Statistical Literacy and Science Communication: Interdisciplinary Workshop

Workshop 2: Science Communication: Science communication relies on expertise, accountability, and trust. The public looks to scientific experts for decision-making. However, expert advice can change as new results emerge. Whilst this is naturally evident to many scientists, dealing with uncertainty has been met with a level of  scepticism and lack of trust from the public.

To start the discussion, we have invited science journalist Tom Chivers. Tom writes for the inewspaper and has won the Royal Statistical Society’s award for statistical excellence in journalism 
(2018, 2020) as well as the Association of British Science Writers’ science journalist of the year (in 
2021).

Some key questions for discussion:

• Why do people trust experts? How do they decide who is, and who is not, an expert?
• How do experts communicate the uncertainty associated with scientific evidence?
• How can (or should) institutions and the public hold scientific experts accountable?

We will provide a light lunch during the workshops, and you are invited in the evening to dinner at a local restaurant. You are welcome to attend one or both workshops.

For questions, contact the workshop organisers David Chivers and Susanne Braun. Please email david.chivers@durham.ac.uk to confirm your attendance.