By james art Morgridge Institute for Research CEO Brad Schwartz hosted two University of Wisconsin professors for MIR’s Fearless Science Speaker Series on October 21, 2024. Law and Bioethics Professor Pilar Osorio and Communication Sciences Professor life Dietram Scheufele discussed public skepticism of science through the forum focused on questions from the audience both in person and online.
Schwartz opened the forum by introducing the speakers, himself and the purpose of FSSS. After a brief introduction by Osorio and Scheufele, the panelists answered questions from the participants before the panel began.
Osorio began by talking about the role of scientists in fighting disinformation.
“[Scientists] are not experts in every scientific claim that could become controversial,” Osorio said. “If it’s your own science where there’s public misinformation, you obviously have greater responsibilities there.”
Scheufele asked a question about the US government’s policy and communications strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“By claiming to be too sure about something that is emerging knowledge [about COVID-19]we lost long-term credibility, especially with groups that didn’t like our policy choices informed by that science,” Scheufele said.
Schwartz spoke briefly about his belief that scientists should not be the ones writing policy.
The floor was then opened for personal questions. A person attending the event took issue with Schwartz’s claim that scientists should not do politics.
“You’re saying that scientists shouldn’t be involved in writing policy, so to me that argument lends credence to what the Supreme Court just decided, that established Supreme Court justices should make the decisions of experts and bureaucrats at the federal level said a man. “I can’t obey what you just said.”
Schwartz said he did not mean that scientists have no role in shaping policy and paraphrased his statement.
“Scientists have a role to play in the process that leads to policy formation,” Schwartz said. “We have to play that role, and unless we’re in an election position, and that position has to make a final decision.”
Scheufele concluded by reiterating his position that scientists need to be more open about communicating uncertainty in science to the public and pushing scientists to communicate with other fields of science. Scheufele said that getting scientists and the public at large out of their respective communication bubbles is key.
“Franz Kafka said that we should only read books that itch and bite, that pierce our heart,” Scheufele said.