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Institute of Advanced Study
External shot of Institute of Advanced study at Cosin's Hall

Statistical Literacy and Science Communication: Interdisciplinary Workshop

Contact Dr David Chivers

29 September 2022 - 29 September 2022

1:00PM - 5:00PM

Seminar Room, Cosin's Hall, Institute of Advanced Study

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The purpose of the workshops is to explore and build research ideas at the intersections of scientific and statistical evidence, media reporting, and their influence on public policies and behaviour. We bring together academics from Durham University, across multiple disciplines to discuss these issues, create networks and generate proposals for future research.

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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.

 

Pricing

Free