Skip to main content
Our Work

Understanding and Addressing Misinformation about Science

Recently completed

A committee-supported project or activity that has been completed and for which output dissemination has begun. Its committee has been disbanded and closeout procedures are underway.

Topics

Science provides an important way to understand the world that can inform policy and personal decisions, improve human and ecological health and well-being, and advance knowledge and innovation. Misinformation about science, however, can lead to harmful outcomes, and concern about the spread of misinformation has grown significantly in recent years. To this end, the Board on Science Education is leading a study that will characterize the nature and scope of the problem of misinformation about science and its differential impacts; identify solutions to limit its spread; and provide guidance on interventions, policies, and research toward reducing harms caused from misinformation.

About Past Events

Description

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will convene an ad hoc committee to examine the evidence base, engage stakeholders, and develop conclusions, recommendations and a research agenda. The committee’s final report will:

  • Define misinformation and disinformation about science
  • Describe the scope and nature of misinformation about science, considering the historical context and describing any ways that the problem and impacts differ across communities and social groups in the United States;
  • Develop a holistic framework for understanding the influences, mechanisms, and impacts of misinformation, applying a systems approach that considers the relationships between and impacts on individuals, groups, and societal dynamics. Case studies may be used to examine how these mechanisms and impacts differ across communities by characteristics such as race and ethnicity, social class, political affiliation, religious affiliation, or geographical region.
  • Examine existing interventions that address misinformation about science.
  • Identify the ethical considerations that should guide future interventions (including unintended consequences of those interventions) and research on misinformation about science.
  • Recommend priorities for actions to reduce harms from misinformation about science.
  • Identify priorities for future research.

Collaborators

Committee

Chair

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Download all bios

Committee Membership Roster Comments

Please note that there has been a change in the committee membership with the appointment of Dr. Ezra M. Markowitz, effective 01/27/2023.

Sponsors

National Science Foundation

Staff

Tiffany E. Taylor

Lead

TETaylor@nas.edu

Holly Rhodes

HRhodes@nas.edu

Lauren Ryan

LRyan@nas.edu

More like this

Subscribe to Email from the National Academies
Keep up with all of the activities, publications, and events by subscribing to free updates by email.