News and Comment
February 2012
Why did global reporting shift from one of the biggest earthquakes in history into a story of nuclear risk?
We hold a session at the AAAS Annual Meeting.
We will be holding three sessions in Vancouver on 16th - 20th February.
January 2012
Recent media stories have linked parabens found in cosmetics, food and deodorant to an increased risk of breast cancer. Breast cancer charities say there is no evidence for this.
We have just launched postcards for people who want to ask for evidence for a claim in a policy, newspaper article, advert or product but don’t know where to start.
December 2011
From fashion to fad-diets, medicine to super foods, and the environment to allergies, at Sense About Science we continue to monitor the science claims made each year by the influential and the famous.
Scientists, journal editors, community organisations and writers are asking everyone concerned about the impact of the libel laws on open discussions to let their MP know they want to see libel reform in the Queen's Speech in May 2012.
Tracey Brown warns that when scientific and medical debates are stifled we all suffer.
Which? urges everyone to ask manufacturers to support their product claims.
Dr Stephen Keevil blogs about his experience.
We have gathered gift recommendations from staff and friends.
November 2011
Bloggers discussing an unproven cancer treatment have been threatened with libel action.
Sense About Science had pressed the European Commission to create a chief scientist role to improve scientific scrutiny of European policy making and legislation. We were pleased with President Barroso's promise in 2009 to create the position, but the two year delay has been disappointing.
Articles this week claim that the HPV vaccine caused chronic fatigue syndrome in a teenage girl.
Hundreds of campaigners gathered in a crowded committee room in the House of Commons to tell parliamentarians that reform of the libel laws to protect public interest discussions can’t come soon enough.
We currently have two fantastic researchers from the USA volunteering with us in the Sense About Science offices.
Citizens Advice has spent an entire year’s research and campaign contingency budget to libel-proof a report that it still can’t publish in full.
October 2011
Please join us in Parliament on Wednesday 9th November to tell MPs why libel reform has to happen now.
A new study links fizzy drink consumption to violent behaviour in teenagers, but there are many other factors not taken into account.
A new study links BPA in women’s diet during pregnancy to increased aggression in their daughters, but limitations of the research undermine these claims.
The Parliamentary Committee set up to scrutinise the government's draft defamation bill publishes its report today.
Tracey Brown is chairing a debate to launch the findings of the Patients Participate! project at the British Library on Tuesday 18th October.
Jaime Earnest is a member of the VoYS network and a PhD student at the University of Glasgow. Here she comments on a recent debate between Aric Sigman and Ben Goldacre.
We have a new web-button you can put on your website to help spread the campaign message.
September 2011
Momentum is building since we launched the campaign. Can you help us reach more people?
Experts say exaggerated claims of glacial melting risk damaging the credibility of climate change science.
Meet Victoria Murphy - she blogs here about her first week on the job.
Today, leading scientists and public figures are helping to launch our national campaign, saying that consumers, voters and patients should demand evidence for scientific and medical claims to counter a tide of misinformation.
Julia has been sharing experiences with researchers in Johannesburg.
August 2011
Professor Edzard Ernst debunks the detox myth.
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