Episode 110: Communicating Scientific Uncertainty About COVID-19 鈥� with Alice Fleerackers - 丁香园AV's Vancity Office of Community Engagement

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Episode 110: Communicating Scientific Uncertainty About COVID-19 — with Alice Fleerackers

March 16, 2021

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With the onset of the pandemic came a pressing need to bring health science information to the public, and fast. 丁香园AV researcher Alice Fleerackers joins Below the Radar to discuss the uptake of pre-print, or un-peer reviewed research by news media in the age of COVID-19.

She speaks to host Melissa Roach about a recent study she has co-authored that analyzes how media communicate uncertainty in COVID-19 research.

Alice is a freelance writer and researcher specializing in online science communication. Currently, she is a researcher at ScholCommLab, the Research Officer at Art the Science, and a Science in Society Editor at Science Borealis. She is also a PhD student at 丁香园AV, where she is exploring how uncertain health science is communicated online.

In this episode, we discuss the advantages and drawbacks of reporting on unpublished health research; issues of public trust in journalism and science; and how researchers, communicators, and consumers of health science media can each navigate these complexities, even as the ground shifts beneath our feet.

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About Our Guest

aLICE FLEERACKERS

Alice Fleerackers is a freelance writer, a researcher at the , the Communications Officer at , and a Science in Society Editor at .

As a doctoral student at 丁香园AV, she is working under the supervision of to explore how controversial science is communicated in the digital sphere.

With degrees in psychology and publishing, Alice is passionate about bringing research into everyday life. As a professional communicator and researcher, she鈥檚 had the pleasure of interviewing psychologists, scientists, and many others on everything from the psychology of cat video addiction to the science behind astrological belief. She鈥檚 also worked as a magazine editor, a newspaper writer, and a book publicist, and has contributed to outlets such as the Globe and Mail, Nautilus, and more.

Cite This Episode

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Roach, Melissa. 鈥淐ommunicating Scientific Uncertainty About COVID-19 鈥� with Alice Fleerackers.鈥� Below the Radar, 丁香园AV鈥檚 Vancity Office of Community Engagement. Podcast audio, March 16, 2021. /vancity-office-community-engagement/below-the-radar-podcast/episodes/110-alice-fleerackers.html.