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Anita Makri argues that the form of science communicated in popular media leaves the public vulnerable to false certainty.
What is truth? How do we find it and does it still carry weight in public debate? Given recent political events, these are important and urgent questions. But of the two industries I work in that are concerned with truth — science and journalism — only the latter has seriously engaged and looked for answers. Scientists need to catch up, or they risk further marginalization in a society that is increasingly weighing evidence and making decisions without them.
[...] What's overlooked by many is how science is losing its relevance as a source of truth. To reclaim this relevance, scientists, communicators, institutions and funders must work to change the way that socially relevant science is presented to the public. This is not about better media training for researchers. It demands a rethink about the kind of science that we want to communicate to broader society. This message may sound familiar but the new focus on post-truth shows there is now a tangible danger that must be addressed.
[...] If the public is better equipped to navigate this science, it would restore trust and improve understanding of different verdicts, and perhaps help people to see through some of the fake news that circulates on scientific matters.
http://www.nature.com/news/give-the-public-the-tools-to-trust-scientists-1.21307
What do you think, will the general public trust these tools, if available ?
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 18 2017, @03:34PM
Surprisingly how dimwitted and stupid most americans are today and that is evident by the impending coronation of donald duck for our leader.
Fucking pathetic.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 18 2017, @03:40PM
It's part of our long game. You will be bending over backwards to please Americans before long.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday January 18 2017, @04:44PM
We Americans might find ourselves isolated from the other 96% of the world's population.
But the ignorant masses won't be persuaded by dem ignert heathen nations.
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 18 2017, @06:52PM
I STILL cannot believe so many people selected that guy. He is unprofessional in so many different ways. Maybe if we had strong evidence was a super-mega-great deal maker (we don't, funded & bailed out by daddy too many times), does that benefit offset his MANY personality quirks?
What's the Trump Math that went on in their heads? I-dont-gettit
(Score: 2) by Joe Desertrat on Wednesday January 18 2017, @10:51PM
What's the Trump Math that went on in their heads? I-dont-gettit
People are angry, but have not really thought that much about what it is they are angry about. Trump comes across as more right-authoritarian, promising solutions to the issues propagandized as being important, promising to shake up the establishment, promising to "Make America Great", so the voters chose to believe him without examining exactly what he has said or done in the past, or even worse, the greater implications of what he is saying he will do now.
(Score: 2) by lgw on Thursday January 19 2017, @12:53AM
They knew exactly what they were angry about: politicians and journalists talking down to them. They knew exactly what they were voting for: someone who would be the biggest asshole possible to those guys. He's delivering well thus far.
(Score: 2) by looorg on Wednesday January 18 2017, @08:05PM
So you are trying to imply that previously, back in the good old days, people read scientific reports all the time? Sure ... Dream on. People don't read them cause they don't understand them, they are not easy to get or find and most of them are utterly boring for anyone that isn't in the field. There wasn't some time in history when people sat around reading scientific reports cause they are so funny and good to read.