Truth Unveiled
Navigating Science and Society in an Era of Doubt
- 1st Edition - November 23, 2024
- Imprint: Academic Press
- Editor: Faadiel Essop
- Language: English
- Hardback ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 2 3 6 5 5 - 6
- eBook ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 2 3 6 5 6 - 3
Faculty, students, researchers, and clinicians are struggling how to deal with the post-truth world as the broader public lacks an understanding of the complexity of the sc… Read more
Purchase options
Institutional subscription on ScienceDirect
Request a sales quoteFaculty, students, researchers, and clinicians are struggling how to deal with the post-truth world as the broader public lacks an understanding of the complexity of the scientific research process. This has resulted in the dissemination of mis- and disinformation that is increasingly used to shape public opinion in medical-related matters, for example, the rise of anti-vaxxers and resistance to COVID-19 pandemic social isolation protocols. In addition, physiologists and scientists play relatively limited role when engaging the broader public in this regard.
Truth Unveiled: Navigating Science and Society in an Era of Doubt provides valuable information to inform researchers and clinicians and better train students on the broader aspects of the scientific process and how to best counteract mis- and disinformation.
This book is published as part of the Fundamentals of Physiology series in association with the International Union of Physiological Sciences and should be a useful resource for lecturers when training physiologists, biomedical scientists, and medical and allied health students.
- Highlights challenges facing scientists in a post-truth world
- Provides strategies and educational approaches to counteract the rise of mis- and disinformation
Physiologists, biomedical researchers, and clinicians, Students and academicians in physiology, biomedicine, and medicine, as well as policy makers and politicians, from local to federal
- Truth Unveiled
- Cover image
- Title page
- Table of Contents
- Copyright
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Preface
- Section 1: Challenges
- Chapter 1 Science as a global public good: A necessary responsibility for science
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Forward
- Introduction
- Public goods
- Science as a global public good
- The nature of scientific knowledge
- The application of science: Exploiting the potential of public goods
- Internal integrity of science as a global public good
- Procedural rigor
- Concurrent access to data and metadata
- Reproduction and replication
- Reforming scientific publishing
- Defending the external integrity of science
- Open science
- Afterword
- References
- Chapter 2 Critical reflections on the nature of the scientific process for physiologists
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction
- Significance of the scientific process
- The scientific process
- Iterative nature of science & importance of transparency and reproducibility
- Challenges and shortcomings
- Challenges in each stage of the scientific process
- Initiation of research
- Experimental challenges
- Peer-review process
- Impact of preprints on the dissemination of research & potential concerns
- Ethical issues related to co-authoring, self-citations, conflicts of interest
- Overcoming barriers in translational research: From discovery to therapeutic innovation
- Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary nature of basic sciences
- Replicability and integrity
- Importance of replicating experiments
- Addressing the challenge of scientific integrity: The replication and reproducibility crisis
- Factors contributing to irreproducibility
- Clinical trials
- Addressing challenges
- Overcoming technological and methodological challenges
- Animal models in preclinical research
- Implementing adaptive and pragmatic clinical trials
- Enhancing the peer-review system
- Role of education in promoting research integrity
- Combatting predatory journals and ensuring quality
- Improving collaboration across sectors
- Closing the gap
- Effective science communication in bridging stakeholders
- Need for clear and accessible communication of scientific findings
- Conclusion
- References
- Chapter 3 Challenges facing physiologists and the scientific enterprise in a post-truth world
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Background: From the search for a complete true story of the world to Kuhn
- Relativism during the “science wars”
- From relativism to post-truth politics?
- Relativism against post-truth?
- Conclusions
- Glossary
- References
- Chapter 4 Neoliberalism in academia—What we can learn from physiology
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction: The structure of neoliberalism
- Neoliberalism in academia and higher education
- Academia before neoliberalism
- The neoliberal transformation
- Possible benefits of the neoliberalization of academia
- What makes good science?
- “Teleological” approach to good science: What leads to breakthrough discoveries?
- A virtue-based approach: The virtuous scientist
- A mixed concept of good science
- The problems of neoliberalism in academia
- Eureka discoveries and neoliberal science
- How neoliberalism erodes virtues in science
- Inefficiency in neoliberalism
- An alternative vision for academia
- The number of autonomous scientists as the “functional unit” of discovery
- Prioritizing curiosity-driven research as a society
- Redefining “success” in academia: From competition to collaboration
- Some closing thoughts: Why not democracy?
- References
- Chapter 5 Artificial intelligence: Blessing or curse?
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction
- A brief historical perspective on AI
- Essential AI vocabulary
- Medical imaging and AI
- Historical context and the evolution of imaging
- The advent of AI in image interpretation
- Advanced imaging modalities and AI
- Challenges in AI integration
- The replication crisis in AI radiology
- Natural language processing (NLP)
- Introduction to NLP and its relevance in medicine
- Electronic health records (EHRs)
- Predictive analytics and population health
- Streamlining healthcare administration with NLP
- The role of large language models (LLMs) in medicine
- NLP's implications for telemedicine
- Voice-driven documentation and NLP
- AI and drug discovery
- The conventional drug discovery paradigm and AI's role
- In silico modeling: A new frontier in drug design
- Harnessing biomedical big data: Drug repurposing and beyond
- Revolutionizing clinical trials through AI
- AI in patient management
- The evolution of patient care in the age of AI
- Personalized medicine: An AI-driven approach
- Virtual health assistants in patient engagement
- Challenges and considerations
- Remote monitoring and wearables
- The evolution of wearable technology in healthcare
- From fitness trackers to medical monitors: The role of AI
- Engaging patients: AI-driven feedback and compliance
- Seamless integration with healthcare ecosystems
- Interoperability: A prerequisite for diverse wearable platforms
- User experience and adherence: AI's role
- Robotics and surgery
- Evolution of robotic-assisted surgeries
- Precision and AI-enhanced capabilities
- Training and learning curve with robotic systems
- Cost implications and accessibility
- Patient outcomes and recovery
- Challenges and limitations
- Challenges and ethical considerations in AI-driven healthcare
- Data privacy and security
- Biases in AI and implications for patient care
- Regulatory and oversight challenges
- Malpractice and liability
- Economic and employment implications
- Balance between automation and human touch
- Ethical challenges in patient data use
- Broader societal implications
- The necessity of AI education in modern medical curricula
- What should we teach about AI?
- Who should we educate to AI, and how much should we educate about AI?
- What about postgraduate and continuous medical education?
- Introducing ethical, legal, sociological, and economic items in the AI and healthcare education
- Is AI in healthcare a blessing or a curse?
- The blessings: Advancements and potentials
- Improved diagnostics
- Streamlined drug discovery
- Patient-centric care
- Efficiency and automation
- The curses: Challenges and concerns
- Data privacy and security
- Algorithmic biases and equity
- Over-reliance on technology
- Ethical considerations
- A balanced perspective
- Conclusion
- References
- Section 2: Solutions
- Chapter 6 Growing a lateral line for slow science
- Abstract
- Keywords
- New organs of perception
- Slow science and fast science
- What would physiology say if we asked the right questions?
- The lateral line
- Positionality
- Learning to move in the dark
- Distance touch: Touching the space between us (sense-abilities)
- Cohesion, care and solidarity (schooling and shoaling)
- Predator avoidance
- Slowing down fast science
- Imaginative ways of slowing down, using fish physiology as a guide
- Concluding remarks: Slow science for a “justice-to-come”
- References
- Chapter 7 The pathology of medical conspiracy theories
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction
- COVID-19 conspiracy theories
- Vaccines and autism
- The Tuskegee Experiment
- The Unfortunate Experiment
- Defining “conspiracy theory”
- Conspiracies
- Conspiracy theories
- Interesting conspiracy theories
- Prevalence vs. pertinence
- Salience
- Interesting and suspicious conspiracy theories in medicine
- Advice to medical practitioners—The particularist approach to medical conspiracy theories
- Conclusion
- References
- Chapter 8 Transforming physiology teaching and learning to empower students to navigate their way in an era of doubt—A unique case study
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction
- Aims
- Methods
- Design-based research
- Course content
- Assessments
- Results and discussion
- References
- Chapter 9 Bridging the gap: Understanding why scientists find it difficult to communicate their ideas
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction
- The scientific method and a brief history of science communication
- The philosophical foundations of science
- Science as an authoritative discourse
- Current issues facing science communication
- Big picture challenges
- Connecting self-determination theory to science communication
- How physiologists have decided to overcome obstacles in communication
- Improvisation
- Narrative
- Informal interactions
- Formalized scientific communication programs
- Conclusion
- References
- Index
- Edition: 1
- Published: November 23, 2024
- Imprint: Academic Press
- No. of pages: 300
- Language: English
- Hardback ISBN: 9780443236556
- eBook ISBN: 9780443236563
FE
Faadiel Essop
Dr. Faadiel Essop is currently a professor in the Division of Medical Physiology at Stellenbosch University, as well as Director and Co-Founder of the Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research Centre. Dr. Essop is the current President of the African Association of Physiological Sciences, a board member of the General Assembly of the International Union of Physiological Sciences, and chairperson of the South African National Committee of the IUPS. He’s also served as a member of the International Committee of the American Physiological Society and is an elected Fellow of the American Physiological Society. During 2021 he was awarded the PSSA’s prestigious Lifetime Career Achievement Award. Dr. Essop is currently the recipient of a Teaching Advancement at University fellowship where the focus is to develop a philosophical framework for the introduction of broader humanities and arts concepts into the biomedical, science and engineering curricula in order to ensure more holistic graduates.
Affiliations and expertise
Professor, Chair, Division of Cell and Medical Physiology, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South AfricaRead Truth Unveiled on ScienceDirect