Alan J. Friedman Science Center Dialogues
ASTC Virtual 2021 Annual Conference
October 5–7, 2021
Alan J. Friedman Science Center Dialogues
Wednesday, October 6, 2021
3:15–4:15 p.m. EDT
“Addressing Scientific Misinformation and Building Community Capacity for Evidence-Based Decision Making”
The 2021 Alan J. Friedman Science Center Dialogues—presented by The Kavli Foundation—will focus on addressing scientific misinformation and building community capacity for evidence-based decision making. Our dialogue participants will dive into what we’ve learned from combating COVID-19 misinformation and get specific about approaches that can be taken at the community level to build greater trust in—and engagement with—scientific evidence and technological innovation.
ASTC members have worked to ensure their communities have access to trusted sources of information about research into the novel coronavirus, the evidence behind public health measures like masks and social distancing, and the technology and innovation behind the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines. This work is built on decades of our members’ experience countering misinformation and dealing with politically-polarized scientific topics, from human evolution to reproductive biology to climate change. As controversial issues shrouded in misinformation continue to impact our communities, ASTC seeks to honor and support its members’ continued countering of sources of disinformation, polarization, and misunderstanding so they can continue to engage their communities on issues of science and technology that are critical to our current and future prosperity.
The Alan J. Friedman Science Center Dialogues are conducted in memory and tribute to the founding director of the New York Hall of Science, Queens. The session is presented in the spirit of the commitment Alan had to the science-center field and the issues and interests that were reflected in his own writings and presentations over the years.
Frederic Bertley, PhD, is a scientist, scholar, and evangelist for innovative thinking, ideation and challenging the status quo. As President and CEO of COSI, Dr. Bertley is shepherding the leading Central Ohio science center to its next great iteration in a legacy of successful science center history.
Prior to being President and CEO of COSI, Dr. Bertley was the Senior Vice President for Science and Education at the Franklin Institute where he oversaw a diverse portfolio of initiatives supporting innovation in STEM learning, the partnership with Science Leadership Academy (SLA), The Color of Science, as well as departments and programs that capture the history and legacy of The Franklin Institute such as the Benjamin Franklin Awards Program.
After graduating from McGill University where he studied Physiology, Mathematics and the History of Science, and earned a Ph.D. in Immunology, Dr. Bertley worked internationally in preventative medicine and basic vaccines in Haiti, The Sudan, and the Canadian Arctic. Bertley continued this focus by joining a vaccine research group at Harvard Medical School focusing on the development of DNA vaccines for HIV/AIDS. Dr. Bertley’s international footprint also includes collaboration on educational and science projects in Egypt, Paraguay, Senegal and the Caribbean.
Dr. Bertley sits on the boards of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, Experience Columbus, the Association of Science and Technology Centers and numerous other organizations.
Dr. Bertley has keynoted and been an invited speaker at several distinguished institutions including The United Nations, The White House, and the National Academy of Sciences. He has received numerous honors, some of which include: an Honorary Doctorate from Otterbein University, Dell Inc. Inspire 100 World Changers, Harvard Medical School Dean’s Service Award, Columbus CEO’s CEO of the Year, Columbus Business First’s C-Suite Award, Philadelphia Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, Philadelphia Business Journal’s Minority Business Leader of The Year, the George Washington Carver Award, The President’s Award (Merck), Citation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and two Mid-Atlantic, National Academy of Television and Science EMMYS.
Timothy Caulfield is an unrivalled communicator who debunks myths and assumptions about innovation in the health sector—from research on stem cells to diets to alternative medicine — for the benefit of the public and decision-makers. He is a Canada Research Chair in health law and policy, a professor in the Faculty of Law and the School of Public Health, and a research director of the Health Law Institute at the University of Alberta.
Over the past several years, Caulfield has been involved in a variety of interdisciplinary research endeavours that have allowed him to publish more than 350 articles and book chapters. His research focuses on topics like stem cells, genetics, research ethics, and the public representations of science and health policy issues. The recipient of numerous academic and writing awards, Caulfield is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.
Caulfield also writes frequently for the popular press on a range of health and science policy issues and is the author of several bestselling books, including: The Cure for Everything: Untangling the Twisted Messages about Health, Fitness and Happiness; Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?: When Celebrity Culture and Science Clash; and, most recently, Relax, Dammit!: A User’s Guide to the Age of Anxiety. He is also the host and co-producer of the award-winning documentary TV show, A User’s Guide to Cheating Death, which aired in over 60 countries, including streaming on Netflix in North America.
Kiki Sanford, PhD, is a scientist turned science communicator working to improve scientific understanding, awareness, and curiosity. She has a PhD in Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology, and over 20 years experience producing and hosting radio, television, & digital programming with companies such as PLoSOne, WNBC, and The Science Channel/Discovery Communications. She founded, produces, and hosts the This Week in Science Podcast (TWIS), and runs Broader Impacts Productions, LLC. As head of public relations at Science Talk, she is focused on growing the organization, and developing the professional science communication community through education and networking opportunities.