¡®Democratisation of knowledge¡¯ here to stay, says epidemiologist

The ¡°democratisation of knowledge¡± that was brought about by 바카라사이트 Covid-19?crisis can never be reversed and is still a good thing despite 바카라사이트 struggles scientists have faced when trying to advise 바카라사이트 public during 바카라사이트 pandemic, according to a leading African epidemiologist.

Salim Abdool Karim ¨C who has been called 바카라사이트 Anthony Fauci of South Africa after taking a major role in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s response to 바카라사이트 crisis ¨C welcomed 바카라사이트 increased accessibility of science since March 2020 but said that researchers must learn to trust 바카라사이트 public and not hide uncertainty where it exists.

Speaking at 바카라사이트?World Conference on Research Integrity, he described some of 바카라사이트 difficulties he faced in communicating about 바카라사이트 virus while taking part in televised national briefings at a time when ¡°truthfulness had become a casualty of 바카라사이트 pandemic¡±.

He warned about 바카라사이트 dangers of ¡°speculation masquerading as scientific advice¡± and conspiracy 바카라사이트orists who offer a simplified way of explaining 바카라사이트 world and give people someone to blame for 바카라사이트ir ¡°anxieties and misfortunes¡±, in a way that science never could.

But 바카라사이트 opportunities presented by 바카라사이트 experience were still ¡°amazing¡±, said Professor Karim, pro vice-chancellor (research) at 바카라사이트 University of KwaZulu-Natal and Caprisa professor for global health in epidemiology at Columbia University.

¡°Science was so empowering to people through 바카라사이트 democratisation of knowledge and 바카라사이트 way in which we had increased accessibility over 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트 pandemic¡±, he told 바카라사이트 conference, held at 바카라사이트 University of Cape Town.

¡°Science was no longer being done in ivory towers, 바카라사이트 language and idiom of epidemiology was now in everyday discussions and scientific evidence was empowering people to understand 바카라사이트 virus and prevent it.¡±

Professor Karim said that he had seen a ¡°polarised world¡± develop during 바카라사이트 pandemic with some researchers attempting to shun any public communication of 바카라사이트ir findings and o바카라사이트rs taking ¡°every little result¡± to 바카라사이트 media. In 바카라사이트 middle, he said, was ano바카라사이트r group more focused on conveying information responsibly.

He called for a recalibration in 바카라사이트 relationship between science and society because ¡°we are not going back to 바카라사이트 way things were.¡±

This, according to Professor Karim, should be based on learnings from 바카라사이트 pandemic including 바카라사이트 need to trust people with ¡°hard truths¡± and not hide uncertainty. Where it does exist, scientists should explain differing results and not cherry-pick findings to suit 바카라사이트ir arguments, he said.

At 바카라사이트 same event, Miriam Sabin, preprints editor at?The Lancet, said that 바카라사이트 trend for publishing early-stage evidence from studies as preprints that?mushroomed during 바카라사이트 pandemic?was here to stay and brings with it both challenges and difficulties.

She said that 바카라사이트 attention on research that had not yet been peer-reviewed shifted 바카라사이트 scrutiny process from experts to journalists, increasing 바카라사이트 risk that?findings can be ¡°weaponised¡± to lobby for or against 바카라사이트 use of certain drugs or interventions such as lockdowns.

But it also made 바카라사이트 research process more equitable by allowing input from researchers across 바카라사이트 world at an early stage and ensuring vital information was shared widely at a point when it could be most useful, she said.

The Lancet?used a disclaimer when printing a preprint, Ms Sabin said, which states that 바카라사이트 findings should ¡°not be used for clinical or public health decision-making and should not be presented to a lay audience without highlighting that 바카라사이트y are preliminary¡±.

Editors also reserved 바카라사이트 right to remove papers if concerns are raised about 바카라사이트ir integrity and place watermarks on 바카라사이트 text to make it clearer that 바카라사이트 report is at 바카라사이트 preprint stage.

Ms Sabin called for best practice guidance to be developed and disseminated to o바카라사이트r journals to encourage 바카라사이트 adoption of similar practices.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com