Shana Cecile Gillette, PhD
Research Scientist
Department of Clinical Sciences
Environmental, Science, and Risk Communication
My research is best described as the study of society-nature interactions from a spatially explicit communication perspective. At APHI, I explore effective ways to engage producers in a constructive examination of how to best manage an agricultural environment to benefit animal and human health. My current studies seek to understand the best methods for involving epidemiologists, veterinarians, and small-scale producers in the development of decision-making tools for biological risk management (BRM). One of my research goals is to identify the BRM needs and expectations of ranchers and farmers in order to redesign risk models as effective decision aids. My 2007 projects include a USDA grant to redesign a Chronic Wasting Disease model as a decision aid for captive cervid ranchers and a USDA grant to present biological risk management information to dairy goat farmers. In addition to my research at APHI, I help coordinate international workshops on Avian Influenza in regions such as West Africa and Southeast Asia.
Prior to my current research position, I served as a four-year term research scientist in the Policy Analysis and Science Assistance program at the U.S. Geological Survey's Fort Collins Science Center.
Online Resources
The USDA research projects have yielded online resources for small-scale farmers and ranchers that are available in the outreach section of the APHI website under resource materials.