Know your stuff: A brief history and guide for getting information
Type: Self Nomination
Category: Educational Material - Computerized Graphic Presentation
Description: As part of Osceola County Extension Services’ Hydrilla and Hygrophila Demonstration Project, a computerized graphic presentation was designed to educate aquatic plant managers about information sources so that they can gain knowledge that will help them better interact with the public.
- Target audience: The target audience for this computerized graphic presentation is certified aquatic pesticide applicators (i.e., aquatic plant managers).
- Issue addressed: The purpose of the presentation is to raise awareness and understanding about the history of pesticides and information sources available for aquatic plant managers to help them enhance their knowledge and be better prepared for interactions with the public. Citizens have many misconceptions about herbicides and their only exposure to accurate information may be their interaction with the managers that are conducting the applications. It is important that the managers are prepared when facing these interactions. During the presentation, attendees were presented with skits that represent real-life interactions between aquatic plant managers and the public. The presentation provides a brief history of pesticide use and public concern as well as sources for educational resources for aquatic plant managers. Attendees were provided with webcards that they can pass on to citizens to direct them to accurate, research-based information from the University of Florida as well as informational sheets with educational resources that they can refer to for additional information.
- Distribution: This presentation was delivered to over 400 attendees at the 2011 Aquatic Weed Short Course.
- Resources involved: This presentation was created and delivered by Stacia Hetrick (ANREP and FANREP Member) and Kate Wilson (non-member). Several people reviewed the presentation for accuracy and content prior to delivery including Dr. Bill Haller and Karen Brown, University of Florida Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants and Carlton Layne, US Environmental Protection Agency (retired). The presentation was created as part of the Demonstration Project on Hydrilla and Hygrophila which is funded through a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- Evaluation results: No evaluation of this presentation was conducted. We received much positive feedback and as a result, we were invited to deliver the presentation at the 2011 Florida Aquatic Plant Management Society Annual Meeting and the Southeast Herbicide Applicator Conference.
- Implications for future programming: This program will be adapted for use for several other audiences. It has been presented during an Aquatic CEU Day and versions of the presentation will be presented at the 2011 Florida Aquatic Plant Management Society Annual Meeting, the Southeast Herbicide Applicator Conference, and other meetings in the future.
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