How Well Has the Science of the Pandemic Been Presented?

How has the public trust in government, healthcare authorities and scientists changed and how well has the science of the pandemic been presented by the media, politicians, and scientists themselves? Watch the Q&A: https://youtu.be/-LUQTjdHYNo The Covid-19 pandemic bought science to the forefront of news and public perception. As the crisis moves into the next phase with new variants of concern spreading and a very uneven global rollout of vaccines, these issues take on a new urgency. On the panel are: Christina Pagel is professor of operational research at University College London. She has a background in both mathematics and physics, with an undergraduate degree in maths and a PhD in space physics. She is on the Independent SAGE committee, whose aim is to offer independent advice to the UK Government during the COVID-19 pandemic. Julia Pearce is Senior Lecturer in Social Psychology and Security Studies in the Department of War Studies. Her research interests include risk perception, risk and crisis communication, social identity, health security and terrorism. Anjana Ahuja is a freelance science writer and commentator with 22 years’ experience of working for the UK national media. She is a contributing Writer on science for the Financial Times, and also write features and comment for such publications as the Daily Telegraph, Prospect, Radio Times and New Scientist. Susan Michie is Professor of Health Psychology and Director of the Centre for Behaviour Change at University College London. She is co-Director of NIHR’s Behavioural Science Policy Research Unit, leads UCL’s membership of NIHR’s School of Public Health Research and is an NIHR Senior Investigator. Philip Ball is a freelance science writer. He worked previously at Nature for over 20 years, first as an editor for physical sciences (for which his brief extended from biochemistry to quantum physics and materials science) and then as a Consultant Editor. His writings on science for the popular press have covered topical issues ranging from cosmology to the future of molecular biology. This discussion was recorded on 22 June 2021. --- A very special thank you to our Patreon supporters who help make these videos happen, especially: efkinel lo, Abdelkhalek Ayad, Martin Paull, Ben Wynne-Simmons, Ivo Danihelka, Hamza, Paulina Barren, Metzger, Kevin Winoto, Jonathan Killin, János Fekete, Mehdi Razavi, Mark Barden, Taylor Hornby, Rasiel Suarez, Stephan Giersche, William 'Billy' Robillard, Scott Edwardsen, Jeffrey Schweitzer, Gou Ranon, Christina Baum, Frances Dunne, jonas.app, Tim Karr, Adam Leos, Michelle J. Zamarron, Fairleigh McGill, Alan Latteri, David Crowner, Matt Townsend, Anonymous, Robert Reinecke, Paul Brown, Lasse T. Stendan, David Schick, Joe Godenzi, Dave Ostler, Osian Gwyn Williams, David Lindo, Roger Baker, Greg Nagel, and Rebecca Pan. --- Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe The Ri is on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheRoyalInsti... and Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-po... Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter Product links on this page may be affiliate links which means it won't cost you any extra but we may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase through the link.