Friday 14 February 2025 (Online)
Join us for a one-day online workshop where you will hear from leading experts as well as engage in practical exercises to learn more about the public health challenges posed by harmful inaccurate information—including misinformation, disinformation, conspiracy theories, and ‘fake news’.
Focusing on Aotearoa, you will gain insights into where this misinformation originates, how it spreads, and the impact it has on public health.
The workshop will also cover key tools, practices, and policies aimed at countering its effects.
Do you work in a field where public health information is undermined by falsehoods, rumours, and harmful inaccurate information? Are you curious about how disinformation gains traction in communities? If so, this workshop is for you.
Topics covered
- Overview of forms of harmful and inaccurate information in the context of public health, including the challenges posed by varying definitions
- The impact of misleading information on public health, including NZ case studies
- Discussion of approaches to mitigating the spread and impact of harmful and inaccurate information, from one-on-one conversations to national policy, and including developments in artificial intelligence—both positive and negative
Style of course
Online Symposium – Multi-speaker presentations and a panel discussion via zoom webinar.
Who should attend?
This course is aimed at those working in public health or related sectors where mis- and disinformation presents a challenge. This includes researchers and students, primary health care; vaccinators; emergency management practitioners; health communicators; health journalists; territorial local authorities; and government departments.
Provisional draft timetable
| Time | Session | Presenter(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00am | Introduction and welcome | Dr John Kerr |
| 10:15am | Misleading information and Public Health | Professor Michael Baker |
| 10:30am | Morning tea | |
| 11:00am | Characteristics of misinformation | TBC |
| 11:30am | Countering misinformation | TBC |
| 12:30pm | Lunch break | |
| 1:30pm | The promise and peril of artificial intelligence | TBC |
| 2:30pm | Building resilience: Initiatives in Aotearoa | TBC |
| 3:00pm | Policy – level responses | Dr Michael Daubs |
| 3:30pm | Panel discussion | |
| 4:00pm | Finish |
Teaching staff
Dr John Kerr, Senior Research Fellow, Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, and Science Lead, Public Health Communication Centre
Professor Michael Baker, Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, and Director Public Health Communication Centre
Dr Michael S Daubs, Co-Director, Kōtaha: the Internet, Social Media and Politics Research Lab at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington
Further speakers to be confirmed.
Location
This one-day course will be held online via zoom.
Course cost and registration
Online full day course
$225 early bird, $300 after Thursday 19 December 2024.
A 50% discount is available to full-time students, those unwaged and University of Otago staff.
For more information please contact the course convenor
- Contact name
- John Kerr
- john.kerr@otago.ac.nz