Matthew Nurse

Dr. Matthew Nurse is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science (CPAS) within the Australian National University. He specializes in science communication research with a focus on misinformation dynamics and audience analysis.

His educational background includes:

• PhD in Science Communication from ANU
• Master of Science Communication from ANU
• Master of Communication from Deakin University
• Graduate Certificate in Public Relations from Deakin University

Dr. Nurse's research focuses on understanding science misinformation, particularly who shares it and its potential harms. His work spans communication strategy, emergency messaging, and audience analysis for science communication. He applies various social science perspectives to examine how people process scientific information, with specific attention to cognitive factors that influence receptiveness to misinformation.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on understanding misinformation dynamics during global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. His work combines psychological, communication, and public health perspectives to examine how people process risk information and make decisions about sharing information, with particular attention to analytic thinking, national identity, and motivated reasoning.

Dr. Nurse teaches courses on misinformation and science communication strategies at ANU, including SCOM 2031/6031 (Misinformation, Disinformation, and Risk) and SCOM 3501/6501 (Strategies in Science Communication). His extensive professional experience includes strategic communication leadership roles in public policy organizations and two decades of practical communication campaign experience that inform his academic research.