The PIE Center is committed to improving practices, training, and communication to better serve stakeholders and audiences. PIE Center staff members participated in the following activities to improve skills and knowledge in their unique roles.
Qualtrics Insight Summit
Research coordinators Sandra Anderson and Cassie Wandersee attended the 2017 Qualtrics Insight Summit in Salt Lake City, Utah, to learn more about the Qualtrics Research Suite. PIE Center researchers utilize this online survey software to conduct public opinion research, and it is important for the researchers to have strong skills in the program. Anderson and Wandersee were able to expand their knowledge as they prepared to take the Qualtrics certification exam. Both research coordinators participated in the Market Research Insight Professional certification and recieved gold level certification.
Natural Resources Leadership Institute
Education coordinator Phillip Stokes participated in the Florida Natural Resources Leadership Institute, an eight-month professional development program with three-day sessions held throughout the state. Stokes learned more about effective strategies for managing and communicating about contentious issues in the natural resources sector. He worked with a small group to develop a project that applied the skills and knowledge he learned. At the closing of the program, Stokes and his group presented their project that looked at bringing together various organization leaders to discuss Florida’s water policies.
Agricultural Media Summit and Association for Communication Excellence
Public relations specialist Ashley McLeod participated in two professional development conferences where she had the opportunity to gain valuable skills and insights on communication to apply in the PIE Center. McLeod attended the Agricultural Media Summit in St. Louis, Missouri, and listened to seasoned communication professionals discuss best practices. The Association for Communication Excellence in New Orleans, Louisiana, provided McLeod with the opportunity to learn how other communicators at research institutions applied communication techniques to science communication.
