As a microbiologist I think about the vaccination movement a bit. I don't think balance is a scientific expert talking to a non scientist, especially when there are researchers out there whose work is to look at vaccinations skeptically.
But I also think there is space to talk about why the anti-vax movement exists. You cannot deny people their fear, anger and mistrust only question where it comes from. There is room for compassion there but I think it is in human stories.
Balance is someone against vaccines and their story, talking to someone who has benefited from them and their story, someone who has lost through them and their story. Balanced life accounts, not always just facts.
The vaccine movement is faltering, partially because the monsters they protect is from are falling from living memory. 'Don't go into the woods because of the wolf' but no one remembers the wolf, so why can't we go into the woods? Questioning will arise.
I don't think the answer is groups shouting facts back and forth only to receive likes and retweets from those who share their ideas. Have anyone of you argued online with someone and actually connected with them as a person and changed their mind?
Things need to change: News outlets: get a better idea of what balance actually is, have better researchers who understand science, pay them for that understanding and inform rather than sensationalise.
Scientists and doctors: Become better science communicators, you knowing information is no good unless you're able to share that information and connect to non scientists.
Also ask what audience do you want to connect to? Are you only talking to your peers or people who agree with you? Are you only arguing to be heard by those who agree with you or do you really want to change someone's mind?
Now back to drawing stuff and tweets about my kids.
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I’ve been walking to and from work since Monday and it seems like people have gotten a bit crap at physical distancing. It’s like we were given permission by our parents to have a few people over and it’s turned into a huge house party.
Meanwhile some of us have family at the other end of the country being held hostage by people doing this bit right!
It’s like being trapped in a room in the Crystal Maze and instead of getting a crystal to get you out, your team mates are all having cans while Richard Ayoade sighs loudly.
Recently we got a research paper accepted by @jhieditor about how hand soap influences the growth of CPE in sinks. Here’s a few illustrations I drew explaining the background and some results. #microbiology#science#antibioticresistance
The lack of clarity around childcare is almost panic inducing at times. Like working parents are an afterthought and having children was some luxury we indulged in. ‘Let’s have one of those babies they showed on the telly!’
And so much of the pressure falls on women. We spend much of our professional life trying to avoid mentioning children in case it makes us look like we aren’t committed to the job.
Childcare is amazing, the people who do it are wonderful and under appreciated. It helps so many of us do our jobs and keep our skills in the workforce.