Friday, June 26, 2020

Webinar: Preconference & outcomes from the WHO Infodemiology Conference #infodemic

The World Health Organization (WHO) is holding an Infodemiology Conference over the next couple of weeks, and there are two open sessions.
Firstly, on 29 June 2020 1pm-6pm Paris time (which is noon to 5pm UK time) there is a preconference in which "experts engage with the public with 7 inspiring talks how the infodemic affects the world currently and reflections how it can be managed." See the poster, right, for the speakers. To register, go to https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2020/06/29/default-calendar/pre-conference-1st-who-infodemiology-conference
Secondly on 21 July 2020 at 3pm Paris time (which is 2pm UK time) there is an open webinar to discuss the results of the conference. Go to https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2020/06/30/default-calendar/1st-who-infodemiology-conference
Background: "In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the phenomenon of an ‘infodemic’ has escalated to a level that requires a coordinated response. An infodemic is an overabundance of information – some accurate and some not – occurring during an epidemic. It makes it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance when they need it. Even when people have access to high-quality information, there are still barriers they must overcome to take the recommended action. Like pathogens in epidemics, misinformation spreads further and faster and adds complexity to health emergency response. An infodemic cannot be eliminated, but it can be managed. To respond effectively to infodemics, WHO calls for adaptation, development, validation and evaluation of new evidence-based measures and practices to prevent, detect and respond to mis- and disinformation. In the context of this meeting, “infodemiology” is defined as the science of managing infodemics. The overall aim of this consultation is to take stock of relevant research and effective practices and define public health research needs in order to advance this field."

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