Inaccuracies abound in “common knowledge” – and nowhere are they more common than in health and science information. But how do misinformation and disinformation arise in these fields, and what can experts do to address misconceptions and educate people on science, medicine, and critical thinking? In this interview, health misinformation expert Timothy Caulfield discusses the origins of misinformation, its evolution in recent years, and the best ways to fight back against it.
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While obtaining degrees in biology from the University of Alberta and biochemistry from Penn State College of Medicine, I worked as a freelance science and medical writer. I was able to hone my skills in research, presentation and scientific writing by assembling grants and journal articles, speaking at international conferences, and consulting on topics ranging from medical education to comic book science. As much as I’ve enjoyed designing new bacteria and plausible superheroes, though, I’m more pleased than ever to be at Texere, using my writing and editing skills to create great content for a professional audience.
