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Recognizing and Responding to Anti-Science in Environmental and Public Health Research and Practice

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  • John Øvretveit

    (Medical Management Centre, Department of Learning Management Informatics and Ethics, Karolinska Institutet, Region Stockholm, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
    Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden)

Abstract

This perspectives article considers the challenges posed by anti-science and how we can use research to respond more effectively. In public health, the challenges were more visible and the impact more serious during the COVID-19 pandemic. In part, this was due to a more organized anti-science and effective use of narrative methods. Regarding climate change, the role of anti-science represents a critical issue, but perhaps more recognized in environmental research and practice. The article draws on a narrative review to show some of the research into the nature of anti-science and the challenges it poses. It proposes that, as researchers, practitioners, and educationalists, we can be more effective if we make more use of recent research in the sciences of communications, behavior, and implementation, and shows some of the resources we can use to help our work be more relevant in the new era in which we are living.

Suggested Citation

  • John Øvretveit, 2023. "Recognizing and Responding to Anti-Science in Environmental and Public Health Research and Practice," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-4, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:4:p:2927-:d:1061118
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Paul Cairney & Richard Kwiatkowski, 2017. "How to communicate effectively with policymakers: combine insights from psychology and policy studies," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 3(1), pages 1-8, December.
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