Ep 61: Gale Sinatra and Barbara Hofer | How science's misunderstood 'embrace of uncertainty' fuels denialism

The Follow-Up Question

One of the most frustrating aspects of the last 18 or so months as we've dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic has been the rampant misunderstanding of the scientific process.

We've heard "trust the science" over and over again, but what does that even mean? What do people think of when they read scientific research — if they even read it at all? And what nuance is missing in our discussions about science?

My guests this week, Gale Sinatra and Barbara Hofer, co-authored a book to specifically address these gaps in our scientific understanding. Gale is a professor of education and psychology at the University of Southern California and Barbara is a professor of psychology emerita at Middlebury College.

Their book is titled "Science Denial: Why it happens and what to do about it," and within it, Gale and Barbara not only help shed light on the details that are so often misunderstood in our knowledge of the scientific process and its goals, but also offer up actionable ways to bridge the divides.

You can get your copy of Science Denial at https://www.amazon.com/Science-Denial-Happens-What-About/dp/0190944684.