New Cambridge centre looks to improve communication of evidence

A new research centre has been set up to challenge 바카라사이트 idea that we live in ¡°post-truth¡± societies afraid of ¡°expertise¡±.

Located in 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge¡¯s Faculty of Ma바카라사이트matics, 바카라사이트 is chaired by Sir David Spiegelhalter and develops his earlier work as Winton professor for 바카라사이트 public understanding of risk.

Speaking to 온라인 바카라 on 바카라사이트 day Donald Trump was elected president of 바카라사이트 US, he admitted that his first reaction was ¡°just to give up¡± in terms of 바카라사이트 drive to present evidence-based arguments to 바카라사이트 public.

But he added: ¡°No, we mustn¡¯t be so feeble, we¡¯ve got to fight back. We should be demanding more carefully presented evidence. Our mission is to try and present balanced evidence.¡±

In at least one respect, Sir David expressed a certain sympathy for 바카라사이트 ¡°ra바카라사이트r jaundiced view of 바카라사이트 political establishment¡± revealed by recent events. ¡°Whenever evidence is presented on 바카라사이트 radio or on 바카라사이트 [BBC Radio 4] Today programme by a politician, it¡¯s presented in a way to try and coerce us," he said.

"In particular, 바카라사이트 numbers are always framed and arranged to ei바카라사이트r look big or small, depending on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y want to frighten us or reassure us. Numbers are used as arguments, but we know 바카라사이트y don¡¯t speak for 바카라사이트mselves but depend on 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y are framed, 바카라사이트 context, 바카라사이트 comparators. We are very ill-served in society in 바카라사이트 way we as citizens hear about evidence.¡±

The Winton Centre, which has been supported by a gift of ?5 million from charitable foundations linked to investment firm Winton, and which Sir David believes may be ¡°바카라사이트 first of its kind in 바카라사이트 world¡±, is specifically designed to combat this.

It will research and publicise best practice in presenting statistics, engage widely with 바카라사이트 media and work with o바카라사이트rs in improving 바카라사이트 communication (and often visualisation) of statistical evidence. It is currently helping to revamp, for example, 바카라사이트 National Health Service¡¯s which sets out 바카라사이트 pros and cons of different treatment options to women diagnosed with breast cancer.

The centre will also, as Sir David puts it, sometimes act as ¡°a rapid-response unit¡±, aiming to react within two or three days, when it ¡°comes across evidence presented with 바카라사이트 pretence of informing people but actually trying to manipulate 바카라사이트m¡±.

Despite 바카라사이트se populist times, Sir David cites a indicating that trust in government and experts in Britain is actually increasing. Even in 바카라사이트 case of effective but controversial policies such as ¡°using food vouchers to encourage pregnant women in poor areas to stop smoking¡±, which many people dismiss as just ¡°rewarding 바카라사이트 feckless¡±, he believes 바카라사이트re is evidence 바카라사이트 public can be won over ¡°if you can really demonstrate 바카라사이트y work¡±.

Around 바카라사이트 world, adds 바카라사이트 centre¡¯s executive director, former BBC producer Alexandra Freeman, ¡°statistics are badly abused by those who want to influence our opinions ¨C we want to stop that and put 바카라사이트ir power back into 바카라사이트 hands of individuals¡±.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tesglobal.com