Guest Author • Nov 11, 2020 •
Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nz Why do humans instinctively reject evidence contrary to their beliefs? Do we understand why and how people … Read More
Grant Jacobs • Feb 19, 2019 •
Vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks are happening everywhere. Measles is on the rise worldwide, including in Europe and the USA. Over 900 have died in Madagascar alone since October 2018.[1] Most will be infants. Japan’s rubella epidemic has prompted traveller warnings. 367 cases have been reported this year. Venezuela has considerable problems, not helped by diphtheria coming back. Read More
Grant Jacobs • Aug 30, 2018 •
New Zealand’s Chief Science Advisor (CSA), Professor Juliet Gerrard, has been asking where research can most effectively influence policy – one post-it note at a time, (Posted 21st August ~10:45pm, NZST; click on image to open tweet.) The comments after this piece are open for readers to offer their thoughts on where science should best influence policy. Please do! … Read More
Alison Campbell • Jun 13, 2018 •
I was idly skimming the Herald’s website when I came across an article with the headline “Is plant medicine really that effective?” Since the article appears to be in the nature of an advertorial, the answer is, it depends on who you ask. Unlike man-made chemical drugs that have been developed as novel medicines from the 19th century onwards, plant medicines … Read More
Guest Author • May 12, 2018 •
Arthur Kary, UNSW; Ben Newell, UNSW, and Brett Hayes, UNSW It takes more than just robust science to convince people to take on a certain point of view – consider topics such as vaccination, genetically modified foods and climate change. Our recent study looked how at the balance of evidence … Read More
Guest Author • Apr 25, 2018 •
James A. T. Lancaster, The University of Queensland This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. The term “evidence” has a fascinating linguistic and social history – and it’s a good reminder that even today the truth of scientific evidence depends on it being presented in a convincing way. As recent climate … Read More
Guest Author • Mar 28, 2017 •
From the NZ March for Science Organisers Since the Science March on DC was first announced in January, after the inauguration of Donald Trump as the President of the USA, scientists and people who care about science in New Zealand have been working together behind the scenes to make sure that when we march for science and knowledge, and … Read More
Ken Perrott • Jan 06, 2017 •
Anti-fluoridation campaigners’ claims that community water fluoridation reduces IQ are simply false. That is the conclusion of Alex Kasprak – and he says why in his new Snopes.com article (see Fact Check -Fluor-IQ). Snopes.com tackles fluoridation claims. These days anti-fluoridation activists use this claim as their main argument – and they often cite scientific articles to back it up. Read More
Michael Edmonds • Jun 19, 2016 •
On Friday, the New Zealand Herald reported that John Key has yet again rejected research that contradicted what the governments’ position is – in this case on the lack of effectiveness of 90 day trial employments. John Keys’ response to the Motu funded report, which found that 90 day employment trials result in no statistically significant increase in employees being hiring by employers was: … Read More
Ken Perrott • Feb 25, 2016 •
There is a lot of scientific self-deception about – and not only among ideologically motivated activists who wish to opportunistically use science in their campaigns. Scientists themselves are also prone to self-deception – as Richard Feynman sums it up the meme displayed above. I like this cartoon Eureka! with Regina Nuzzo from Cara Gormally as it indicates why we are so … Read More