How to combat misinformation in science – 12/15/2023 – Sou Ciência

The end of the year is always marked by intense programming and, among the countless activities during the period, one catches our attention: the Seminar on Confronting and Preventing Scientific Misinformation in Health and the Environment, held on December 14th, and which closes the “FACE” cycle of meetings and webinars. The title of the series of events that took place in person, but are also available for those who wish to follow here, is a more than clear allusion to the moment we are living in. Anyone who works seriously in science knows well what the processes of disseminating fake news, “fakescience”, denialism, or even intentional disinformation have been.

The title “FACE” also shows us that the movement calls for objectivity and firm action to combat intentional and abusive misinformation, a joint action between researchers and decision makers, as the dissemination of fake news directly affects the lives and health of people. people.

Coordinated by Prof. Manoel Barral, president of the Academy of Sciences of Bahia, in partnership with the Conrado Wessel Foundation and the participation of several supporters, including SoU_Ciência, counted on the valuable contribution of several speakers and debaters. Among them are Carlos, Vogt, Evelina Hoisel, Karina Costa, Wilson Lopes, Leonardo Avritzer, João Brant, Ethel Maciel, Orlando Silva, Ana Caetano Faria, Marisa von Bullow, Helena Martins, Sergio Ludtke, Soraya Smaili, Renato Janine Ribeiro , Ana Valéria Mendonça, Debora Salles, Herton Escobar, Luisa Massarani, Pedro Arantes, Marco Antonio Zago, Hugo Aguilaniu, José Roberto Drugowich, Mariluce Moura, Wilson Gomes, Natasha Felizi, Marcia Correa e Castro, Sabine Righetti and Jerson Lima.

In the text published this week (the authors and contributors mentioned point out some paths we can take to combat intentional disinformation and, ultimately, scientific denialism. First of all, they make a distinction between “unintentional disinformation and intentional disinformation, the latter being our focus, as it is the deliberate dissemination of false, inaccurate or misleading information, aiming to obtain economic advantages, or for political and ideological objectives”, state the authors. All of this, enhanced by the various existing means of social communication today.

It is increasingly clear that for political and/or economic reasons, the dissemination of fake news occurs and is often successful, mainly because there is a lack of knowledge about what Science is. Social networks have become a breeding ground for those who think they know what it is and who often deliberately deceive and confuse the population. There is, in fact, a great deal of confusion in distinguishing what would be scientific evidence from what are random and unfounded opinions.

It is, therefore, imperative that a process of continued training, including media education, is carried out strongly so that the basis is Education that transforms and can prevent people from being deceived. At the very least, it is necessary to have criticism and coverage in line with the Brazilian reality. However, we now recognize that we have some difficulties, such as translating science into more modern forms of communication and language, without adulterating scientific rigor. It is also essential to seek ways of translating and accessing content, with different communication strategies, different languages ​​that consider the different social groups and the social and economic composition of our Society. Finally, it is also important to find ways and mechanisms to disqualify intentional disinformation content and even criminalize it, in the case of disinformation that puts people’s lives at risk, along with a safety net.

All measures, some listed below, must take into account that it is a complex process, which must be structured and led by very well-defined public policies, with broad support for the construction of a State policy.

Here, we mention some processes for this confrontation:

1. Promote continued training of scientists in the social communication of science, from training as professionals and as researchers;

2. Have multidisciplinary teams, valuing all aspects of science and knowledge in a broad way.

3. Value and encourage scientists and researchers who carry out social communication of science. Understand that communication is part of what you do and your work.

4. Empower institutions, scientists and researchers as qualified agents to resolve doubts. Institutions must have clear communication policies with society.

5. Qualify and expand scientific and knowledge education in schools and at different levels of education, bringing science to joint exercise, sharing, joint creation and citizen science action.

6. Have institutional mechanisms to detect and curb the dissemination of scientific misinformation, through academic integrity observatories, among other forms.

7. Have clear public policies to encourage researchers to train and carry out quality scientific communication.

8. Have legal and regulatory frameworks to guarantee freedom of opinion, but with control of intentional disinformation.

9. Guarantee freedom of expression, ensuring that misleading information and harm are not used by public figures.

10. Have a large front of national action for science and public policies, in order to consolidate Science Education, support for researchers, to guarantee social development and the construction of a more democratic society.