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Looking Ahead: Science, Facts and the Public Debate

As a new U.S. presidential administration prepares for the four years ahead, coping with intersecting challenges including a pandemic, persistent inequality, climate change policy and a sea of misinformation, UCLA experts discuss what role institutions of higher learning will play in addressing the crises of our times.

How can universities help champion science and evidence in a skeptical society where fact-based professions like journalism and medicine are under attack? When we are often divided into disconnected and conflicting media bubbles, how can universities help inspire people to embrace reliable facts as a means to heal our economy, our planet and our culture?

UCLA environmental humanities scholar Ursula K. Heise, public health researcher Gilbert Gee and internet and society expert Safiya U. Noble come together in a discussion moderated by storyteller and curator Chon Noriega.

Opening remarks by UCLA Chancellor Gene Block


Participants

Gilbert Gee

Professor, Department of Community Health Sciences
UCLA Fielding School of Public Health

Ursula K. Heise

Professor and Chair, Department of English
UCLA Institute of the Environment & Sustainability
Laboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies

Safiya U. Noble

Associate Professor, Departments of Information Studies and African American Studies
Co-Founder and Co-Director, UCLA Center for Critical Internet Inquiry

Chon Noriega (moderator)

Professor, Department of Film, Television, and Digital Media
Director, UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center

Recording

Thursday, January 14, 2021


Press play on the image below to watch the recording.