“The future of rationality in a post-truth world”
Hosted by His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (ret’d.), Governor of NSW and Patron of the Royal Society of NSW
Wednesday, 29 November 2017, 9am–4.30pm
Government House, Sydney
This year’s Forum discussed the implications of the rise of a ‘post-truth’ approach to shaping public opinion. Does it have the potential to undermine the institutions upon which open, democratic societies are built? Does it advantage the propagandists and those who wish to pursue sinister agendas? What public responsibilities do the traditional and emerging media have? What should – or can – those who believe in evidence-based, objectively-determined policy do about it? Distinguished scholars from Australia, New Zealand, and England addressed the following topics:
• Rationality and post-truth: the threat to democratic society - Dr Donald Hector AM FRSN
• Wind Turbine Syndrome: a communicated disease - Prof Simon Chapman AO FASSA
• The Brexit experience: evidence, expertise and post-truth politics - Prof James Wilsdon
• Role of evidence and expertise in policymaking - Sir Peter Gluckman FRS
• Influences on evidence… putting the cart before the horse - Prof Lisa Bero
• Why are scientists so quiet? … the public voice of the scientist - Prof Emma Johnston FRSN
• Algorithms of hate: how the Internet facilitates racism … - Prof Andrew Jakubowicz
• Mind and language in the post-truth era - Prof Nick Enfield FAHA
• Rapporteur summary - Ross Gittins FASSA FRSN
The abstracts of the speakers' talks can be accessed here.