14, 2019). . Outlook and Progress of the Southeastern Center of Excellence in Vector Borne Diseases . NAVCO Bimonthly Meeting [Online].
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Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/19
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience of homeowners in Gifford, Florida, was reached through directed interviews and door-to-door surveys in November 2018. Changes/Problems:The major challenge for this project was a change in leadership twice.The original program director (PD) took a position with the CDC soon after the grant was awarded in 2016. The second PD resigned in summer 2018. I, Ricky Telg, am the third PD on the grant, now in its third year, due to a no-cost extension. It took some time to determine what has been done on this project previously. But the project is now stable and will meet the goals and objectives specified in the proposal. For this reporting period, we were able to accomplish many of the deliverables that were originally described in the proposal. We did request and were granted a one-year no-cost extension so that we can complete the promised deliverables, given the amount of change that took place early on with this grant project. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?A webinar is being scheduled for August 2019 to inform teachers on how to use the lesson plans. We presented a professional development session at the 2019 American Mosquito Control Association's conference on mosquito control messaging. We hope to do a similar presentation -- now that the website and videos are completed -- at the 2020 conference. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Papers and posters have been presented at several academic conferences and the 2019 American Mosquito Control Association convention. A promotional campaign is being conducted in June 2019 to inform professionals who focus on education or communicaton with mosquito control district or local departments of health about the new preventmosquitoes.org website (which includes the videos, toolktits, and lesson plans). Information cards about the lesson plans were placed in "goody bags" of teachers who attended the 2019 Florida FFA Convention. Information cards about the lesson plans will be provided to Florida science teachers in July. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Between now and the next reporting period, we hope to accomplish the following: Finalize publications and presentations to academic conferences, including the American Association of Agricultural Education, National Agricultural Communications Symposium, the Society for Vector Ecology, the American Mosquito Control Association, and the Association for Communication Excellence. Finalize data analysis on the lesson plans. Analyze the qualitative data from the Gifford, Florida, interviews. Test the website materials with various audiences. Finalize the curriculum for "how to conduct a tire amnesty event," as a way to minimize mosquito populations.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
This year (2018-2019) focused on implementing and revising existing educational and communication materials from the CDC and the Prevent & Protect social media messages that were created as part of a previous grant the Center for Public Issues Education received from the Florida Department of Health (as part of Zika informational campaign funds through the CDC). The Prevent & Protect materials previously had resided on the PIE Center's website. The development of a website -- in both English and Spanish -- was outsourced to a local website company. The company used the existing materials as the foundation for website, focusing on the two toolkits (one on general mosquito control messaging and the other on emergency response, specifically around mosquito-borne disease outbreaks or natural disasters]). In addition, specific pages on several mosquito-borne illnesses were created, describing the diseases (includind Zika) and their symptoms. Four videos were created by the professional science communication company Untamed Science. Video producers visited the University of Florida in November 2018 to learn about mosquito control and about research being done to control mosquitoes. They returned to UF in February 2019 to shoot four days of video -- including a full day with the Volusia County Mosquito Control District -- on four aspects of mosquito control: 1) mosquito biology, 2) mosquito-borne illnesses, 3) personal responsiblity, and 4) application methods. The videos were completed in April 2019 and posted to the PIE Center's YouTube and Vimeo video channels. The videos are being integrated into social media and lesson plans. Lesson plans for elementary age were revised, based on input from teachers.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
McLeod-Morin, A., Beattie, P., Rampold, S., & Telg, R. (2019). Exploring social media engagement of a mosquito control campaign: Comparing engagement rates per content type and content frame. 2019 Association for Communication Excellence Conference, San Antonio, TX.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Atchison R, Parker C, Krebs C, Kent K, Suits, T, Beattie P & Loizzo J. 2019. A global platform for a global vector: Experiences communicating mosquito science via Skype in the Classroom. Society for Vector Ecology Annual Meeting.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Parker C. 2019. Informing the public about mosquitoes: Developing engaging videos and lesson plans. Society for Vector Ecology Annual Meeting.
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
http://preventmosquitoes.org
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Beattie, P., McLeod-Morin, A., Ruth, T., & Telg, R. (2019, May). Identifying authoritative Twitter users in mosquito-borne illness conversations. 2019 American Association for Agricultural Education National Conference, Des Moines, IA.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Suits, T., McLeod-Morin, A., Ruth, T., & Telg, R. (2019, June). Identifying authoritative Twitter users in Florida mosquito control conversations. 2019 Association for Communication Excellence Conference, San Antonio, TX.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Telg, R., McLeod-Morin, A., & Stokes, P. (2019, February). Prevent & Protect: Mosquito control messages for your community. American Mosquito Control Association Annual Conference, Orlando, FL.
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Progress 09/01/17 to 08/31/18
Outputs
Target Audience:
Nothing Reported
Changes/Problems:As noted in the previous annual progress report, the major challenge for this project has been a change in leadership twice. The original program director (PD) took a position with the CDC soon after the grant was awarded in 2016. The second PD resigned in summer 2018. I, Ricky Telg, am the third PD on the grant, now in its third year, due to a no-cost extension. It took some time to determine what has been done on this project previously. But the project is now stable and will meet the goals and objectives specified in the proposal. I have submitted some minor revisions in the Project Change tab of the REEport System to better reflect the current status and progress of the project. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?A presentation was made in March 2018 to the Southeastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America. Paper presentations have been accepted to three other entomological associations for late 2018 and early 2019. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?For the next six months: Elementary education lesson plan: Based on the results from the original elementary education campaign described previously, a more in-depth lesson plan for elementary school students is being created which will match the branding of the overall ZIP Campaign. This lesson plan incorporates multiple Florida State Standards related to science and biology. The goal is to create materials that can be used directly or adapted with minimal effort by educators and communicators throughout the state. Upon completion, it will be submitted for publication on Florida's CPALMS website or other lesson plan database. Lesson plans will also be share on the Prevent and Protect website, as part of the ZIP Campaign. Middle school and high school lesson plans: Concepts covered in the elementary lesson plan will be expanded upon and modified to be appropriate for middle and high school students in Florida. These lesson plans will cover the same topics: container mosquitoes, source reduction, personal protection, but in a more advanced way. These lesson plans will go through content validation in Spring 2019 and implemented in the classroom setting by education majors at the University of Florida. Upon completion, they will be submitted for publication on Florida's CPALMS website or other lesson plan database. Lesson plans will also be share on the Prevent and Protect website, as part of the ZIP Campaign. Communication/toolkit materials: A full website, print materials, and social media, using the Prevent and Protect branding, will be created. The website will be available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. Educational videos: Four educational videos will be created that cover 1) mosquito biology, 2) vector-borne disease, 3) source reduction, and 4) mosquito control. Planning and site visits for filming were completed in the fall of 2018 with plans to record the videos in February 2019. These videos will be shared on the Prevent and Protect website. Qualitative interview in Gifford: Interviews will be conducted in the Gifford community with individuals who participated in the education campaign. The goal of these interviews is to hear from the homeowners what aspects of the program were effective and what influenced them to change (or not). These interviews will be conducted in fall of 2018 and transcription and analysis of those interview will take place in spring 2019. Manuscript: The elementary education campaign has a manuscript in preparation with a goal submission date sometime in spring 2019 to Plos One. "Fight the Bite: An Elementary School Education Campaign to Combat Container Mosquitoes". C. Parker, M. Urrets-Zavalia, J. Nelson, A. Lucky, S. Galindo, A. Andenoro, C.R. Connelly. Paper presentations accepted to the following conferences: October 2018, Society for Vector Ecology November 2018, Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting February 2019, American Mosquito Control Association
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
From September 1, 2017 to August 31, 2018, the Zika Information and Preparedness (ZIP) Campaign conducted the following activities in support of the project's goals: 1. Community leader delivery of messaging: This goal is being met through the Gifford education campaign: Gifford education campaign: Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus are invasive mosquito species that have expanded their range in Florida since their introduction. These species oviposit in both natural and artificial containers which can be abundant in and around human dwellings. Additionally, Ae. aegypti has a significant host preference for humans. In combination, close proximity to humans and preference for human hosts can make these species important public health pests. In Florida, their importance has been highlighted in recent years by local transmission of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses. Control of these species has proved difficult due to their feeding behavior, cryptic larval habitats, and resistance to insecticides used to target the adult stage. Community outreach and education campaigns have previously been utilized as a tool for control of 'container-mosquito' species because larval habitats are often found near homes. However, both the individual delivering the message and the method of delivery can have significant impacts on the adoption of regular container elimination habits by residents. In the fall of 2016, a container-mosquito elimination campaign was launched in the underserved community of Gifford, Florida. This ongoing campaign utilizes an established member of the community to deliver the educational message and encourage residents to perform container elimination around the home. During the initial visit, the number of containers around the home is recorded and compared to the number of containers present at a follow-up visit two-three months later. Preliminary results from this study demonstrate the impactful potential of an inside out educational campaign. 2. Community challenges: This goal is being met through the elementary education campaign: Elementary education campaign: Aedes aegyptiandAe. albopictusare invasive mosquito species that have expanded their range in Florida since their introduction. These species can be considered "container-mosquitoes" due to their preferred oviposition site of artificial and natural containers, which can be abundant around human dwellings. Additionally,Ae. aegyptihas a significant host preference for humans. In combination, close proximity to humans and preference for human hosts can make these species an important public health pest. The 2016 Zika outbreak in Florida highlighted the importance of community education about container-mosquitoes. Education campaigns can lead to increased knowledge and awareness about mosquitoes, therefore increasing the likelihood that mosquito prevention activities will occur. This can be critically important during times of active virus transmission. During the 2017-2018 school year, an education program was launched in elementary schools in Marion County, FL. According to Florida State Standards, fourth and fifth grade students are taught insect life cycles and how animals adapt and evolve to occupy niches in the environment. This creates an ideal opportunity to teach fourth and fifth grade students about container-mosquitoes specifically, their medical importance, and how to prevent them from occurring around the home. Preliminary knowledge, post-message knowledge, and knowledge retention were assessed through the use of surveys and qualitative free-response questions. This campaign aimed to improve the knowledge and understanding of elementary school students about insects, mosquitoes, their importance, and how to eliminate them. Results from this study demonstrate the impactful potential that elementary school children can have on the container-mosquito population and creating sustainable behaviors in communities. 3. Print/Communication materials: This goal is being met and will be expanded upon in order to enhance the communication of mosquito preventative measures. Communication materials: During 2017-2018 initial discussions were held with a graphic and web design company to create an interactive website and to enhance existing mosquito control message materials for the ZIP Campaign. In addition, these print, social media, and digital materials will be available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
C. Parker, S. Bennett, S. Galindo, C.R. Connelly. (March 2018). Container mosquito community control: an inside out approach. Southeastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
C. Parker, C.R. Connelly, S. Galindo, and A. Andenoro. (November 2018). An elementary school education campaign to combat container-mosquitoes. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
C. Parker (October 2018). Fight the Bite: An elementary school education campaign to combat container-mosquitoes. Society for Vector Ecology
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
R. Telg, P. Stokes, A. McLeod, T. Suits (February 2019). Prevent and Protect Information Campaign. American Mosquito Control Association
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Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17
Outputs
Target Audience:Residents of Gifford, FL Master Gardeners - Sumter County Changes/Problems:There have been challenges associated with this project due to the turnover in the leadership of program directors. During the first year of the grant, the program director who had originally applied for and received the grant resigned from her post at the University of Florida to lead the Zika information program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A new program director was selected at the University of Florida, who then moved the grant program forward. The second PD had to learn what the first PD had been doing, which took considerable time. As a result, a no-cost extension after the two-year grant was to have ended was requested and approved. However, the second PD resigned in July 2018, after receiving the no-cost extension on the grant. Therefore, a third PD, Ricky Telg, Ph.D., was asked to continue the project. Dr. Telg had experience with mosquito control educational grant programs previously. Since he took over the grant, he has worked to continue previous work and expand upon it. His appointment to become PD of the grant was finally approved in the UF and USDA/NIFA systems in November 2018, although he had been working as PD on the project since August 2018. During that time, which will be explained in more detail in the next annual progress report (2017-2018), he has initiated or continued the development of an interactive website, revised print materials, initiated a social media campaign plan, produced four informational videos, overseen the surveys of Gifford, Florida residents in November 2018, and assisted with lesson plan development and reporting. The grant should now meet its goals and objectives as specified in the proposal. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?As described in the next section, there were several challenges associated with this project in its first year. The program director resigned from her post at the University of Florida to lead the Zika information program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A new program director was selected at the University of Florida, who then moved the grant program forward. However, this second PD resigned in July 2018, after receiving a no-cost extension on the grant. Thus, this report -- which should have been written by the end of the grant period in 2017 -- is just now (January 10, 2019) being written by the THIRD program director on this project. Several activities took place from Sept. 1, 2017 to August 31, 2018. These will be described in detail in the next annual report, which the current program director (Ricky Telg) will complete (and which is four months late). These activities in 2017-2018 that help accomplish the goals are briefly described as followed: Completion of door-to-door interviews with residents and "yard surveys" to identify if their yards harbor mosquitoes. Several presentations completed at professional entomological associations about initial data and results. Development of elementary education lesson plan and campaign. Qualitative interviews of Gifford, Florida, residents (follow up to determine behavior change). Development of website and print materials. Development of videos.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
From September 1, 2016 to August 31, 2017, the groundwork was laid to conduct the research in lower socioeconomic status neighborhoods of Gifford, Florida, a town outside Vero Beach, Florida. A community leader, who residents of these neighborhoods recognize as an opinion leader, was selected to inform residents about the Zika Information and Preparedness Campaign program. Another person in the Gifford area was hired to conduct door-to-door survey work that would identify places in residents' yards that could harbor mosquitoes.
Publications
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