Behavioral and Biomedical Sciences hosting 'War on Science' speaker, discussion
The WVU Health Sciences Behavioral and Biomedical Sciences T32 Symposium will welcome Shawn Otto to campus April 27, 2022, to discuss “The War on Science.” Otto’s presentation will take place in the Health Sciences Center Fukushima Auditorium and via Zoom from 3 to 3:50 p.m. followed by a panel discussion, “Truth in our Time,” at 4 p.m.
The event is open to the WVU campus community. Please RSVP if you plan to attend in person. Please register if you plan to attend via Zoom.
Otto speaks to audiences worldwide about the scientific foundations of democracy and the causes and dangers of anti-science authoritarianism.
He is the author of the award-winning nonfiction book The War on Science, which predicted the rise of anti-science authoritarians and the threat they pose to democracy. The book has been called "a game changer, and probably the most important book you'll read this year." He has advised political candidates' science debate efforts in many countries.
He is also an award-winning screenwriter and novelist, including writing and co-producing the Academy Award-nominated movie House of Sand and Fog, and the LA Times Book Prize finalist literary crime novel, Sins of Our Fathers.
Otto was awarded the IEEE-USA National Distinguished Public Service Award for his work elevating science in American public dialogue. He is cofounder and producer of the U.S. presidential science debates at ScienceDebate.org.
Panel discussion speakers include:
- Joan Centrella, PhD - Director, Bridge Science and Technology Policy, Leadership and Communications Initiative
- Julia Fraustino, PhD - Assistant Professor, WVU Reed College of Media and Founding Director of the Public Interest Communication Research Lab (PIC Lab) in the WVU Media Innovation Center
- Eric Kincaid, EdD - Biology Teacher and Science Department Chair, Morgantown High School
- Clay Marsh, MD - Chancellor and Executive Dean, WVU Health Sciences
- Shawn Otto - Science Writer, Novelist & Screenwriter
This event is sponsored by the WVU Health Sciences Office of Research and Graduate Education.