Several science and health experts are in Calgary to launch a week-long campaign to educate Canadians about the prevalence of misinformation, how to identify it and its consequences on health, democracy and environment.

Together against disinformation, led by ScienceUpFirstwhich is an initiative of the Canadian Association of Science Centres, is hosting a panel of experts at the Calgary Central Library on Tuesday evening – the first of many events taking place throughout the week.

“Misinformation has become one of the greatest challenges of our time, not only for Alberta but for the entire world,” said Timothy Caulfield, co-founder of ScienceUpFirst and research director at the University of Alberta.

“We need to make a difference and know that we can all actually do something.”

Caulfield said that while misinformation is not new, the reach and impact it has had since the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented.

“People live in echo chambers; there is a growing distrust of institutions, which makes it more difficult to direct people to credible information because they no longer believe those credible sources, so in many ways it’s so much harder than ever,” he said.

“It’s almost like we’re slipping back into a dark age. There are things that are lies; there are things that the evidence tells us are probably true and if we don’t believe them anymore, we We’re lost.”

Caulfield said misinformation has devastating effects on people’s health, citing growing vaccine hesitancy.

“It’s killing people. It sounds like hyperbole to say that, but it’s actually killing people,” he said.

“But we also know that misinformation creates polarization; it creates anger and often, the people who spread it, that’s the goal. They want to create distrust and unfortunately, it works.

“Look at the impact of disinformation on democracies around the world.”

He said people in positions of power — especially elected officials — legitimize and normalize misinformation.

“We see this happening all over the world. We see it happening in Alberta, we see it happening nationally and elsewhere on planet Earth,” he said.

“I think it’s going to make fighting disinformation more difficult, because once it becomes part of your political identity, once it becomes an ideological political flag, it becomes much more difficult to change your mind people.”

Caulfield said the panelists will also provide people with information on how they can combat and protect themselves from misinformation, which can help stop the spread.

“Make sure you know who is spreading this information. Is this playing on your emotions? Are they trying to sell something? Is this really just a political maneuver? All of these red flags should say “Hey, maybe I should go to other sources to check this out,” he said.

“It’s an uphill battle. Even the word ‘misinformation’ has become politicized, which makes it increasingly difficult.

“The topic has become very controversial in itself and what we need to do is recognize that we can combat this in a positive way. It doesn’t have to be polarizing; it doesn’t have to be “It’s about shame.”

Caulfield is one of five speakers at Tuesday’s event in Calgary, including Dr. Jen Gunter, a well-known gynecologist and obstetrician; Dr. Melissa Lem, President of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment; and Anthony Morgan, television host and science communicator.

WTF?! Weighing the Health Facts begins at 6:30 p.m. and can be attended in person or in person. online.