The organizers for this lecture (the last in a series of three [Science, Scepticism and Free Speech] produced by the UK’s Sense about Science organization with the Free Speech Union) must have been thrilled by its timeliness when they realized that the May 29, 2024 lecture was to be delivered not long after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the UK’s snap July 4, 2024 election.
“Science Under Pressure: Restoring Public Confidence” was featured along with the first two lectures in my March 11, 2024 posting but I noticed a change to the description. Here’s the latest information about the lecture from a May 27, 2024 Sense about Science announcement (received via email),
When healthy scientific scepticism turns into a refusal to accept well-evidenced truths, we end up rejecting a method that has delivered some of societies greatest advances, from modern medicine to mobile communications. But when science cannot be questioned or scientific uncertainties openly explored, we lose the basis for rational discussion and progress.
Join us at 7.30pm [BST] on Wednesday for a lively discussion between our director, Tracey Brown, and Toby Young, General Secretary of the Free Speech Union, on what is needed to improve the relationship between science, the public and democratic decision-making. [emphasis mine] Following our Science, scepticism and free speech lectures – now available to watch online – the discussion will provide plenty of opportunities for audience questions and critical thinking.
You can still book tickets to attend in-person at the Art Worker’s Guild in London, or join us online, for free:
After the initial presentation by both speakers, you will be able to submit questions online during the event. We look forward to you joining us for thought provoking discussions.
In case you were wondering, “democratic decision-making” is an addition. Here are some logistical details which the organizers did not include in this last email, from my March 11, 2024 posting,
…
In-person tickets for each event are £10 for FSU [Free Speech Union] Members, £16 for members of the public, £12 for under-25s. Tickets include a glass of wine on arrival.
… The Hall, Art Workers’ Guild, 6 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3AT.
Finally, a description of the speakers from my March 11, 2024 posting,
About our speakers
Tracey Brown OBE [Order of the British Empire] is the director of Sense about Science, where she has turned the case for sound science and evidence into popular campaigns, including AllTrials, a global campaign for the reporting of all clinical trial outcomes. Tracey leads Sense about Science’s work on transparency of decisions, to ensure the public has access to the same evidence as decision-makers. This has included drafting the Principles for the Treatment of Independent Scientific Advice, and the Transparency of Evidence framework, now internationally emulated. In 2022 she led the What Counts? inquiry, and a national survey of the public’s experience of policy information during the pandemic, calling for all policy announcements to meet an evidence transparency standard. Tracey is honorary Professor, Science, Technology and Engineering in Public Policy at UCL [University College London].
Toby Young is the General Secretary of the Free Speech Union, a non-partisan, mass membership public interest body that stands up for the speech rights of its members. He co-founded four schools and a multi-academy trust in West London, served as a Fulbright Commissioner and is the author of four books, the best known of which is How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2001). He is an associate editor of the Spectator, where he’s written a weekly column since 1998, and Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Sceptic. He was formerly an Associate Editor of Quillette and is the author or co-author of three peer reviewed academic articles.
To sum up, it you’re in London, UK you can go in person (Get tickets for Lecture 3) or you can attend the session via Zoom if you are on the mailing list.(Join Sense about Science mailing list to watch online).