Dr Alice

Why fear still sells research on screen time - Impact of Social Sciences Regardless of quality research that deploys fear based framing drives public debate on screen time for children.

💥New: Why fear still sells research on screen time

✍️Robin Neuhaus

#SciComm #ScreenTime #AcWri

My heart breaks for the parents and children at the centre of this story and the bravery it has taken to share their stories publicly. I'm so pleased we have journalists like Sirin and Lucy who can handle that sensitively and tell the story so eloquently.

Article from Sirin and Lucy does an excellent job at highlighting how that choice is influenced and pressured. How seeking knowledge and information to make an informed decision can leave you dependent on people who recommend dishonesty about the situation and feed you medical misinformation.

When those consequences arise, it's about leaving the women with all of the responsibility for following the advice given to them. As the article says - parents who don't seek medical support for their babies in these situations potentially bear some legal responsibility for that choice. But this...

The idea of "radical responsibility" and the recommendation to step back and let the mother decide about resuscitation when things go catastrophically wrong. This isn't about empowering women to make informed choices about their own bodies, this is about fear mongering into dangerous consequences.

One of the things I'm always struck by whenever I investigate the topic of wellness or alternative medicine is how much the promise of empowerment and autonomy is used as a cover for absolving the practitioner of responsibility when it all goes wrong. And this is highlighted so explicitly here.

I can't wait to see what we all (and I mean the entire community) do next. Because I know it's going to be amazing. Thank you for an amazing 14 years. Whether you've been here from the start or you joined us for the first time this year (and everything in between), we've had an absolute blast.

This event is better year on year because of those generous contributions.

I am so proud of QED. We've done something amazing. But I end this weekend feeling excited about what's next. We've built some amazing connections, fostered a fabulous community and generated loads of ideas.

5) on top of those delivering talks, contributing to panels, recording podcasts and hosting workshops, we have so many other wonderful people who contribute to QED. From our volunteers to our crèche staff, to the AV crew, our book seller and the amazing Skeptics in the Pub online team.

4) the people we invite to contribute to QED are really special people. They are so generous with their time & expertise or experience. They give us their passion & enthusiasm. They challenge us to do things better every year. We get to meet some amazing people & host some fascinating conversations.

You lot make and bring stickers, and badges, share artwork and gifts with each other, look out for people looking a bit shy and welcome them to chat. And then you take that action and put it out into the world. You've told us how the community has inspired you to do things in your local communities.

The QED attendance fund - a fundraising activity to support people who for whatever reason can't afford to come to this sort of event - was created and run by the community. The rebel dinner - a Saturday night dinner for attendees who aren't attending the gala dinner - was the same.

I feel so lucky to be able to work with this wonderful team of people and to be welcomed and trusted to bring my skills and creativity to the event. 3) action is important and appreciated. So many of us bring so many little parts of ourselves to QED.

2) the people I get to make this special thing with are incredible. The QED organisers welcomed me to the committee in 2019 but never once have they made me feel like QED is anything other than my event too. Every team member brings so much experience, skill and creativity to this event.

This year the community went above and beyond by making us feel so loved and appreciated. This event takes us 10 months to organise, in our free time. When you work so hard on something, it's really special when the people you make it for "get it" and appreciate it.

Well. QED. What a weekend. I am definitely too exhausted to write something comprehensive or coherent but I do have a few things to reflect on. 1) Our community is amazing. I feel so privileged to get to share this space with the most welcoming, compassionate, thoughtful and kind people.

Reform UK win 2025 Rusty Razor award for worst psuedoscience of the year - The Skeptic Nigel Farage's political party, Reform UK, has been named The Skeptic's 'Rusty Razor' award winner for worst pseudoscience of 2025

Yesterday Reform UK were given the Rusty Razor award for the worst pseudoscience of the year. From denying climate change to platforming quacks, Reform propagate dangerous nonsense.

www.skeptic.org.uk/2025/10/refo...

Panel of speakers

Me speaking

QED name badge

At final #QEDCon a pleasure to speak on panel on Christian Nationalism with excellent @sianushka.bsky.social @noahlugeons.bsky.social & @aliceemmalouise.bsky.social Times are grim but if we work hard to analyse the problem & embrace the big picture cause of human freedom & equality, we can prevail!

On my way to QED for the last time 🥲
I adore QED because it is so thoughtfully planned, incredibly welcoming & the talks are top tier.
I’m sharing how to influence & shape policy. Looking forward to geeking out on Parliamentary process with @lizzicollinge.bsky.social & @louisevthompson.bsky.social

QED logo

QED is right around the corner! One of the best things about attending QED is the social side – from chatting and hanging out in the bar and social spaces, to sharing thoughts digitally with during sessions. With that in mind, we have a few ways to help make socialising a little easier!

Jamie on a train.

Headed to London.
Speaking and doing some filming at New Scientist Live at the Excel tomorrow. If you are around come and say hello!
Also kicking around town Sunday evening before the sleeper train.

Event Schedule | QED 2025 Timetable of events for the QED science and skepticism conference, 25th-26th October 2025.

Time to make those tough decisions on which sessions you'll be choosing to attend at this year's QED. The schedule is now live: qedcon.org/schedule

Photo of Noah Lugeons

Unfortunately due to entirely unforeseen circumstances, Dr Matt Winning is no longer able to appear at QED 2025. However, ably stepping into the breach will be podcaster, author, and atheist activist Noah Lugeons.

Panel title: Evidence in Action: Making Policy Work

‎European Skeptics Podcast

Final QED 2025 additions: Making policy work panel, the European Skeptics Podcast, and Noah Lugeons.

Evidence in Action: Making Policy Work with Jamie Gallagher, Lizzi Collinge and Louise Thompson

European Skeptics Podcast with András Pintér and Pontus Böckman

And...

Science Manipulations: Myths and Truths When people hear about the messier side of science — citation games, vanity journals, unusual networks — they often push back (still). No...

MYTHBUSTING - article by @mcintold.bsky.social about common reactions to science manipulation. A great accompaniment to her keynote talk at last week's Beyond Certainty symposium #AIBeyond2025 - recording to be released soon www.alpsp.org/news-publica...

A graphic with the panel title: The Fat of the Matter: Health Claims, Human Costs.

A graphic with the panel title: From Autocomplete to Apex Intelligence

Two more QED 2025 panels announced:

The Fat of the Matter: Health Claims, Human Costs with Alice Howarth, Asher Larmie, Maeve Hanan and Angela Meadows.

And From Autocomplete to Apex Intelligence with Rick Owen, Ciaran Talbot and Mark Johnson.

qedcon.org/news/2025/tw...

Graphic with a photo of Matt Winning

Graphic with the panel title "Free speech and the culture war"

QED 2025 - featuring Matt Winning, and the real and fake threats to free speech

Delighted to announce the next two additions to the line-up for the final QED: our panel on free speech, and climate policy expert and standup comedian Dr Matt Winning on the main stage.

qedcon.org/news/2025/ma...

Please join me in congratulating Woman on her appointment

My article for The Skeptic this week turned into a bit of a rant about how the constant search for relatable seasonal content can contribute to health anxiety and over-medicalisation of certain experiences.