Misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracy theories surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have emerged on a scale rarely, if ever, seen before. Further compounding these issues are the sheer amount of information and the rapid pace at which it is delivered online and in other media. In this two-part workshop, Linda Hall Library staff and invited guest speakers will help the audience build skills to more confidently and successfully navigate information and resources, examine how and why misinformation occurs and what scientists and technicians are doing to address it, and learn steps each of us can take in our daily lives to support a more accurately informed community. Part 1 of the series will focus on examining how misinformation occurs, including elements of human psychology that contribute to the spread of misinformation and difficulties debunking false ideas once they are learned. Further discussion will consider the challenges misinformation presents for public health and how scientists, information professionals, and technologists are working to address reliability and accessibility of information for the public. The Speakers: Dr. Jordan Wagge is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Avila University. She holds a PhD in Experimental Psychology from Miami University and teaches courses in cognition, research methods, and cultural psychology at both the undergraduate and graduate level. She is Executive Director of the Collaborative Replications and Education Project, serves on the Executive Committee for the Research Advisory Committee for Psi Chi (the national honor society in psychology), and is an ambassador for the Center for Open Science (osf.io). She is the head of Avila’s Cognition Lab. Lise Saffran is the Director of the University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program where she teaches in the new Graduate Certificate in Public Health Communication. A graduate of the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and the Iowa Writers Workshop she is also co-Chair if the Health Humanities Consortium. Recent publications include a research study on authenticity in science communication in the journal PLoS One and a commentary on art and climate change in The Lancet Ashley Carlson recently joined the Linda Hall Library staff as the new coordinator for public programming. Before coming to the library, she worked for the University of Kansas providing research development and training for advanced scholars. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in creative and performing arts and completed her MS in Psychological Research focusing on science communication and the science-society interface. Her work focuses on advancing communication, public engagement, and impact in STEM and broader scholarly communities.

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