ScienceUpFirst

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ScienceUpFirst is a Canadian initiative launched to counter misinformation online, especially about COVID-19. Launched January 25, 2021,[1] it brings together independent scientists, health care providers and science communicators.[2]

Goals and history[]

The initiative is the result of conversations between Senator Stan Kutcher and Timothy Caulfield, who were discussing ways to counter misinformation about COVID-19. It is organized around the Canadian Association of Sciences Centres, COVID-19 Resources Canada and the University of Alberta's Health Law Institute.[1][3]

The groups aims at disseminating information created by its members or selected from credible sources. Starting in March 2021, it also plans to track misinformation online and post science-based content to oppose it.[3][4] In addition to recruiting athletes and celebrities, it's building a network of volunteers to increase the distribution of the selected information.[5][6]

The initiative will be especially active against misinformation about COVID-19 vaccination, which threatens to have an impact on vaccination rates.[5][7] Caulfield commented that the amount of disinformation circulating in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in unlike anything experienced in decades. He hopes the campaign can get information to people looking online for reliable information.[4]

The campaign is active on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.[4] It tries to apply best practices on fighting misinformation that were identified by various studies on science communication and public opinion.[4]

External links[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b ScienceUpFirst (Audio). CJAD. 24 January 2021.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  2. ^ "ScienceUpFirst". ScienceUpFirst. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  3. ^ a b "How we're fighting misinformation". ScienceUpFirst. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d Your Morning (Video news report). CTV. 26 January 2021.
  5. ^ a b Baig, Fakiha (25 January 2021). "'ScienceUpFirst:' Social media campaign targets COVID-19 misinformation with science". CP24. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  6. ^ Aguzzi, Maria Gabriela (25 January 2021). "COVID: Expertos canadienses unidos para combatir desinformación sobre la vacuna". Radio Canada Internacional (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  7. ^ Riga, Andy (25 January 2021). "COVID-19 updates, Jan. 25: Cases, hospitalizations drop – Quebec reports 1,203 infections, 43 deaths". The Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
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