Traitors: This is My Research

Join an interactive panel exploring trust in science and health, AI-driven mimicry, and misinformation. Spot the imposter – vote on which panellist is faking expertise! — and discuss the misinformation climate with our specialists and researchers.

Spot the science traitor!

For this panel-style and game event, we will discuss the importance of trust in the worlds of modern science and health. We will talk about how AI is creating an atmosphere where non-experts can successfully mimic experts and undermine public trust. We’ll discuss, following the arguments of Jonathan R. Goodman’s recent book, Invisible Rivals: how we evolved to compete in a cooperative world, how the problem of mimicry in society has been with us since language evolved in ancient humans over the last million years. Yet today, because of the size of our cultures and how quickly technology is developing, people who want to undermine our trust in science and society have a lot of opportunities to do so – whether through pedalling false scientific narratives about the Earth being flat or fake news about the dangers of vaccines.

As with the hit TV show The Traitors, we’ll ask the audience which of the panellists is actually an impostor – someone who claims to have knowledge they don’t actually have. It could be none of the panellists, or all of them! We’ll give the audience the opportunity to ask questions before they vote.

After the reveal, we will have some reflective discussion. Each panellist will bring genuine expertise from science communication, scientific research, and public engagement to show that we already have the tools for combatting false information and discerning trustworthiness.

This event is for anyone, including families, interested in science and society, with a fun and original twist underscoring the importance of discerning trustworthiness in everyday life. Join us for a lively discussion and a game that will test your ability to spot the impostor in science!

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher University of Cambridge, Kavli Centre for Ethics, Science and the Public