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Global Health Security, Health Justice

RECORDING: Stating The Facts: The Rise of Misinformation and Distrust in Science

This conversation explores the growing challenge of health misinformation—why it spreads, how it takes hold, and what we can do about it. The speakers share practical tools for fact-checking health claims, evaluating sources, and understanding how media and trust shape public perception.

Featuring:

  • Heidi J. Larson, PhD, Founder and Director of the Vaccine Confidence Project, and Professor of Anthropology, Risk and Decision Science, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
  • Seth Mnookin, Professor of Science Writing and Director of the Graduate Program in Science Writing, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; New York Times Bestselling Author and Journalist
  • Moderator: Louise C. Ivers, MD, MPH, DTM&H, Faculty Director, Harvard Global Health Institute

Key Points

  • Distinguishing misinformation vs. disinformation; evolving dynamics in scale, tech, and society
  • Helping the public identify credible vs. non-credible sources of health evidence
  • COVID-19’s impact on trust in government, science, and vaccines
  • When scientific authority is viewed through ideological vs. evidence-based lenses
  • Rumors as indicators of deeper concerns; the value of individual anecdotes
  • U.S. influence on global health trust and perceptions, especially in Europe
  • Identifying credible messengers in today’s complex media environment
  • The role of influencers, amplification at the community level, and echo strategies
  • Challenges of trust and health communication in politically or resource-strained settings

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