Sense about Science: Leading global conversations to protect reliable information in a world of misinformation
On HIFA we have been saying for years that the best way to combat misinformation is to accelerate progress towards universal access to reliable healthcare information. It makes no sense to focus purely on debunking misinformation - the key is to strengthen the global evidence ecosystem. There are no short-cuts.
I was encouraged to see this view is integrated into the fabric of a highly influential organisation, Sense About Science. They write:
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Dear Neil,
The best way to combat misinformation is to provide people with ways to uncover reliable information and share knowledge from credible sources. But those who work to maintain the standards of good science, and who protect the public’s access to it – such as librarians, editors, research professionals and integrity officers as well as specialist journalists – are being overlooked and undermined.
Join us online at 16:00 UTC on Wednesday 18 February to discuss what good information curation looks like and how we can defend it.
Register here: https://sagepub.zoom.us/webinar/register/1017677242731/WN_UqJi7pfUQ7iSHb...
We’ll also be leading discussions on this at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual conference later this week. Our session on Curators on the Front Lines of the Information Wars will bring research integrity champion Elisabeth Bik, Science writer Rodrigo Perez Ortega and expert librarian Michael Meth together to explain the pressures that public good curators are currently facing. They will discuss how curators need to be valued by society as one way of combating the rapid spread of online mis and disinformation – we will share their insights on our social media and website next week.
Best wishes,
Katherine
Katherine Brown
Programme Lead
senseaboutscience.org
41 Portland Place, London, W1B 1QH
Sense about Science is an independent charity that promotes the public interest in sound science and evidence. We depend on donations, large and small, from people who support our work. Donate now.
Registered Charity No. 1146170, Company No, 6771027
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I shall contact them to offer collaboration.
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org