Science and the Media

Tom Sheldon Set up in April 2002 after things went wrong: - BSE - GM crops - MMR & autism Vision Policy decisions and public debate informed by accurate, evidence-based scientific information in the news media

Mission To make it easier for journalists to access the best science - and to ensure that more scientists engage with the media - when stories hit the headlines

Values Reliable, fast, accurate, authoritative, independent, media savvy SMC Philosophy

" We’ll get the media to ‘DO’ science better when scientists ‘DO’ media better " Main Strategies

Rapid Reaction - media driven

Media Briefings - scientists setting the agenda Rapid Reactions Responding to breaking stories 13 August 2008 Prince Charles warns of 'GM crops catastrophe' Rapid Reaction

Science Media Centre Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 13 August 2008 Experts react to Prince Charles' statements about GM

Ian Denholm - Head of Plant and Invertebrate Ecology at Rothamsted Research Institute

Dr Alan M. Dewar - independent entomologist

Dr Giles Oldroyd - Research Group Leader at the John Innes Centre

Professor Alison M. Smith OBE - Research Group Leader at the John Innes Centre

Prof Rosie Hails - ecologist at the NERC Centre For Ecology and Hydrology

Prof Johnjoe McFadden - molecular geneticist at the University of Surrey

Prof Ottoline Leyser FRS - plant geneticist at the University of York

Prof Jim Dunwell - biological scientist at the University of Reading

Media Briefings Scientists set the agenda 11 December 2007 Better regulation of animal research Press Briefing Science Media Centre Briefing What? The need for better regulation of animal research When? 10.30am, Tuesday 11 December 2007 Where? Science Media Centre, 19 Albemarle Street, W1S 4BS

Scientists making the case for animal research have proudly argued that the laws governing animal experiments in the UK are the best in the world. But many leading scientists - most recently Lord Winston - have voiced concerns that the regulatory system has become overly bureaucratic and threatens to undermine scientific research. The Government has pledged, amongst other things, to reduce the level of detail in project licence applications by at least 25% by the end of 2007 (without undermining animal welfare). As this deadline approaches, the Science Media Centre has invited leading scientists into the centre to brief you on the problems they have encountered, and why they are asking for changes to the regulations. The scientists will explain why they believe better regulation will make for better scientific research and improved animal welfare.

Speakers include: Professor Max Headley – Bristol University Professor Clive Page – Kings College Professor Dominic Wells – Imperial College Roger Walker – Institute of Neurology Attendees Mark Henderson The Times David Derbyshire Daily Mail Roger Highfield Telegraph Alok Jha Guardian Clive Cookson FT Mike Swain Mirror Tom Feilden BBC Radio 4 Today Guardian, 12 December 2007 Telegraph.co.uk, 12 December 2007 15 th September 2008 Bisphenol-A and heart disease News Briefing Heart disease! Diabetes! Babies! Tupperware! - a scare story waiting to happen

• Higher urinary BPA concentrations were associated with cardiovascular diagnoses

• Higher BPA concentrations were also associated with diabetes

• Higher BPA exposure…may be associated with avoidable morbidity in the community-dwelling adult population Science Media Centre News Briefing

What ? Bisphenol-A and Heart Disease

When? Monday 15th September 10.30am Embargoed until 15.00 BST Tue 16 th September

Where? Science Media Centre, 19 Albemarle Street, W1S 4BS

Bisphenol-A is a chemical used around the world in the production of many common plastic products including CDs, drinks containers and sports equipment. As with all industrial chemicals, there have been many rigorous health and safety checks over its use. Despite widely publicised concerns over use of the substance, previous scientific studies have not shown any significant health impact..

New research to be n high levels of Bisphenol-A and both heart disease and diabetes.:

Speakers at the SMC will be: Dr Iain Lang – Research Fellow in Epidemiology and Public Health at the Peninsula Medical School Dr Alan Scarlett - School of Biosciences, University of Exeter of Grassland s and Environmental Research)

Speakers down the line from the US will be: Prof David Melzer - Professor of Epidemiology and Public Heath at the Peninsula Medical School, Exeter Prof Tamara Galloway - School of Biosciences, University of Exeter

Offer a 'CRAP-BUSTING' service to the media 16 February 2007 Eating watercress prevents cancer Rapid Reaction Science Media Centre Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Expert responds to claims that watercress reduces the risk of cancer

Professor Karol Sikora, Medical Director, CancerPartnersUK Professor of Cancer Medicine, Imperial College, said:

"The real problem is that its not watercress specific - there's nothing magic there. The press release from what is essentially a marketing association is grossly overstated. We know that fruits and vegetables all do affect DNA damage hence the five a day strategy to prevent cancer. There is absolutely nothing special about watercress. I don't think people will seriously convert to eating 85gm of the stuff each day. That's an awful lot of cress! You might even turn green . Much better to look holistically at your diet and ensure that there's plenty of fruit and vegetables, fibre and as little fat as possible. The other weakness in the study is that it obviously doesn't actually show a reduction in cancer incidence - its only a long term surrogate that's changed. Its a problem that always bedevils the science of interventional epidemiology. Such a study would take 20 years - by which time the investigators and their subjects would be rather bored!" Daily Mail

Coverage

Telegraph Daily Mail Daily Express The Guardian Independent BBC News website The Guardian The Independent Daily Telegraph Some further points

1. Not every battle can be won • media obsession with health • Drinking just one glass of wine a day can INCREASE risk of cancer by 168% • Glass of wine 'cuts risk of gullet cancer' say scientists • A large glass of wine a day raises cancer risk by a quarter • Now they tell us beer and wine give us cancer • Red wine may lower lung cancer risk • Two glasses of wine a day 'puts breast cancer risk up by 50 per cent' • Half a glass of red wine 'protects from cancer' • ONE glass of wine a night can increase risk of breast cancer by 60 per cent • Red wine may beat breast cancer • Drinking just one glass of wine a day can INCREASE risk of cancer by 168% • Glass of wine 'cuts risk of gullet cancer' say scientists • A large glass of wine a day raises cancer risk by a quarter • Now they tell us beer and wine give us cancer • Red wine may lower lung cancer risk • Two glasses of wine a day 'puts breast cancer risk up by 50 per cent' • Half a glass of red wine 'protects from cancer' • ONE glass of wine a night can increase risk of breast cancer by 60 per cent • Red wine may beat breast cancer • Drinking just one glass of wine a day can INCREASE risk of cancer by 168% • Glass of wine 'cuts risk of gullet cancer' say scientists • A large glass of wine a day raises cancer risk by a quarter • Now they tell us beer and wine give us cancer • Red wine may lower lung cancer risk • Two glasses of wine a day 'puts breast cancer risk up by 50 per cent' • Half a glass of red wine 'protects from cancer' • ONE glass of wine a night can increase risk of breast cancer by 60 per cent • Red wine may beat breast cancer Cancer 5 : 4 No Cancer Some further points

1. Not every battle can be won • media obsession with health • you can’t control the headlines

Some further points

1. Not every battle can be won • media obsession with health • you can’t control the headlines • campaigner or journalist? Some further points

1. Not every battle can be won • media obsession with health • you can’t control the headlines • campaigner or journalist? 2. All journalists are not the same Some further points

1. Not every battle can be won • media obsession with health • you can’t control the headlines • campaigner or journalist? 2. All journalists are not the same 3. Don’t be afraid to repeat Some further points

Peer Review Animal ResearchRisk Uncertainty Top Tips