Dr. Dara Wald
FACULTY AFFILIATE | Global Change Center
Urban Affairs and Planning
Google Scholar • Lab Page • Dept Page
dwald@vt.edu
Dr. Dara Wald is an associate professor in the School of Public and International Affairs at Virginia Tech University. She is also a research fellow in the Institute for Science Technology and Public Policy in the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. Broadly, Wald’s scholarship focuses on the challenge of translating scientific knowledge into action to maximize the benefits of scientific discovery for people and the environment.
The Wald research group examines the drivers of conflict and barriers to effective communication and collaborative action in natural resource contexts. This body of work helps researchers answer foundational questions in communication and public policy: How do cultural, relational, and ideological realities intersect with and shape individuals' values, perceptions, and behaviors? How can environmental decision-making processes be designed to balance divergent interests and voices while remaining inclusive and credible?
Wald previously co-led the Science Communications Lab at Texas A&M University and the Science Communication Project at Iowa State University. She received a bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University and a Ph.D. from the University of Florida.
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