Oregon Staff Member
Dr. Megan S Jones
Assistant Unit Leader
Email: mjones@usgs.gov
Faculty Email: megan.jones@oregonstate.edu
Faculty Website
Education
- Ph D Colorado State University 2020
- MS Colorado State University 2016
- BA Reed College 2012
Biography
Dr. Jones received graduate degrees from Colorado State University before joining the Oregon Unit in 2022. She conducts research on natural resource communication science topics to inform public outreach and engagement. A primary focus of her research is relational organizing: how communication campaigns can support engaged audiences to not only adopt conservation behaviors, such as planting native plants or reducing attractants for bears around their home, but also to promote these actions to others in their social networks. She is particularly interested in collective action in contexts such as climate action and adaptation, habitat stewardship, and public participation in decision-making. Dr. Jones also studies organizational culture change, and has done research on women’s leadership in conservation organizations. She has taught courses in public communication about natural resources and will be developing new courses related to science communication and the integration of social science into fisheries and wildlife.
Areas of Expertise
Climate Change, Fisheries Management, Habitat Management, Human Dimensions, Urban Ecology, Wildlife Management
Taxon Groups Studied
Amphibians, Anadromous Fishes, Bats, Carnivores, Coastal/Marine Birds, Crayfish, Freshwater Fishes, Furbearers, Gamebirds, Gamefish, Invertebrates/Insects, Marine Fishes, Marine Mammals, Mussels, Nongame Fish/Wildlife, Pollinators, Reptiles, Salmonids, Sea Turtles, Small Mammals, Songbirds, Species of Greatest Conservation Need, Ungulates, Water/Marsh Birds, Waterfowl
| Research Publications | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| Wilkins, K., Pejchar, L., Carroll, S. L., Jones, M. S., Walker, S. E., Shinbrot, X. A., ... & Reid, R. S. (2021). Collaborative conservation in the United States: A review of motivations, goals, and outcomes. Biological Conservation, 259, 109165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109165 | Abstract | Publisher Website | July 2021 |
|
Thomas-Walters, L., Cologna, V., de Lange, E., Ettinger, J., Selinske, M. & Jones, M.S. (2024). Reframing conservation audiences from individuals to social beings. Conservation Letters. https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.13064 | Abstract |
October 2024 |
| Taff, B. D., Jones, M., Bruyere, B., Newman, P., Barborak, J. R., Manfredo, M. J., & Finchum, R. (2015). The role of universities in protected area management: considerations for the future. In The George Wright Forum (Vol. 32, No. 3, pp. 308-316). George Wright Society. | Publisher Website | December 2015 |
| Sullivan, L., Jones, M. S., Jimenez, M. F., Dodgson, K. R., & Storrs, E. L. (2022). Justice discourses in the mainstream environmental movement, 30 years after the SWOP letter. Environmental Justice. https://doi.org/10.1089/env.2022.0025 | Abstract | Publisher Website | November 2022 |
| Sterling, E., Sigouin, A., Betley, E., Zavaleta Cheek, J., Solomon, J., Landrigan, K., . . . Jones, M. (2021). The state of capacity development evaluation in biodiversity conservation and natural resource management. Oryx, 1-12. doi:10.1017/S0030605321000570 | Abstract | Publisher Website | December 2021 |
| Robison, V., Jones, M., Erickson, B., & Biedenweg, K. (2024). Communication Approaches and Specialists that Can Improve Fisheries Management. Fisheries, 49(7), 319-326. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsh.11090 | Abstract | April 2024 |
| Niemiec, R., Jones, M. S., Mertens, A., & Dillard, C. (2021). The effectiveness of COVID-related message framing on public beliefs and behaviors related to plant-based diets. Appetite, 165, 105293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2021.105293 | Abstract | Publisher Website | October 2021 |
| Niemiec, R. M., McCaffrey, S., & Jones, M. S. (2020). Clarifying the degree and type of public good collective action problem posed by natural resource management challenges. Ecology and Society 25 (1): 30., 25(1), 30. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-11483-250130 | Abstract | Publisher Website | December 2020 |
| Niemiec, R, Jones, MS, Lischka, S, Champine, V. (2021). Efficacy-based and normative interventions for facilitating the diffusion of conservation behavior through social networks Conservation Biology. 00: 1−13. https://doi.org/10.1002/cobi.13717 | Abstract | Publisher Website | February 2021 |
| Jones, MS. (2024). Integrating the human dimensions into fish and wildlife management depends on increasing managers’ social science fluency. Human Dimensions of Wildlife. https://doi.org/10.1080/10871209.2024.2301965. | Abstract | Download | Publisher Website | January 2024 |
| Jones, M. S., Teel, T. L., Solomon, J., & Weiss, J. (2021). Evolving systems of pro-environmental behavior among wildscape gardeners. Landscape and Urban Planning, 207, 104018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2020.104018 | Abstract | Publisher Website | March 2021 |
| Jones, M. S., Teel, T. L., Martinez, D. E., & Solomon, J. (2020). Conflict and adaptation at the intersection of motherhood and conservation leadership. Biological Conservation, 243, 108487. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108487 | Abstract | Publisher Website | March 2020 |
| Jones, M. S., & Solomon, J. (2019). Challenges and supports for women conservation leaders. Conservation Science and Practice, 1(6), e36. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.36 | Abstract | Publisher Website | April 2019 |
| Jones, M. S., & Niemiec, R. M. (2020). Social-psychological correlates of personal-sphere and diffusion behavior for wildscape gardening. Journal of Environmental Management, 276, 111271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111271 | Abstract | Publisher Website | December 2020 |
| Jones MS, Cravens AE, Zarestky J, Ngai C, and Love HB. (2024). Facilitating psychological safety in science and research teams. Humanities and Social Science Communications. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-04037-7 | Abstract | December 2024 |
| Jones MS & Niemiec RM. (2023). Motivating relational organizing behavior for biodiversity conservation. Conservation Science & Practice. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12880 | Abstract | January 2023 |
| Hauptfeld R, Jones MS and Skylander K. (2022). Building capacity for individual and systems-level collaborative conservation impacts: Intentional design for transformative practice. Society & Natural Resources. https://doi.org/10.1080/08941920.2022.2111738 | Abstract | Publisher Website | August 2022 |
| Cronin MR, Zavaleta ES, Beltran RS, Payne A, Termini V and Jones MS. (2024). Testing the effectiveness of interactive training on sexual harassment and assault in field science. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 523. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-49203-0 | Abstract | Download | Publisher Website | January 2024 |
| Cravens A., Jones M. S., Ngai C., Zarestky J., and Love, H. (2022). Science facilitation: navigating the intersection of intellectual and interpersonal expertise in scientific collaboration. Humanities & Social Sciences Communications, 9, 256. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-022-01217-1 | Abstract | July 2022 |
| Corrigan, C., Jones, M., Sandbrook, C., Nelson, F., Copsey, J., & Doak, N. (2020). New collaborations for conservation leadership development. Oryx, 54(2), 151-152. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605319001418 | Publisher Website | February 2020 |
| Champine, V. M., Jones, M. S., Lischka, S., Vaske, J. J., & Niemiec, R. M. (2022). Understanding individual and diffusion behaviors related to native plant gardening. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 101798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2022.101798 | Abstract | Publisher Website | March 2023 |
| Champine V, Tamlyn K, Jones MS, Balgopal M, Bruyere B, Solomon JN, Niemeic RM. (2025). An Audience Segmentation Study of Native Plant Gardening Behaviors in the United States. Landscape and Urban Planning. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2024.105272 | Abstract | April 2025 |
| Champine V, Jones MS and Niemiec R. (2023). Encouraging social diffusion of pro-environmental behavior through online workshop-based interventions. Conservation Science & Practice, 5(10), e13016. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.13016 | Abstract | Download | Publisher Website | September 2023 |
| Batavia, C., Nelson, M.P., Bruskotter, J.T., Jones, M.S., Yanco, E., Ramp, D., Bekoff, M. and Wallach, A.D. (2021), Emotion as a source of moral understanding in conservation. Conservation Biology, 35: 1380-1387. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13689 | Abstract | Publisher Website | January 2021 |
| Presentations | Presentation Date |
|---|---|
| Jones, M.S. (2024, February 7). Leveraging Social Science to Support Equitable and Inclusive Conservation Practices. North American Duck Symposium, Portland Oregon. | February 2024 |
| Jones, M.S. & Rizzolo, J. (2024, June 23-28). Integrating Climate Conversations into Conservation Science & Practice. North American Congress for Conservation Biology 2024. Vancouver BC. | June 2024 |
| Jones, M. S., Sekar, S., Dillard, C., & Sparkman, G. (2022, June 16-17). Let's talk about meat: Why people do or don't promote sustainable diets to others [Paper presentation]. American Psychology Association Division 34 Online Conference. https://www.apadivisions.org/division-34/news-events/online-conference-2022 | June 2022 |
| Jones, M. S., Sekar, S., Dillard, C., & Sparkman, G. (2022, July 16-20). Why people do (or don’t) talk to others about conservation behavior: an assessment of sustainable diets [Paper presentation]. North American Congress for Conservation Biology 2022. Rena, Nevada, United States. https://scbnorthamerica.org/index.php/naccb-2022/ | July 2022 |
| Jones, Lischka, Niemiec. (2022, October 17). Community ambassadors for collective action: Opportunities to scale up behavior change to reduce human-bear conflict. International Human-Bear Conflict Workshop, Reno Nevada. | October 2022 |
| Erickson B & Jones M. S. (2024). When good advice is hard to use: the challenge of audience segmentation when communicating about coexistence with American beavers. Conservation Social Science Conference. (Online). | November 2024 |
| Role and Organization | Individual | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Society for Conservation Biology - Member, Social Science Working Group | Jones | January 2017 | Present |