fake news

fake news

Separating Sense from Nonsense: McGill University’s Office for Science in Society

Separating Sense from Nonsense: McGill University’s Office for Science in Society

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“Science looks like magic, until you know how it works.”  That was one of the first things Dr. Joe Schwarcz said when IU East Coordinator of Library Instruction, KT Lowe, met him last month.  Dr. Schwarcz is the director of the McGill University Office for Science and Society, one of the best fake news fighting organizations in North America.  The OSS focuses primarily on the science of the everyday, busting myths about food, sunscreen, homeopathy and other quotidian things. The room where it happens. The OSS was formally established in 1999 and receives no corporate funding.  It is a formalization of Dr. Schwarcz’s work since the 1980’s, when he would speak with the media on all things science.  He and his … Continued
Fake News: The Games

Fake News: The Games

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Still confused about fake news?  Well, maybe all you need to do is play.  Both adults and children use play as a learning tool, and over the past few years a handful of good quality online games have been developed around the theme of fake news.  Each one takes a slightly different focus, which gives them a different level of skill and playability.  But most importantly, they’re all FREE, so you can play all of them! First comes a game developed by FactCheck.org, one of the most reputable sources for seeking out accurate information.  Newsfeed Defenders places you as an admin for a social media news feed.  Your job, as you work your way to the highest administrative level, is … Continued
The Truth about Conspiracy Theories

The Truth about Conspiracy Theories

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You’ve probably heard that the illuminati has been trying to overthrow the US government since its beginning, right?  And of course you know the earth is flat, not round like all those “scientists” claim.  The moon landing was obviously faked, because how could people ever really do that?  You’ve heard all of these theories, but hopefully you don’t believe a single one of them.  These are a particular branch of misinformation known as conspiracy theories. (source: knownyourmeme.com, unknown creator.) Conspiracy theories are not new, and most definitely not true.  For as long as there’s been publishing, there’s been evidence of conspiracy theories, some of which still exist today.  While some conspiracy theories stem from a longing for information and a … Continued