Addressing Inaccurate and Misleading Information about Biological Threats through Scientific Collaboration and Communication

The intentional or unintentional spread of inaccurate and misleading information during infectious disease outbreaks has become commonplace. Such campaigns can undermine outbreak response activities in affected areas and discredit national, regional, and international leaders in biosecurity and health security from a variety of countries and international organizations. The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a committee of experts from the United States and Southeast Asia to serve on a study committee that will analyze how scientists can determine which claims may be addressed by defensible scientific information and how scientists can work together to address those claims. The study will result in a strategy for developing an international network of scientists to address inaccurate and misleading claims.

The meeting is intended to focus on determining how to engage scientists in a trusted network to build a defensible, accurate scientific knowledge-base that could be used to counter false claims, and developing a guide to help scientists identify and address such claims. This meeting, any input provided, and any discussions are designed to benefit Central and Southeast Asia. U.S. participants of the meeting should plan to provide needed input to support the overarching goal of the study to benefit the region.

The registration deadline has passed for this open session meeting on September 27, 2021 from 8:00 – 10:00 PM ET. Please contact both Dr. Kavita Berger (KBerger@nas.edu) and Dr. Jenell Walsh-Thomas (JWalsh-Thomas@nas.edu) if you have any questions about this meeting.