Dr. Segrè Cohen’s interdisciplinary research is at the intersection of psychology, science communication, and decision-making about sustainability, the environment, and human health. Her overarching research goal is to translate science into action.
In particular, she addresses questions about how science and technology are perceived and understood by the public, and the implications of these cognitive processes for how science is used to inform behavior and address polarizing policy issues such as climate change and environmental justice.
Alex's work has been featured in Nature, CNN Business, The New York Times, Yes!Magazine, Fox, Haaretz, among other platforms.
Prior to coming to UO, Alex served as the Director of Operations at the nonprofit, Our Climate Voices, where she was actively involved in the environmental justice movement, climate storytelling, and centering those at the forefront of climate crises. Alex was also a Science Assistant at the National Science Foundation.
- PhD, University of Southern California, Pschology
- Dissertation title: “Harnessing critical thinking and decision support for emergent risks”
- BA, Clark University, Geography (summa cum laude)
Environmental & Science Communication, Judgment & Decision-making, Psychology of Risk, Critical Reasoning Ability, Sustainability, Public health
Instructor of Record, School of Journalism and Communication
- UGST 109: Climate Justice Storytelling
- JCOM 385: Curiosity for Strategists
- JCOM 486: Science of Science Communication
- J460/560: Communicating for Environmental Justice & Social Change
- J460/560: Green Brand Strategy
Alex's Google Scholar Page can be found here.
7. Maduneme, E., & Segrè Cohen, A., (in press at Environment and Behavior). Effects of Solutions Journalism Stories on Climate Change Behavioral Intentions: The Mediating Role of Collective Efficacy.
6. Slavik, C. E., Chapman, D. A., Segrè Cohen, A., *Bendefaa, N., & Peters, E. (2024). Clearing the air: evaluating institutions’ social media health messaging on wildfire and smoke risks in the US Pacific Northwest. BMC Public Health doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-17907-1
5. Bearth, A., Otten, C. D., & Segrè Cohen, A. (2024). Consumers' perceptions and acceptance of genome editing in agriculture: Insights from the United States of America and Switzerland. Food Research International, 113982.
4. Àrvai, J., Segrè Cohen, A., *Lutzke, L., and Drummond Otten, C. (2023). I think, therefore I act, revisited: Building a stronger foundation for risk analysis. Risk Analysis. doi: 10.1111/risa.14177
3. Segrè Cohen, A., *Lutzke, L., Drummond Otten, C., and Àrvai, J. (2022). I think, therefore I act: The influence of critical thinking ability on trust in experts and behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. Risk Analysis. doi: 10.1111/risa.13833
2. Segrè Cohen, A., Love, N. G., & Àrvai, J. (2020). Communicating the Risks and Benefits of Human Urine-Derived Fertilizer. Sustainability, 12(23), 9973. doi:10.3390/su12239973
1. Segrè Cohen, A., N.G. Love, K.K. Nace, and J. Àrvai. (2020) Consumers’ acceptance of agricultural fertilizers derived from diverted and recycled human urine. Environmental Science & Technology. 54 (8), 5297-5305. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.0c00576
Revise and Resubmit
Segrè Cohen, A., Slavik, C., Kurani, S., & Àrvai, J. (n.d.) Mapping water injustice and perceptions of privatization hotspots in the United States.
Segrè Cohen, A., Slavik, C., & Chatman, D. (n.d.) Read Between the Party Lines: Political Ideology, Environmental Injustice, and Climate Change Attitudes Among the American Public.
Manuscripts Under Review
Segrè Cohen, A., Bearth, A., & Otten, C. D. (n.d.). The Role of Actively Open-Minded Thinking in Willingness to Take Civic and Political Action on Genome Editing in the United States and Switzerland
Sleboda, P., Bruine de Bruin, W., Segrè Cohen, A., Drummond Otten, C., Lutzke, L., & Àrvai, J. (n.d.) Associations of fear and anger with risk perception, trust, and preventive behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic: May and December 2020.
Alex's Google Scholar Page can be found here.
Recent and ongoing work:
3. Segrè Cohen, A., Lutzke, L., Drummond Otten, C., and Àrvai, J. (2022). I think, therefore I act: The influence of critical thinking ability on trust in experts and behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. Risk Analysis. doi: 10.1111/risa.13833
2. Segrè Cohen, A., N.G. Love, K.K. Nace, and J. Àrvai. (2020) Consumers’ acceptance of agricultural fertilizers derived from diverted and recycled human urine. Environmental Science & Technology. 54 (8), 5297-5305. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.0c00576
1. Segrè Cohen, A., Love, N. G., & Àrvai, J. (2020). Communicating the Risks and Benefits of Human Urine-Derived Fertilizer. Sustainability, 12(23), 9973. doi:10.3390/su12239973
Manuscripts Under Review
Àrvai, J., Segrè Cohen, A., Lutzke, L., and Drummond Otten, C. (n.d.) I think, therefore I act, revisited: Building a stronger foundation for risk analysis. Risk Analysis.
Selected Manuscripts in Preparation
Segrè Cohen, A., Slavik, C., (n.d.) Mapping water injustice and perceptions of privatization hotspots in the United States.
Segrè Cohen, A.*, Drummond Otten, C.*, and Bearth., A. (n.d.) Assessing the Role of Cognitive Style in Swiss and American Acceptance of Genome Edited Foods: Translation and Application of the Actively Open-Minded Thinking Scale
*co-first authors
Segrè Cohen, A., Lutzke, L., Drummond Otten, C., and Àrvai, J. (n.d.) Do preventative behaviors cancel out risky ones?: COVID-19 risk (averse) behaviors in the United States.
Drummond Otten, C., Segrè Cohen, A., Lutzke, L., and Àrvai, J. (n.d.). Reasoning about novel risks: How does scientific reasoning ability relate to COVID-19 behavioral and attitudinal responses?
Lutzke, L., Drummond Otten, C., Segrè Cohen, A., and Àrvai, J. (n.d.). Perceived Polarization and Politicization of COVID-19.