Please join the Princeton Precision Health (PPH) Initiative for the next talk of our fall semester series on Friday, October 11, at 12:00 pm, at 252 Nassau Street, Princeton. View Flyer
Zeynep Tufekci, Henry G. Bryant Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs, will present a talk, “The Pandemic: Science, Policy and Trust.”
Abstract: A key tenet of dealing with a pandemic is remembering that it is as much a communication emergency as much as a medical crisis, or so warns us the C.D.C. in its pre-pandemic publications. A pandemic communication strategy should be transparent, “acknowledge uncertainties and do not over-reassure or overpromise”, and be first, right and credible, we are also reminded in various manuals. Easier said than done, of course, and especially challenging in an era of polarization, social media and charged politics. And yet, was it all inevitably doomed? There has been much memory-holing and rewriting of the pandemic history, especially erasing the uncertainty of the early days as well as the extensive cooperation and trust that was extended from the public, globally. This talk will examine the series of challenges, twists and missteps that resulted in a situation where we are, arguably, less ready to face another health crisis should one occur — such as an H5N1 outbreak, and recenter the role of trust in public policy, especially health policy.
Lunch will be provided. Please note that getting to the seminar space currently requires that you climb a set of stairs. If an accommodation is needed, please contact PPH in advance at: princetonPPH@princeton.edu