معرفی
Dr. Janine Blessing is a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Communication and Media Research (IKMZ) at the University of Zurich, following her doctoral studies at the University of Augsburg. Her research focuses on media effects in science, health, and environmental communication, particularly examining how journalistic reporting on medical innovations (e.g., mRNA vaccines, brain-computer interfaces) influences public risk perception and engagement with new technologies. She has held research stays at Penn State University and contributed to projects like 'Healthy Clinical Landscapes' and 'Science Communicators in Science Communication.'
Education:
- PhD in Philosophy (2024), University of Augsburg
- Master's and Bachelor's in Media and Communication (2019), University of Augsburg
- Semester abroad at Università degli Studi di Roma 'Tor Vergata' (2017–2018)
Research Interests: Her work explores how media framing, fear appeals, and social media influence public understanding of scientific innovations, health behaviors, and environmental issues. She has investigated the impact of narrative strategies on vaccination willingness, the role of empathy in sustainability communication, and the effects of digital detox campaigns on mobile users.
Awards & Grants:
- Recipient of the DGPuK Science Communication Section Award (2025)
- Gertrude J. Robinson Mentoring Program (2023)
- Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences travel grant (2025)
- University of Zurich grants for projects on science authority credibility and academic resilience
Grants & Projects:
- Investigating the role of emotions in perceived credibility of scientific authorities (IKMZ, 2025)
- Retreat for postdocs on academic resilience (IKMZ, 2025)
- Study on social media users' perceptions of science communicators (DGPuK, 2025)
Labs & Teams: Active in the Transfer Unit Science Communication and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on health communication, environmental framing, and science policy initiatives.
