The Challenge of the Post-Truth
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editorial The challenge of the post-truth era Science denial is not new but, in the digital age, evidence-based conclusions appear to be increasingly threatened by beliefs based on emotion and isolated personal experience. When confronting a post-truth world, scientists must defend the scientifc method and increase public engagement. few weeks ago the Nobel Prize in warming. Whether the science-sceptic public expenditure on research and development Chemistry was awarded to Frances H. and policymakers will heed this call for has more than doubled between 2000 AArnold for the directed evolution of drastic changes remains unclear. and 2015, with the US investing the most enzymes, and to George P. Smith and Gregory Pseudoscience also poses an immediate in STEM, followed by China and the EU P. Winter for the phage display of peptides and threat to public health in the form of anti- (https://go.nature.com/2IQdScc). In the antibodies. The Royal Swedish Academy of vaccination movements, which can lead to US alone the number of STEM jobs is Sciences recognized that the Nobel Laureates’ epidemics of otherwise preventable diseases. estimated to grow by 13% by 2027, a rate work used the principles of evolution, and A prominent example stems from a, now higher than that projected for non-STEM hailed the benefit it heralds for humankind. fully retracted, 1998 paper that alleged a link positions (https://go.nature.com/2yA1l88). The counterweight to this celebration is the between autism and the measles, mumps and But despite the high demand for STEM- fierce denial the theory of evolution currently rubella (MMR) vaccine. Despite the fact that educated workers, STEM education in faces in certain parts of the world. Efforts to the original paper was scientifically discredited US high schools is less than impressive. introduce creationism and pseudoscientific and the leading author struck from the medical The latest report from the Programme theories, such as intelligent design, in US register, the possibility that vaccination could for International Student Assessment that teaching curricula are well documented, as lead to autism received high media coverage evaluates science, mathematics and reading is the American public’s scepticism towards and influenced public attitudes to the point abilities among 15-year-olds around the evolution. According to a 2018 report by the that MMR vaccination rates dropped in the world, ranked the US nineteenth in science National Science Board (https://go.nature. UK (https://go.nature.com/2QH9sae). Two and thirty-eighth in mathematics, among 71 com/2IQdScc) only 52% of Americans agree decades later, anti-vaccination campaigns countries (https://go.nature.com/2EcDSzM). that, “human beings, as we know them today, continue and, alarmingly, measles cases How can we bridge the gap between rising developed from earlier species of animals”. have been on the rise in Europe, with low STEM needs and less than desirable uptake by Although this proportion has increased immunization coverage remaining a concern the younger generation? How can we increase from 42% in 2004, it lags behind the ~70% (WHO; 20 August, 2018). the understanding and acceptance of science of Canadian, Chinese and EU respondents Perhaps the most unexpected example in contemporary society, and counter the to similar surveys. Anti-evolution agendas of science denial is the apparent revival of spread of misinformation? It is important to have been adopted in educational systems the belief that the Earth is flat. The topic recognize that STEM education is not equally elsewhere: Saudi Arabia excludes the teaching was much discussed on mass and social available to all, even in the most economically of evolution and, last year, Turkey announced media this year, with a US survey reporting advanced countries. Scientists must work with the removal of the relevant chapter from high- that only 84% of respondents have always policymakers to address this shortcoming school books. believed that the world is round, whereas and an essential first step is to engage more The influence of science denialism on 2% believe it is flat, and the rest expressed in public life. We should also aim to cultivate education and policy is far-reaching. Despite uncertainty (Nugyen, H. YouGov; 2018). the interest of children in the natural world the scientific consensus that anthropogenic Considering the amount of evidence to by tapping into their inherent curiosity early. climate change is a pressing problem, the the contrary, it is surprising that anyone Developing programmes between schools, general public’s beliefs on the matter vary with access to basic education would universities and research institutes to bring widely. A 2015 Pew Research Center survey express flat-Earth views today. The Greek scientists into the classroom and young (https://go.nature.com/2EiEq7v) found that mathematician Eratosthenes managed to students into the lab, will be valuable. More although 54% of global respondents consider calculate the Earth’s circumference with generally, we should encourage informal climate change a very serious problem, only remarkable accuracy in the third century science outreach if we are to inspire young 18% of Chinese and 45% of US residents ʙc and the Magellan-Elcano expedition minds and debunk the tired stereotypes of agree with this view despite these two succeeded in circumnavigating the Earth in dusty textbooks and researchers disengaged countries being the highest CO2 emitters the 1500s. In the twentieth century, space from every-day life. Linked to this is the worldwide. The same report indicates that exploration finally permitted us to see and need to teach scientists how to communicate in many economically advanced countries, study our planet as a celestial body. More more effectively with the general public, so including the US, UK, Canada, Germany and extensive data are needed to determine that scientific principles and the scientific Australia, attitudes towards climate change whether flat-Earth beliefs have resurged, but method can become more accessible to the are divided based on political ideologies, the possibility is concerning. average person. In the post-truth era, when something that is made sadly apparent by These prominent examples of the facts are disputed and science deniers have the current state of the US Environmental public failing to accept essential scientific gained ample space in public fora, this is the Protection Agency. The recent report knowledge go against the increased challenge we need to embrace. ❐ on ‘Global Warming of 1.5 °C’ by the importance of education in science, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change technology, engineering and mathematics (https://go.nature.com/2yztjRf) paints a grave (STEM) for contemporary society Published online: 25 October 2018 image for our planet if we fail to curb global to continue to thrive. Indeed, global https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-018-0231-z NATURE CELL BIOLOGY | VOL 20 | NOVEMBER 2018 | 1231 | www.nature.com/naturecellbiology 1231.