Are Science Festivals a Good Place to Discuss Heated Topics?

Abstract

Public acceptance of vaccination and Genetically Modified (GM) food is low and opposition is stiff. During two science festivals in France, we discussed in small groups the scientific evidence and current consensus on the benefits of vaccination and GM food safety. Our interventions reinforced people’s positive opinions on vaccination and produced a drastic positive shift of GM food opinions. Despite the controversial nature of the topics discussed, there were very few cases of backfire effects among the 175 participants who volunteered. These results should encourage scientists to engage more often with the public during science festivals, even on heated topics.

Information Delivered by a Chatbot Has a Positive Impact on COVID-19 Vaccines Attitudes and Intentions

“…On the contrary, and in line with previous findings (e.g. Altay & Lakhlifi, 2020;Bode & Vraga, 2015;Vraga et al, 2020;Vraga & Bode, 2017), the participants whose initial attitudes were the most negative shifted the most towards positive attitudes (for the most negative third, average attitude change = 0.54 on a scale of 1 to 7, and 0.39 for the other two thirds).…”

The cognitive foundations of misinformation on science

“…Authors can also resort to dedicated sections in the scientific reports themselves to formulate their reminders, inspired for instance from PNAS’ “Significance” boxes, or create websites or pages linked to the papers containing pedagogical images and videos. Face‐to‐face encounters with the public, for instance during science festivals or certain radio and TV shows, are also excellent occasions for scientists to change people's minds—including on such heated topics as GMOs, nuclear energy, or vaccination . Contrary to unidirectional messaging typically used in written science communication, informal interactive exchanges make it possible to address laypeople's objections precisely and in real time, and to undermine distrust by showing the public that scientists are just ordinary people with good intentions.…”