Session F6: Room S501-ab (McCormick Place - Chicago) | ||
Sunday PMFORUM: Credibility in science | ||
| Moderator(s): | S. Rowe, International Food Information Council | |
| Panelist(s): | J. Goldberg, Tufts Univ. R. B. Gravani, Cornell Univ. G. A. Leveille, Cargill, Inc. G. Gray, Harvard School of Public Health B. R. Stillings, Food & Agriculture Consultants, Inc. | |
| Time: | 2:30 PM | |
| In the past several years, research scientists and science communicators have become the focus of public concern in regard to the integrity of the scientific research and review process, and the credibility of those who advise opinion leaders or speak on science to the public. A scattering of publicized incidents involving fraudulent research, undisclosed conflicts-of-interest among researchers or the peer-reviewers, and scientific studies manipulated or suppressed by their sponsors has created a small but growing challenge to the credibility of science generally, and to private sector-funded projects in particular. Some critics of industry-sponsored research, for example, have argued that the mere presence of private funds compromises scientific integrity or at least casts a shadow of suspicion on a research project. This challenges the role of IFT and its science communicators, and others who are dedicated to providing solid science-based information for the public to use in understanding complex health or nutrition issues. A panel of scientists will explore this issue in detail: the state of “quality assurance” in scientific research; the effect on public credulity of conflicts-of-interest – disclosed or undisclosed; the effect on public attitudes in general of a loss of confidence in science. The forum will consider and discuss, particular measures that science organizations, research scientists, and science communicators might take to address the challenges to science credibility. | ||