Science writers now work in an age where uncomfortable ideas and truths meet organized resistance. Opposing scientific consensus on such things as anthropogenic climate change, the theory of evolution, and even the astonishingly obvious benefits of vaccination has become politically de rigueur, a litmus test and a genuine threat to science. How does denial affect the craft of the science writer? How can science writers effectively explain disputed science? What’s the big picture? Are denialists ever right?
This conference and workshop for science writers will explore the phenomenon of denial and how to address issues of science in question. The first day will be a conference to examine the history of organized doubt, denial and political persuasion, journalistic insight into the phenomenon, and an exploration of denialist themes that transcend political and topical boundaries. It will be followed by a half-day workshop intended to help science writers explore practical strategies and tactics for reporting and writing about science in the crosshairs of denial.