Enhanced Public Awareness and Understanding: Subthemes and Illustrative Quotes
| The rain message can enhance visitors’ awareness of rain | I think it’s important to have that intense visualization of what’s going on, because people don’t know what’s happening to rain. And to become more responsible for it, you need to know that progression that it takes from sky to ocean, and where we fit into that. |
| In many ways it makes stormwater visible to visitors, to students, to faculty, to staff in that they can see it—from the rainwater pouring off the roof or going down the water stairs and then having our signage explain what’s happening there. | |
| The rain message may influence people’s actions | The great part about that is that people who are coming to get their permits would have to go through this living laboratory and [ideally would say,] “Hey, this would look great at my place.” |
| The rain message can be used as a teaching tool | Usually I have a class activity out there every spring and then I show it in various classes, and I talk about it in different ways. When I’m talking about green infrastructure with the public, I always show that garden. |
| ARD signage can help convey the rain message | Even if you’re just walking by, there’s enough signage out there that if you just have your eyes open, you can say, “Oh what’s this placard telling me?” And all of a sudden you’ve learned something . . . |