Making sense

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From genetically modified foods and the MMR vaccine to more recent conspiracy theories about Covid-19 and 5G masts, it can be difficult to communicate legitimate scientific evidence to the public.

In a world where misinformation and misinterpretation of evidence can easily proliferate, how do you help the public scrutinise and interpret the outcomes of scientific study accurately?

Sense about Science aims to make science – and evidence more generally – more accessible to the public, politicians and journalists, and correct some of the misconceptions that arise. Since its creation in 2001, the organisation has spearheaded several successful strategies to improve understanding of evidence, from ‘evidence week’, which has run in the UK parliament since 2018, to the AllTrials campaign to publish the results of all clinical trials.

“Over the past two decades, we have become more focused on system change, and thinking about the capacity within particular systems – whether that is parliament, the media or community organisations – to engage critically ...