The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology's 35th Annual Research Day and Award Banquet
Battling Bunk: Evidence-Based Strategies to Counter Misinformation
News and Media
Recent Posts
Stem Cell Network Special Funding Announcement
Partners in research Ubaka Ogbogu, Amy Zarzeczny, and Timothy Caulfield received over $700k to investigate regulatory and social license for cutting-edge regenerative therapies.
CDTRP Media Workshop Series on ODT and Health Literacy: Engaging the public online during policy change
The CDTRP, in collaboration with the Health Law Institute from the University of Alberta, is happy to announce the second Media Workshop on Organ Donation and Transplantation (ODT) and Health Literacy on May 17, 2022.
The Space: Top Tip: Busy isn't always a dirty word
Fun take on using advice from Timothy Caulfield, author of Relax: A User’s Guide To Life In The Age Of Anxiety, we’re going to teach you how to be busy without having a mental breakdown.
The Pathologist: Video: Fake News! Combating misinformation in science and medicine
Timothy Caulfield notes he enjoyed this discussion! Cover lots, including how scientific uncertainty and ideology used to push bunk.
Business Insider: Vaccine skeptics and anti-maskers who invoked 'my body, my choice' in the pandemic are now lining up to support the end of Roe v. Wade
Caulfield: "The conceptual inconsistency would be laughable if the issues weren't so crucially important..."
The Pathologist: Fake News! Combating misinformation in science and medicine
Caulfield: "...we’re starting to get a lot of revisionist history of what happened at the height of the pandemic... That is all nonsense. The misinformation was pretty clear..."
AAMC: Why do so many Americans distrust science?
“Trust in scientific institutions has taken a huge hit,” says Timothy Caulfield, LLM, research director of the Health Law Institute at the University of Alberta, Canada.
Gizmodo: Paging Dr. Musk: Please STFU
Caulfield: Elon Musk noise on psychiatric meds "can have an impact on public perception of pharmaceuticals"
Big Picture Science: Skeptic Check: Dr. Oz
University of Alberta professor Timothy Caulfield looks at the powerful influence that celebrities like Dr. Mehmet Oz have on shaping our health landscape.
Toronto Star: Why the Novavax COVID vaccine has developed such a fandom — and why it matters
Key: > vaccination and want people comfortable with their choice. But does framing as "traditional" vaccine legitimize misinformation about mRNA vaccines?
Physician-Patient Alliance for Health and Safety: Misinformation is a Patient Safety Issue
Caulfield: “Celebrity wellness hype contributes to our ‘culture of untruth’ by both inviting an erosion of critical thinking and promoting what is popular rather than what is true.”
The New York Stem Cell Foundation: Unproven Stem Cell Therapies: Experts Discuss How To Protect Yourself From This Global Health Issue
Caulfield: "I call this ‘scienceploitation,’ where someone takes real, exciting science and uses it to market bunk.”
Zoomer Radio: Go To Grandma
Kathy Buckworth will host Timothy Caulfield on Go To Grandma on April 30 @ 7:30am Why do some people see science as opinion, not fact? Why do scammers scam?
New York Post: I had a dead pandemic sex life until I discovered ‘female Viagra’
Caulfield: “more exploitive noise (wrapped in bogus ’empowerment’ rhetoric).”
Debunking Denialism: Article Library
400+ science-based articles debunking different forms of pseudoscience.
CDTRP: Media Workshop on ODT and Health Literacy
The Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program is hosting a Media Workshop on ODT and Health Literacy. Professor Caulfield's talk is on Media Perspective.
McGill: Health information literacy and critical thinking to the rescue
Health Quackery Exhibit McGill Library. The Turret. Health Quackery Exhibit
Edmonton Public Teachers: Relax Dammit! Book Study + QandA with the author!
Local 37 brings Timothy Caulfield, author or Relax Dammit! via Zoom.
Genetic Literacy Project: Why the COVID cult of ivermectin won’t die
Caulfield, "Ivermectin very quickly became not about science but about ideology and in-group signaling."
CityNews: With proven COVID-19 treatments, why some still opting for unproven drugs?
Caulfield: "It's not about science anymore, #ivermectin has become an ideological flag."
CBC News: Alberta's pandemic messaging under fire as COVID-19 rates rise
Caulfield: "By not acknowledging what's going on, I think you invite the public to not acknowledge it, too...."
New York Stem Cell Foundation and Johns Hopkins Berman Institute for Bioethics
How to accelerate legitimate stem cell therapies while protecting patients from fraudulent clinics?
Canadian Respiratory Conference 2022
Come learn about the roots of misinformation and how healthcare professionals can fight back and build public trust. 1100-1145 Timothy Caulfield, Infodemic! Is Misinformation Killing Us?
NBC News Think: Why the Covid cult of ivermectin won't die
There has never been good clinical evidence to support the use of this drug. But the debate over its use is really about ideology and in-group signaling — not science.
Listen Notes: Timothy Caulfield Top Podcast Episodes
Timothy Caulfield Top Podcast Episodes
Toronto Star: How vaccination status might predict views on the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Caulfield: Within days of the invasion, antivaxxers in my feed were supporting #Putin.
CODA: REJECTING SCIENCE PART 1: MEDICINE, SOCIAL MEDIA AND MISINFORMATION
One key point: institutions need to support healthcare professionals who are fighting bunk on social media!
Enquête sur les comportements avec les soins de santé alternatifs
FRENCH VERSION https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ePpjrq2mDwUqRnM
Survey: Risk-Taking Behaviours with Alternative Healthcare
The HLI needs participants to complete a short anonymous survey about alternative healthcare, and the factors that encourage people to use it. This work is being carried out by researchers from our team and the University of British Columbia's School of Nursing. English and French versions are available here: ENGLISH VERSION: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9FdcETwxlFcwPIO
Coffee Up First
Science Up First presents Instagram Live with Timothy Caulfield.
Omny: Mask mandates are being lifted in Canada
Great chat with Daryl McIntyre on 630 CHED about the science and divisiveness of masks.
Timothy Caulfield on TikTok
Center for Inquiry on TikTok with Timothy Caulfield. Timothy Caulfield on #misinformation #disinformation #fakenewsbuster #skepticthinker #debunktok
630 Ched Mornings: Mask mandates are being lifted in Canada
The mask issue will likely continue to divide. The data is messy (though no doubt a valuable public health tool!). This invites ideological spin. Soon: talking with Daryl McIntyre on 630 CHED about masks and more...
CBC News: Masks could be here to stay in Canada — even as provinces ditch mandates
Caulfield: "the science doesn't really give us a bright line as to when 'OK, now we can stop.' The data is messy ... that creates the opportunity to politicize the message."
The Conversation: Non-invasive prenatal testing: Online discussions show risk perception is highly personal
Alessandro Marcon and Vardit Ravitsky
The Globe and Mail: Physicians who spread misinformation may be eroding trust in health care system, experts say
Caulfield: "when the misinformation is coming from a trusted source, such as a doctor or scientist the effects can be 'so damaging.'"
National Post: Last gasp for masks: Provinces end COVID mandates but some doctors say to keep them
Caulfield: “There is no bright line saying, ‘Now is the time to remove #mask mandates.’”
Centre For Inquiry: “And Yet There Are a Lot of Flat Earth Nazis” — easy ivermectin; atheist street pirates; Russian disinfo; Carl Sagan and They Might Be Giants
"Last night, we had Tim Caulfield on Skeptical Inquirer Presents for an awesome talk on the battle against the infodemic and to get the Balles Prize in Critical Thinking."
Skeptical Inquirer: Infodemic: How the Hell Did It Get This Bad?
This Thursday! Yep, gonna talk polarization, ideology, and impact of celebrity noise (that's you #JoeRogan, #AaronRodgers, et al.).
Global News: Battling conspiracies and harmful information through the pandemic
Caulfield's first tip: Watch the use of anecdotes to support misinformation. You. Need. Science.
Vancouver Sun: Ian Mulgrew: Science proves to be messy on the fly
Caulfield: “Often these fringe perspectives that aren’t rooted in the body of evidence actually get more air time than they are warranted. There is a huge problem with false balance."
Learning to live with COVID-19: Health policy professor explains what living with COVID really means and combats misinformation
The Morning Edition - Sask with Stefani Langenegger Is it time to learn to learn with COVID? We speak to Timothy Caulfield about "learning to live with COVID" in the age of misinformation. He is Canada Research Chair and professor in health law and policy at the University of Alberta.
Center For Inquiry: "How the Hell Did It Get This Bad? Timothy Caulfield Battles the Infodemic"
The spread of misinformation seems to intensify with each passing week. From social media to cable news to popular podcasts, science-free bunk is everywhere. The ongoing “infodemic” is doing tangible harm to public health, public discourse, and public trust. How did we get here and what can we do about it? On Thursday, March 3 at 7:00 p.m. ET, Timothy Caulfield returns to plan the next phase of the battle against bunk on the next Skeptical Inquirer Presents live online event.
Ep. 26 Dr. Timothy Caulfield Confronts Misinformation
Confronting The Madness with Mark Korthuis.
Pocket Mags: Timothy Caulfield, Susan Gerbic Awarded Balles Prizes for Critical Thinking
Every year, the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI)—a program of the Center for Inquiry and publisher of the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER—honors the creators of the published work that best communicates the importance of skepticism and empirical science with the Robert P. Balles Annual Prize in Critical Thinking.
CityNews: What does 'learning to live with COVID' really look like?
As the Omicron wave subsides and governments ease restrictions, a growing number of Canadians are in favour of a future where we don't tailor our lives to the virus. But is that possible?
The Big Story: What does "learning to live with Covid" really look like?
As the Omicron wave subsides and governments ease restrictions, a growing number of Canadians are in favour of a future where we don't tailor our lives to the virus. But is that possible?
'No air of reality': Judge shoots down private prosecution of Doug Ford over COVID vaccine 'crimes'
Caulfield: “It’s a powerful anecdote about the sway of both social media and misinformation...”
Washington Post: Shaky science led to a rush of 'paraben-free' beauty products
Caulfield: Chemophobia is “the narrative that brands like Goop and Honest Company like to sell, and unfortunately, it’s extremely effective.”
Mother Jones: These Doctors’ Groups Are Cheering On the Anti-Vax Truckers
Caulfield: "American disinformation groups are 'trying to exploit the fear and anxiety and frustration that Canadians are feeling.'"
CTV Morning Live: Joe Rogan Accused of Spreading Misinformation on Spotify
Professor of Law at the University of Alberta, Timothy Caulfield discusses the controversy regarding Joe Rogan and Spotify on CTV Morning Live.
Big Tech: Your Facts Aren’t My Facts — Joe Rogan and Our Infodemic Age
Timothy Caulfield, professor of health law and science policy, joins BigTechPodcast's Taylor Owen to discuss how the Joe Rogan/Spotify COVID misinformation controversy reflects a moment of mistrust in science and the weaponizing of the scientific process.
The Reach Out: Timothy Caulfield
Timothy Caulfield shares why exercise and fitness are important.
CIGI: Your Facts Aren’t My Facts — Joe Rogan and Our Infodemic Age
Timothy Caulfield, professor of health law and science policy, joins host Taylor Owen to discuss how the Joe Rogan/Spotify COVID misinformation controversy reflects a moment of deep-seated mistrust in science and the weaponizing of the scientific process.
CBC The National: B.C. doctors draw crowds with COVID-19 misinformation presentations
Lyndsay Duncombe takes CBC The National to see the "Doctors on Tour" and speaks with Charles Hoffe and Stephen Malthouse about their anti-vax roadshow. With excellent commentary by Alastair McAlpine and Timothy Caulfield. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC declined an interview.
CBC News: 2 B.C. doctors went on a COVID-19 speaking tour. Colleagues say their misinformation put public at risk
Caulfield: "We know this is dangerous. We know that misinformation can have an impact on beliefs and behaviours."
CBC News: Among Nova Scotia's unvaccinated, it's not just anti-vaxxers who remain
Caulfield: "when you're a close friend to someone you know and you've shared life experiences with them, I think you can have a greater impact..."
CTV News: Bowing to political pressure or pandemic data? Nearly half of UCP MLAs wants Alta. COVID-19 restrictions lifted
Caulfield: "driven by the controversies surrounding the protests we are seeing...not by the science and sensible public health decision-making"?
CBC News: Canada is shifting to 'living with the virus' — for better or worse
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus: "It's premature for any country either to surrender or to declare victory." Timothy Caulfield: "It means that we're constantly going to have to be vigilant."
Toronto Star: Why this Toronto scientist clashed with a premier over COVID data — and the uncounted dead
Caulfield: "For him to use the language of battling misinformation to try to discredit the work of a legitimate scientist, it is frustrating."
Timothy Caulfield | Infodemic: The Battle Continues
Timothy Caulfield will discuss how conspiracy theories and harmful misinformation are defining characteristics of the COVID-19 pandemic.
National Post: 'Don't tell me what to do': How Canada underestimated the anti-vaccine community
Caulfield: Vaccination = altruism. "To not get vaccinated based on misinformation and ideological spin, and to spread misinformation that hurts others, is, well, morally wrong.”
The Globe and Mail: Neil Young’s dispute with Spotify over Joe Rogan increases pressure on streamer to monitor content
Caulfield: "worried that Mr. Rogan would 'falsely balance' scientifically supported views and those that are discredited but popular."
The Globe and Mail: It’s a delusion to think mass spread of Omicron will end the pandemic
Murdoch's latest article in the Globe and Mail focuses on how Omicron will provide little immunity, leading to a crisis of repeated infection unless we change our behaviour.
CBC News: Protest convoy highlights 'power of misinformation,' expert says
No doubt misinformation playing big role. Also, extreme elements weaponizing scientific uncertainty and (understandable) frustration.
Montecristo: When Did Wellness Become so Unhealthy?
Term "wellness" has been captured by those promoting bunk for bucks. Caulfield: “If you’re not trying to improve yourself, you’re living wrong. It’s a horrible message...”
CBC News: Windsor-Essex paramedics' union tweets opposition to vaccine mandates; says they are based on lies
Timothy Caulfield said the tweets have a "threatening" tone and that the misinformation in the thread can be quite harmful to the public.
Healthy Debate: Let evidence be our guide: Misinformation most insidious when it comes from health-care professionals
Concerned researchers and experts from CoVaRR-Net, their response to the misinformation filled comment in Globe and Mail by Doidge.
Vice: The Dangerous World of Anti-Vax Vegans
Caulfield: “Antivaxxers are gravitating to veganism as a justification..."
The Feed: An Open Letter to Joe Rogan and TV Star Debbie Travis Helps Us Find…
"We have Canada Research Chair of Health Law and Policy at the University of Alberta, Timothy Caulfield, to discuss the infamous Spotify letter urging a crackdown on misinformation about COVID19, with particular focus on The Joe Rogan Experience."
Intelligent Speculation: Pseudoscience and The Need to Debunk Nonsense
Timothy Caulfield's contribution to @CritclThnkr on Pseudoscience and the need to debunk nonsense.
CBC News: WHL's vaccine mandate worked perfectly; could that lesson be applied everywhere?
WHL 100% vaccinated. Caulfield: incentives/disincentives/mandates can work.
The Signal: Carry On
“My experience from talking with policy makers and science communicators is that this is going to be one of the legacies of the pandemic—a greater appreciation of how important it is to communicate scientific uncertainty.”
Real Talk with Ryan Jespersen: Joe Rogan's Misinformation
Signing open letter calling on Spotify to deal with misinformation put out by Joe Rogan.
CHED Mid-Morning with Shaye Ganam
Correcting COVID misinformation does not equate to cancel culture.
SXM Canada Talks: Tim Caulfield Joins Arlene Bynon
Can platforms hold podcasters accountable for spreading misinformation?
Calgary Herald: Is mandatory COVID vaccination legal? Here's what Canada's charter says
Will depend on what's happening with COVID and nature of policy. But “there are moments in time when it might be fully appropriate"
The Globe and Mail: Correcting COVID misinformation does not equate to cancel culture
Caulfield, "It isn’t noble or brave to spread harmful lies. And it isn’t wrong to try to minimize the impact of those lies."
Bunsen and Beaker: "Ask An Expert Section"
Bunsen and Beaker had the privilege to talk to so many amazing people on @sciencepawdcast. This song/video is a huge THANK YOU and shout out to everyone who took time to chat in our "Ask An Expert Section."
Calgary Herald: Timothy Caulfield’s quest to quash a pandemic of misinformation
"...always pause for a moment and ask yourself, ‘Is this accurate? What kind of evidence is being used to support this? Is it just an anecdote?"
Alberta at Noon with Judy Aldous: Should unvaccinated people be taxed?
Quebec Premier Francois Legault says his province will become the first in Canada to make those who refuse to get vaccinated pay a fee. Should other provinces do the same? Legal experts and listeners weigh in.
Healthing: Timothy Caulfield’s quest to quash a pandemic of misinformation
Dr. Mehmet Oz is a 'worst-case scenario' when it comes to the type of person who spreads misinformation, says University of Alberta law professor.
CTV News: Quebec wants to tax the unvaccinated, but is that legal?
Caulfield: If it is a tax/fine that doesn't impact access to healthcare system "it'll probably be less legally problematic, especially if it has appropriate exemptions."
The Globe and Mail: Refusing the COVID-19 vaccine comes with a price
Caulfield: "if it can be shown the mandates are effective, and necessary, and that appropriate accommodations are in place, they might survive a Charter challenge..."
CTV News: Alberta not considering non-compliance vaccine tax like Quebec: Premier's office
Caulfield: "...they said that about passports, they said that about mandates and a lot of it can be semantics..."
National Post: Quebec plans to hit unvaccinated with a 'significant' tax
Caulfield: "I think it’s fair to call this a province-wide vaccine mandate." Legally defensible if a "fine/tax", exemptions, and doesn't impact access to healthcare? We tax cigarettes.
LiFo: Κορωνοϊός και ψευδοεπιστήμη: Αρκετά πια με την παραπληροφόρηση!
Timothy Caulfield, καλεί την διεθνή επιστημονική κοινότητα να αναλάβει τις ευθύνες της την ώρα που οργιάζει η παραπληροφόρηση και ο κομπογιαννιτισμός σχετικά με την πανδημία...
Cloud Lake Literacy
Book Review: Relax, Dammit! by Timothy Caulfield
Relax: A Guide to Everyday Health Decisions with More Facts and Less Worry
An entertaining and practical guide to getting through the day with less stress and better health. By Timothy Caulfield.
Global News: Tim Caulfield on COVID-19 misinformation as Omicron spreads during 5th wave in Alberta
The misinformation is ramping up... again. Ignore the noise and #ScienceUpFirst!
Maclean's: Misinformation from the U.S. is the next virus - and it’s spreading fast
Caulfield: “There’s this strange coming together of the wellness community and the far right. And now the wellness industry is an entry point for QAnon.”
CBC News: Dogs unleash science facts with their own 'pawdcast'
"Dogs unleash science facts with their own 'pawdcast'"
Winnipeg Free Press: ‘Stubborn contrarian’ turfed from Manitoba cabinet over vaccination flap
Caulfield: “Privacy fearmongering can feed vaccine hesitancy…”
Global News: ‘It’s killing people’: The great COVID-19 infodemic
Caulfield: "Debunking does work. It may not feel like it, but we really can make a difference."
Halifax Examiner: Periods, productivity, and posting on social media
It is an ironic strategy as naturopaths reject what the science says about their profession but LOVE to use science-y terminology to make their message sound more persuasive.
A look back at misinformation throughout 2021 with Dr. Timothy Caulfield
630 Ched with Shaye Ganam. Seems appropriate that the year ended with Dr.Oz running for the US Senate. Cuz, of course he is.
640 Toronto: Lethbridge MP Rachael Thomas urges compassion for unvaccinated population
The Kelly Cutrara Show.
Journalism Courses: How journalists can avoid 'the hype' when covering COVID-19 developments in Latin America
Caulfield: Hype is a complex phenomenon. "The result of systemic pressures embedded in current incentives associated with biomedical research.”
The Ryan Jespersen Show: Tim Caulfield on Misinformation and Health; Reddit going Public
Health law and science policy professor Timothy Caulfield on the plague of misinformation, on #RealTalkRJ.
The Globe and Mail: Tory MP touts false information about COVID-19 vaccines as she casts herself as advocate for the unvaccinated
Caulfield: “It does harm because I think it invites people not to get vaccinated and we know that misinformation can result in hesitancy,”
ZoomerMedia Limited: Timothy Caufield: Misinformation – Vaccines, Vaccine Hesitancy and Media – How Do You Know The Truth?
- No evidence vaccines harm fertility or will change your DNA - Vaccines are not "experimental"
Scientific American: Dr. Oz Shouldn’t Be a Senator—or a Doctor
We know, now more than ever, that pop culture can—for better or worse—have a significant impact on health beliefs and behaviors.
CBC News: If we continue waiting for more evidence about omicron, it will already be too late
"The time to act was yesterday".
Ottawa Citizen: In the battle to debunk COVID-19 misinformation, Ottawa Public Health officials lead the way
Caulfield: "Debunking really does work, especially if it is done by experts. Your voice really can make a difference."
Canadian Immunization Conference 2021
Risk Communication and Debunking Mis- and Dis-Information
M(M)A: Vaccine Confidence, Fear, and Misinformation in an Age of COVID
On December 9 @ 12 noon EST A panel exploring the impact of misinformation on vaccination, as well as ways of countering the negative impacts of misinformation in relation to public health. Panelists: Timothy Caulfield, Dr. Rachelle Viader Knowles, Dr. David Price, and Dr. Theresa Tam. Moderator: Sean Caulfield
Folio|COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages five to 11: What families need to know
Two infectious disease experts share their top tips for parents and children. Timothy Caulfield is referenced for more information.
The Globe and Mail: Non-medical exemptions for COVID-19 vaccines pose challenges for Canada’s human-rights commissions
Caulfield: “...a strong singular belief about the vaccine is not a justification from a human-rights perspective for an exemption.”
New Book Deal!
Escaping the Noise: Break Free From Health Information Chaos
iheartradio: CALGARY POLICE SUSPENDS OFFICER WHO MADE ANTI-VACCINE MANDATE VIDEO WHILE IN UNIFORM
Caulfield: "He misrepresents the science. He misrepresents the relevant law. And he misrepresents history." Sum: He's wrong.
CTV News: Calgary police suspends officer who made anti-vaccine mandate video while in uniform
"He misrepresents the science, he misrepresents the relevant law and he misrepresents history. And he does it all in a package that tries to portray himself in a kind of a self righteous and noble manner, as if his anti-vax position is brave. And he's doing it on the behalf of Canadians, when in fact, the opposite is true."
FCSSAA Conference: Opening Keynote
"Opening Keynote | Relax Dammit: Healthy and Happy in the Age of Anxiety" December 2, 2021 9:00am-10:00am
CIPHI National Education Series: "Infodemics, Misinformation and Public Health"
How do we counteract misinformation in public health? What does the evidence say and what works? Dec 2, 2021 12:30 PM EST
The Science Pawdcast: #SpacesUnleashed : Timothy Caulfield misinformation in the infodemic
Fascinating Facts. Adorable Dog Stories. Science Guests that will blow your mind. Brighten your day with a listen, you won't regret it.The Science Pawdcast brings the essence of Dog Twitter to the Podcast format with feedback from Bunsen, the Twitter Science Dog. Knowledge, Intelligence, Silliness and Heartwarming stories, just like Dog Twitter.For Science, Empathy and Cuteness!
GrowCanada Conference 21: Infodemic! Is Misinformation Killing Us?
December 1 1:30pm-2:30pm
How To Academy: How science can improve your daily decisions
Prof Timothy Caulfield on why we should all relax.
Global News Radio: Some celebrities are touting supplements as the best way to fight COVID-19
Timothy Caulfield, University of Alberta professor in health law and policy and Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy
The Globe and Mail: Supplements are being touted as the best way to fight COVID-19. Don’t believe it
No, JoeRogan, AaronRodgers, GwynethPaltrow, et al, supplements are not an evidence-based way to treat or prevent COVID19.
CSPC 2021: Innovative tools to debunk COVID-19 misinformation
Timothy Caulfield along with Marianne Mader, Krishana Sankar, Anthony Morgan, and Jia Hu will present innovative tools to debunk COVID-19 misinformation.
Canadian Conference on Global Health
Confirmed plenary speakers for the CCGH 2021 include Timothy Caulfield.
CBC News: Misinformation in the courtroom: How cases challenging COVID-19 restrictions in Alberta have shifted
"...very convoluted, sovereign citizen kinds of arguments..." Caulfield: "Misinformation is at the heart of most recent court cases."
The Globe and Mail: Nearly two years into pandemic, experts say messaging needs to evolve: Fear is out, hope is in
“I have a lesion on my left bicep near the shoulder but my grandkids don’t have it. Why? Because we don’t have smallpox any more,” said Mr. Kutcher, who, along with Edmonton researcher Timothy Caulfield, created ScienceUpFirst, a national initiative that works with independent scientists, health care experts and other thinkers to counter misinformation.
National Post: Amazon books offering up pseudoscience on vaccines
Caulfield: "These algorithms ... they create our information universe.” "...tolerating pseudoscience has real consequences and we are seeing that now.”
CBC News Marketplace: Homeopathic remedies
Homeopathic remedies for kids’ colds and flus are not remedies at all - they’re expensive, useless, sugar and water in misleading packaging. Save your money.
CBC News: Hidden camera reveals some pharmacists recommend homeopathic products to treat kids' cold and flu
Homeopathy 100% bunk. Scientifically absurd and devoid (or ultra diluted?) of any supportive evidence.
In CHIP: Science Miscommunication
Upcoming Virtual Lecture: November 18, 2021 | 12:30-1:30PM EST
COEE 2021: The Scope and Scale of Online Intimidation
Celebration of Excellence and Engagement 2021 Presented by McGill University
CSCI-CITAC Annual Joint Meeting 2021
Keynote: Communication in the Era of Misinformation Day 1 November 15, 2021 12:30-1:45pm
The Griff: Researcher Timothy Caulfield Debunks COVID Misinformation
Caulfield “...once you start to embrace magical thinking, it becomes easier to embrace other forms of magical thinking.” Give individuals "a path to credible information."
The Record: Why the long, strange debate over fluoride in tap water is about to resurface in Alberta
Caulfield: “It’s a science-informed policy decision.” Don't get fooled by false balance or politics.
Canadian Network for Respiratory Care
Virtual Respiratory Care and Education Conference "Infodemic: Is Misinformation Killing Us?"
NIH Record: Scientists Must Speak Up Against Misinformation
Caulfield: "Over time, harmless-sounding terms like 'immune-boosting; have normalized misinformation..." When done well, “debunking really does work"!
DLSPH: Battling the Infodemic: Evidence-Based Strategies to Counter Misinformation
DLSPH Student-Led Conference
MPR News: A Twin Cities doctor spread misinformation about COVID-19. Then he died from it
Caulfield: “We had this tolerance of pseudoscience... made room for health approaches that don't have a solid scientific basis and can do real harm.”
Global News: Alberta rolling out new COVID-19 treatment in phases; Hinshaw warns it’s no substitute for vaccines
Caulfield: Antivaxx quick embrace of experimental therapies, "highlights the degree to which so much of the anti-vax community is really about ideology."
Edmonton Journal: 'Embedded in the abstract world:' 13 Alberta establishments hit with suspensions, closure orders for flouting COVID-19 rules
Caulfield: Rights language seductive, "because it makes their position seem righteous and seem brave." Reality: "they’re hurting their community."
The New Yorker: Medicine's Wellness Conundrum
Caulfield: “The wellness movement is one of the defining characteristics of health care in this era...” Big issue: legitimization of pseudoscience does REAL harm. Um, #infodemic.
11th Annual CCTSI Research Ethics Conference
Thursday, November 4th from Noon-3:00pm (Mountain Time) 12:10- 12:55 Keynote: Timothy Caulfield, BSc, LL.B, LL.M Battling the Infodemic in the Age of Misinformation: Yes, Debunking Works
SciBeh Virtual Workshop 2021: What does collective intelligence have to offer?
We will discuss the limitations of traditional models of science communication for reaching the public and policy-makers, and what collective intelligence has to offer. We aim to explore some examples of collective intelligence in science communication during the pandemic and learn from their lessons. November 18-19, 2021
Conversations with Campbell: Confronting Disinformation
The current #tnleg COVID special session is an urgent reminder of why we must confront the rampant misinformation and disinformation surrounding COVID and many other issues. Join Heidi Campbell and experts Timothy Caulfield and Abbie Richards 11/1 at 6pm for this important discussion!
630 CHED: The Golden Age of Junk Science is Killing Us
Shaye Ganam speaks with Timothy Caulfield, University of Alberta professor in health law and policy and Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy.
Ontario Environment Industry Association
Keynote by Timothy Caulfield "Back to the Middle: Exploring science, facts and business in a growing age of unreason" Tuesday November 2 @ 12noon (EDT)
Closing plenary: Truth and consequence: The impact of misinformation in COVID-19
Caulfield will talk about (the much NEEDED!) evidence-informed strategies to counter misinformation.
Strathcona County Library: Fall Feast of Words: Relax, Dammit! A User’s Guide to the Age of Anxiety – Timothy Caulfield [On Zoom]
The very popular Timothy Caulfield returns to the library November 2, with his latest book, "Relax, Dammit!" Learn more about this fun but practical guide to stress reduction.
Men's Health Magazine: What You Can Say to Pull Someone Out of a Junk Science Rabbit Hole
Important first step: listen.
Men's Health Magazine: The Best (and Worst) Places to Find Reputable Health Information
Here’s how to weed out misinformation superspreaders from experts you can trust.
Men's Health: 9 Ways to Know if Health Info Is Actually Junk Science
What should you be considering when you see a blog comment, YouTube testimonial, or social-media rant from your loudmouthed uncle? Ask yourself these nine questions to help you figure out what the heck is true.
Men's Health Magazine: The Golden Age of Junk Science Is Killing Us
Misinformation is being spewed, weaponized, and consumed at a deadly rate. Fortunately, there's a way out.
The Guardian: The dark side of wellness: the overlap between spiritual thinking and far-right conspiracies
Caulfield: “I truly hope one of the legacies of the pandemic is a greater understanding of the harm that tolerating pseudoscience can do."
CBC News: The House with Chris Hall | Debunking the dewormer conspiracy
Journalist Kiera Butler and University of Alberta professor Tim Caulfield dissect false theories around ivermectin, a drug primarily used to treat parasites in animals, which has been touted without evidence as a miracle cure for COVID-19.
CBC News: Journalist, professor dissect false theories around ivermectin
The courts are usually a terrible place to settle science issues. Just injects more confusion and noise. Exhibit A: "Lawsuits in U.S. demand unproven ivermectin for COVID19 patients". No good evidence ivermectin works. Possible harms.
The Calgary Herald: Opinion: The next wave of pandemic misinformation will stem from changing hospitalization ratios
Murdoch, "When these measures work, they immediately become both widely misunderstood and also weaponized by purveyors of misinformation."
Alberta Transplant Institute: "Online Commentary around the new Opt Out Legislation in Nova Scotia"
Alessandro Marcon, Health Law Institute
Yahoo News: Goop has a new supplement to boost women's sex drive, but experts are asking for real evidence it works
"Health policy expert Timothy Caulfield called DTF 'exploitative noise.'"
International Science Festival 2021: Misinformation and the Pandemic
October 17 16:00-16:45 Lisbon time Timothy Caulfield delivers a keynote lecture on misinformation around the pandemic.
The Edmonton Journal: Former anti-vax Edson woman shares husband's COVID-19 ICU horror story
But unlike Carla, most people don’t change their minds overnight on polarizing topics like COVID-19 vaccines. Breaking through to those who hold false beliefs about the vaccine is a long game, Caulfield said, and one that requires patience. But it doesn’t hurt to use tools of misinformation against it either.
ASTC Virtual 2021 Annual Conference
“Addressing Scientific Misinformation and Building Community Capacity for Evidence-Based Decision Making”
Western University: "Misinformation is Killing People. What Can We Do About It?"
Timothy Caulfield gives a talk on how to counter information with evidence-based strategies.
Business Insider: Amazon prominently touts work by anti-vaxxers and COVID conspiracy theorists, even after other platforms cut them off
Caulfield: "Companies make decisions about what you see all the time, they're private actors, and they can decide what they're going market..."
660 City News: Oilers' Josh Archibald out indefinitely with heart condition
The Oilers' antivaxx Josh Archibald a cautionary tale of: - misperception of risk; - harms of antivaxx bunk; and - value getting vaccinated!
Global News: ‘Parallel epidemic’ of misinformation hurting Albertans alongside COVID-19 pandemic
Caulfield: "infodemic a defining characteristics of the pandemic and "it's killing people."" Let's give hesitant "a path to credible information." #ScienceUpFirst
CALP: Literacy and Learning Symposium 2021 (Virtual)
Alberta’s Community Adult Learning Program (CALP) is hosting their second virtual Literacy and Learning Symposium. Timothy Caulfield will be speaking about his book, "Relax Dammit!"
Calgary Herald: Why would some Albertans take Johnson & Johnson, but not another COVID-19 vaccine?
Caulfield: the government strategy "could be seen as the province capitulating to anti-vaccine narratives which falsely cast doubt on the safety of mRNA shots."
BC Today with Michelle Eliot: Dealing with COVID-19 misinformation
Prominent speaker on misinformation, Timothy Caulfield joins Michelle Eliot to discuss how to confront COVID-19 misinformation.
Briefing: Tackling Misinformation
Protect our Province Alberta
Protect our Province Alberta
Vaccination misinformation, access and hesitancy Today at 4:15
Canadian Surgery Forum 2021: The Role of Social Media in the Spread of Misinformation
September 22 @ 10:15am
Hachette Book Group: Essentials for Your Work Space Sweepstakes
"Part pop-science, part self-help, Your Day. Your Way. is a friendly, funny, fact-based guide to changing how you make decisions..."
University of Alberta: Science Literacy Course
We're often told not to believe everything we read online or see on TV—but how do we tell the difference between evidence and pseudoscience? Take our free online Science Literacy course to find out!
