Standing up for good science
Recent opposition to fluoridation in Hull shows how bad science impacts public opinion
Good science and education has been at the heart of every great leap forward in health over centuries. Scientific research is one of our greatest tools in improving the quality of our society – and we need to be more vigilant about how it is used and communicated. Good science often produces complex messages containing qualified uncertainty; promoters of bad science often have no restrictions, regulatory or otherwise, and their simple messages make great headlines. So how can we improve the governance in the scientific community to ensure research is interpreted and used properly?