Emma Frances Bloomfield

Dr. Emma Frances Bloomfield is an Associate Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she has served since 2022. She is affiliated with Greenspun College and serves as the founder and director of the Public Communication Initiative. Dr. Bloomfield earned her PhD in Communication with a focus in Rhetoric, Politics, and Publics from the University of Southern California in 2016.

Her research centers on the rhetoric of science and scientific controversies, particularly around climate change, human origins, and the body. She investigates how ideologies such as religion, politics, and economics intersect with public understanding of science and technology. Dr. Bloomfield approaches these topics through the lens of narrative theory, examining how stories shape scientific communication and public engagement with technical issues. Her work reveals how different symbol systems influence communication on topics of public importance and how theoretical insights can inform practical communication strategies.

Dr. Bloomfield's scholarly contributions include two major books: Science v. Story: Narrative Strategies for Science Communicators (University of California Press) and Communication Strategies for Engaging Climate Skeptics: Religion and the Environment (Routledge). Her research portfolio demonstrates consistent engagement with contemporary scientific controversies through multiple publication venues including Communication and Critical/Cultural Studies, Journal of Language and Politics, Environmental Communication, and Rhetoric Society Quarterly. Her publications reveal a thematic focus on narrative strategies, science communication challenges, and the intersection of identity with scientific understanding.

Among her significant honors are:

• Book of the Year, Argumentation and Forensics Division, National Communication Association
• Outstanding Book Award, Spiritual Communication Division, National Communication Association
• Christine L. Oravec Journal Article Award in Environmental Communication, NCA, 2022
• 2022 Innovations in Nuclear Energy Award from the U.S. Department of Energy
• 2020 Tarla Rai Peterson Book Award from the Environmental Communication Division

Dr. Bloomfield's research program has established her as a leading scholar in science communication, particularly regarding narrative approaches to scientific controversies. Her work bridges theoretical communication scholarship with practical applications for science communicators, educators, and policymakers seeking to improve public engagement with complex scientific issues. She has developed innovative frameworks like 'narrative webs' and 'narrative constellations' to evaluate and build effective science communication stories.