Business professor takes on global warming on Weather Channel special

January 9, 2007

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Professor Joel Cohen, distinguished service professor of marketing at the Warrington College of Business, will appear on a special Weather Channel program devoted to global climate change at 5 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 14 (with repeats at 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 11 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 20).

Cohen’s interview emphasizes two topics: the parallel between global warming and tobacco, in both public attitudes over time, and industry behavior for companies that could suffer negative economic consequences, as well as how to better communicate action-oriented climate change/global warming messages to the general public.

Cohen’s research focuses on consumer behavior with an emphasis on the psychology of attitude formation and change and the role played by mood and emotions. Besides a 25-year examination of tobacco industry practices, including the appeal of cigarettes to teens, the marketing of so-called “light” cigarettes and the effectiveness of cigarette warnings, Cohen has worked extensively on public policy and regulatory issues in marketing and advertising. He also has worked in several areas of health policy, including conducting and evaluating research for the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the Federal Trade Commission, the Food and Drug Administration and the Canadian government. Cohen also serves as director of the Center for Consumer Research at the Warrington College.