My work focuses on clear, thoughtful communication that helps organizations earn public trust. When policymakers, businesses, and communities understand what research findings mean and trust the people and processes that produced them, they’re more likely to incorporate that knowledge into planning and decision-making.
Leveraging expertise to demonstrate the value of public science
Discussion surfaced in early 2025 about privatizing U.S. weather forecasting and potentially eliminating NOAA’s National Weather Service. I leveraged the expertise of two CIRES scientists, one of whom is a former National Weather Service forecaster, to explain why we need NOAA and a public weather forecasting system. I worked with these two scientists to publish this piece for The Conversation on why privatizing weather forecasting would be detrimental to our nation. I also worked with one of the authors to create a social media video on how weather forecasting actually works. Having a real person speak directly to the public about this topic built trust in CIRES as a research institute and the scientists who do the work. The Conversation piece received more than 30,000 pageviews in its first week and the social media video received more than 5,000 views on Instagram.
Using authenticity and connection
CIESRDS, the Cooperative Institute for Earth System Research and Data Science, sometimes faces the challenge of explaining to key audiences what Earth system research actually is and how it improves our daily lives. I produced the video below to illustrate the work CIESRDS does and did two things to build trust. First, I used as much footage as possible from actual CIESRDS lab experiments, field campaigns, workshops, and meetings to give the finished product authenticity; and second, I wrote the on-screen captions directly to the audience, creating connections between CIESRDS and the audience through words like “your” and “our.”
Positioning an institute as a resource: The 2026 ‘Super’ El Niño
In the spring and summer of 2026, scientists began predicting a ‘Super El Niño’ would develop over the course of the year and forecasts showed it could become one of the strongest El Niños on record. With two CIRES scientists who are experts on this topic, I positioned CIRES as a valuable resource for information on this upcoming El Niño for both the public and the media. I published a Q&A with these experts for CU Boulder Today and produced a video to discuss the kind of impacts this type of event could have on Colorado.
Showing impact and partnership
This video is one of a series I produced for Western Water Assessment, an applied research program at CU Boulder that helps communities build resilience to extreme weather and natural hazards. This video highlights how Western Water Assessment used their expertise to engage with the rural community of Lander, Wyoming and build resilience to flooding and other natural hazards. This video has helped Western Water Assessment leaders demonstrate the value of the program to federal funders.
Showing support for colleagues and partners
In early 2025, thousands of federal employees were terminated, including many who worked and partnered with CIRES directly. Then, in late 2025, the Trump administration announced plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), with whom CIRES has partnered for decades. I felt it was important for CIRES to show public support for our federal colleagues whose work provides valuable services to our nation. I worked with the CIRES director to publish two pieces — one in February 2025 and one in December 2025 — to show support for our colleagues and recognize their service. Social media posts highlighting the February piece were the most-liked posts on CIRES Instagram in 2025 and the third-most liked posts on CIRES LinkedIn in 2025.
Lauren Lipuma 