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The Society of Chemical Industry will be holding a free event called 'How to recognise bad science' on the 15th October at 6pm. Clive Cookson, Ben Goldacre and Evan Harris will all be speaking at the event, which will take place at 14/15 Belgrave Square, London. Event listing and registration contacts are pasted below: How to recognise bad science SCI HQ, London, UK 15 October 2009, 17.30 - 20.30 Organised by SCI HQ Synopsis The SCI is embarking upon a series of evening lectures which will be open to both the SCI membership and members of the general public. The first meeting will be on October 15, 2009 and focuses upon the representation of science to the public. The world is confused by 'bad science' ranging from poorly undertaken experiments to inappropriate interpretation of data and 'cherry picking' to support a favoured viewpoint. Aside from notable exceptions, the reporting of science in the media is at best patchy and often alarmist and sensational. We are often served a recipe of opinion and belief rather than soundly determined experimental evidence. How can we tell the differences between the two and how can we recognise bad science? This meeting brings together three eminent speakers who will present their viewpoint on the manner in which science is currently conducted and portrayed, and who will provide their thoughts on future improvement. Can you afford to miss this event? Programme 17.30 Registration 18.00 Chairman's introduction Sir Geoffrey Allen 18.05 Bad science in the media Mr Clive Cookson, The Financial Times Bad science in healthcare and nutrition Dr Ben Goldacre, badscience.net Bad science - its influence in the political arena Dr Evan Harris MP 19.30 Panel discussion 19.55 Chairman's concluding remarks Prof Jack Melling 20.00 Wine reception and canapés 20.30 Close Speakers Dr Evan Harris Dr Evan Harris has been the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Oxford West and Abingdon since 1997. He is currently the Liberal Democrats' Science Spokesman and a longstanding member of the Science and Technology Select Committee. He has a particular interest in evidence-based policy. Dr Ben Goldacre Dr Ben Goldacre is a doctor, writer and broadcaster best known for the Bad Science column in the Guardian, and www.badscience.net. He has a background in medicine and academia, trained in Oxford and London, and works full time for the NHS. Mr Clive Cookson Mr Clive Cookson has worked in science journalism for the whole of his professional life. He joined the Financial Times as technology editor in 1987 and has been Science Editor of the FT since 1991. Location SCI HQ, 14/15 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PS Please click here for a location map. Delegate Fees This is a FREE event and is open to members of SCI, their colleagues, friends and to the general public. To book please email [log in to unmask] with your full name (incl. title), organisation (if applicable), and any dietary and/or access requirements. For more information, or to book please contact: Conference Team T: +44 (0)20 7598 1561 F: +44 (0)20 7235 7743 E: [log in to unmask] ********************************************************************** 1. To suspend yourself from the list, whilst on leave, for example, send an email to mailto:[log in to unmask] with the following message: set psci-com nomail -- [include hyphens] 2. To resume email from the list, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the message: set psci-com mail -- [include hyphens] 3. To leave psci-com, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the message: leave psci-com -- [include hyphens] 4. Further information about the psci-com discussion list, including list archive, can be found at the list web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/psci-com.html 5. The psci-com gateway to internet resources on science communication and science and society can be found at http://psci-com.ac.uk 6. To contact the Psci-com list owner, please send an email to mailto:[log in to unmask] **********************************************************************