Sample Special Session
Special session title:
(Note: 150-character limit including spaces; identify changes from original proposal)
No change - Navigating the Misinformation Maze: The Scientist's Mission to Preserve Scientific Integrity
Special session description (to include in the program):
(Note: 2500-character limit including spaces; identify changes from original proposal)
No change - This session is intended to continue the exploration of the role of scientists in combating the continuous spread of misinformation, disinformation and censorship in scientific dialogue. We are being bombarded over the internet, social media platforms, political rhetoric and most recently the emerging and growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) with massive amount of information, making it difficult to stay up with information and even more challenging to evaluate its credibility. Issues continue within the scientific community in areas such as data transparency, a fair peer-review process and the erosion of trust of the public concerning scientific findings. Nevertheless, it is conceivable to alleviate the influence of these issues through rigorous scientific scrutiny. The scientific community possess the capability to help address misinformation and unsupported findings by providing well-founded, scientifically rigorous information to provide balance and assist in the discrediting of these deceptive assertions and contributions. This current session, building on the last several sessions at our annual meetings, provides a forum for scientists to present examples encountered on misinformation, disinformation and censorship and discuss best practices to address these issues. Presenters are invited to present case studies and examples in addressing specific inaccuracies or misleading scientific information. We are interested in gathering information on the resources and methodologies which have demonstrated efficacy in identifying and rectifying inaccuracies and establishing a robust scientific foundation to counteract misinformation. We also seek guidance on optimal approaches for crafting key messages and effectively linking new, accurate scientific information to reasonable frameworks that resonate with the intended audience.
Special session chairs (full name and email address):
(Note: minimum of two and a maximum of four session chairs)
- William Goodfellow [email address], Exponent
- Timothy Canfield [email address], US Environmental Protection Agency
- Patrick Guiney [email address], ECOTOX
- n/a
Special session format (e.g., Forum, Debate, Panel Discussion, Storytelling, etc.):
Panel discussion session: Each talk will be 12 minutes, with 3 minutes for Q&A. A panel discussion from presenters will follow, moderated/facilitated by Goodfellow.
Scheduling (date or time of day) limitations or preferences*:
- Time and date: Wednesday afternoon is preferred due to speaker availability
- Seating/room arrangements: None (traditional theater seating)
- Estimated attendance: 100
- Other elements to consider: Four microphones at the head table
*We will do our best to accomodate these requests, however availability is not guaranteed.
Order and duration of each presenter; to include:
- Full name, email address, affiliation
- Title and description of their talk (to include in the program)
- If the speaker has/hasn’t been confirmed
- (5 minutes) Introduction - William Goodfellow
- (15 minutes) Credibility, Incentives, Synthetic Propaganda and Publishing: Why Toxicology Needs a Reformation! - Christopher J. Borgert [email address], Applied Pharmacology & Toxicology Inc. Confirmed
- (15 minutes) Beyond the First Conclusion: Why Science Demands Re-Evaluation in Light of New Data - Ellen M. Mihaich [email address], Environmental and Regulatory Resources Confirmed
- (15 minutes) PFAS and Fluorinated Chemicals: An Information Disconnect in the Legislative Process - Christopher Rendall-Jackson [email address], Farella Braun + Martel LLP Pending confirmation
- (remaining time) Panel discussion, to include Q&A from audience.