Debunking myths
Faculty of Science, Utrecht University
“There are islands of plastic floating around in the ocean.” That’s just one of the myths that need to be debunked. But how do you do that? This Utrecht team does it by pointing out the limits of science and thus creating an honest picture of science in order to increase people’s trust in science. The team members focus on certain target groups; for example, they produce vlogs about “plastic soup” together with secondary-school pupils. With the NTR public-service broadcaster, they made a documentary and radio show about combating leprosy in Suriname and they publish a biweekly science column in the Trouw newspaper.
The team members intend using the grant from the Rewarded! Fund to professionalise their science communication activities. For example, they wish to organise a science communication workshop for young researchers (PhD students and postdocs) (working title: “How to recognise my limits but retain my authority”). The workshop will involve the young researchers searching for myths in their own field and producing vlogs about them. The workshop is explicitly intended for all young researchers within the Faculty of Science.
Website:
UU – Alles over de plastic soep
NPO start – De kennis van nu
Coordinator:
Erik van Sebille, universitair hoofddocent
Other group members:
Hieke Huistra, universitair docent
Toine Pieters, hoogleraar
