Professor Stephan LewandowskyCognitive Scientist, University of Bristol
Dr Ruth CarlyleHead of NHS Knowledge and Library Services
Trish LaceyKnowledge and evidence specialist at Public Health England
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s director-general, famously said in the early days of the COVID pandemic: “We’re not just fighting a pandemic; we’re fighting an infodemic”.
Misinformation and conspiracy theories have become endemic and teams within health and care systems have seen the impact on local communities. So, how do we tackle misinformation? This session heard from a range of speakers sharing their experiences and reflections on the challenges of addressing misinformation and building health literacy.
Professor Stephan Lewandowsky is a cognitive scientist with an interest in computational modeling. That is, he tries to understand how the mind works by writing computer simulations of our memory and decision-making processes. Recently, he has become interested in how people update their memories if things they believe turn out to be false. This has led him to examine the persistence of misinformation in society, and how myths and misinformation can spread. He is particularly interested in the variables that determine whether or not people accept scientific evidence, for example surrounding vaccinations or climate science.
Dr Ruth Carlyle is Head of NHS Knowledge and Library Services, working across the Midlands, East and North of England, Health Education England. Ruth is a health information specialist and librarian with experience of strategic development and service improvement.
Trish Lacey is a knowledge and evidence specialist at Public Health England
INSIGHT 2021: Misinformation and how do we tackle it?
