Climate change and vaccines can be as polarizing as healthcare and taxes. How these and other topics remain the subject of public debate is largely the result of science denial. Scientific facts, established after rigorous testing and peer-review, are not always accepted, and the results can be devastating for science, public health, global conservation, and beyond.
Science denialism is not a new phenomenon — attempts to establish uncertainty about science arose in the discussions surrounding the health effects of tobacco and the viral cause of HIV/AIDS. But the most effective ways to both counter and prevent it remain a challenge, especially in a world where facts do not always have a foothold, and social media provides a new express lane for misinformation to spread.
In this evening discussion, host of Science Friday Ira Flatow will join our panel of experts to discuss the social, cultural, behavioral, and economic roots of science denialism, and to ask how we make the best case for science.
Panelists Allan Brandt, Dominique Brossard, Kelly Brownell, and Kelly Greenhill will call upon their respective expertise in history, communications, policy, and political science, as we endeavor to better understand science denial, and provide a transparent dialogue for enacting meaningful responses to denialism today.
*Reception to follow
Livestream
This event will also be available via Livestream.