Public engagement in a post-truth society
Funders and institutions have put increasing emphasis on researchers disseminating their findings to wider audiences via social media, popular science books, public-facing talks and other platforms. However, public understanding of science is impeded by poor communication of study findings, leading to misinformation and confusion. With this confusion comes pressure on policymakers to be guided by public sentiment rather than rigorous research findings, which may diverge in their conclusions.
In this Unconference, we want to lead a discussion about how the psychological research community can adapt its public engagement to a new era. Topics may include:
- The risks posed by the increased use of preprints;
- How to combat public misinterpretation of study findings;
- Ways to ensure that expert researchers are centred;
- The promotion of pseudopsychological content by influencers on social media and
- Direct threats against those who seek to highlight pseudoscientific misinformation in the public sphere.