During autumn semester the faculty of science and technology's committee for doctoral studies will arrange digital lectures that shed light on conspiracy theories from different perspectives.
"The aim of the lecture series is to offer our doctoral students a deeper understanding of how conspiracy theories as a phenomenon functions in a societal, psychological, rhetorical, and cultural sense. Our hope is that our doctoral students, researchers and other staff will be better equipped to counter conspiracy theorists in an efficient manner," says Frankie Ekerholm, faculty office coordinator for third-cycle studies.
The lecture series is mainly aimed towards doctoral students and post docs, but other staff at Umeå University are welcome to register.
"Something researchers in frustration have noted is that scientific arguments and well substantiated research doesn't seem to have any effect when discussing conspiracy theories. Researchers are trained in their specific methodologies and can successfully pinpoint the flaws in conspiracy theories and pseudoscientific claims. To successfully meet these issues head on other types of knowledge and understanding is necessary. We need to listen to researchers that focus on human behaviour and thinking patterns" says Frankie Ekerholm.
On November 3rd historian of science David Hecht, PhD, will explain how pseudoscience is used to attempts to make conspiracy theories more credible, and how you can demarcate between pseudoscientific claims and science.
On December 7th, Ben Carver, PhD, will tell us about the appeal of conspiracy theories, and how they are structured as thrilling narratives.
On February 8th 2022 we have two events planned. First, a digital lecture by philosopher Maarten Boudry, PhD, will tell us more about how weird beliefs thrive. On the afternoon, PhD students at the Faculty of Science and Technology meet IRL at Curiosum to learn how to actually debate these issues, guided by Jon Viklund, PhD in rhetorics.
More about the lectures and registration:
27 September, 13-15
Dr. Rikke Peters, associate professor at the National Centre of Excellence for the Dissemination of History and Cultural Heritage, Denmark: We are all conspiracists!
15 October, 10-12
Dr. Daniel Jolley, Northumbria University, Great Britain: The psychology of conspiracy theories
3 November, 13-15:
Dr. David Hecht, Bowdoin, USA: Science, Pseudoscience, and the Politics of Knowledge
7 December, 10-12:
Ben Carver, PhD: Conspiracy Theories as Narratives; Conspiracy Theorists as Readers
8 February:
at 10-12:
Maarten Boudry, PhD: How weird beliefs thrive: pseudoscience and conspiracy theories
at 12:30-17:
Doctoral student workshop in rhetoric against conspiracy theories
In the afternoon, PhD students at the Faculty of Science and Technology meet IRL at Curiosum to learn how to actually debate these issues, guided by Jon Viklund, associate professor in rhetoric at Uppsala University.