Science Bar Live: “Is There Such a Thing as ‘Fake News’ in Science?”

Available online on theUM's YouTube channel

"Fake news" refers to information that is false, misleading, or deceptive; and in the scientific community, as in many other areas, fake news circulates and runs rampant.

According to IFOP, “Fake news is false information deliberately fabricated and disseminated on the internet with the aim of misleading people.” The French term “infox” is derived from “information” and “intox.” It refers to information that is fabricated, disseminated, and spread intentionally for various purposes.  As our way of viewing the world evolves with the advancement of knowledge and the acceleration of its dissemination, the internet has brought with it a proliferation of infox.

There are many topics where unproven hypotheses, opinions, and established scientific facts are all lumped together and presented as if they were equally valid. Furthermore, it has been shown that the Internet and social media reinforce the beliefs of conspiracy theorists. In this context, combating misinformation and rumors, debunking fake news, and thwarting conspiracies has become a priority.

This special edition of the Bar des sciences brings together three international multidisciplinary experts, hosted by the Institute for Advanced Studies: Advanced Knowledge Institute on Transitions (MAK’IT) at Montpellier University of Excellence (MUSE):

• Christophe Béné, Ph.D. in Environmental and Life Sciences, Senior Expert in Policy Analysis at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research—CGIAR)—Cali, Colombia.
• Thaura Ghneim Herrera, Ph.D. in plant physiology, plant biotechnology, and molecular biology; professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Icesi University in Cali, Colombia.
• Mahama Tawat, Ph.D. in Political Science, Research Associate at the Malmö Institute for Migration, Diversity, and Well-being (MIM) – Sweden.

• You can watch this Science Bar live or watch it later by clicking here.

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