CELEBRITIES take note: if you鈥檙e using your influential status to peddle misleading or unscientific information you will be rooted out and exposed.
At least that鈥檚 the warning of a campaign launched on 3 January by Sense About Science (SAS), a UK charity that seeks to promote scientific accuracy.
鈥淐elebrities often have a real effect on how members of the public view particular issues,鈥� says John Toy, medical director of Cancer Research UK. 鈥淭hey therefore have a responsibility to be well-informed before they make statements endorsing particular treatments or products.鈥�
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鈥淐elebrities often have a real effect on how the public views particular issues鈥�
SAS has produced a leaflet that warns celebrities of the dangers of misleading people on issues such as child vaccination, and offers a helpline they can call to check the accuracy of statements before they make them.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a good chance scientists will be accused of being arrogant, but it鈥檚 equally arrogant to think you can go around saying things you don鈥檛 know anything about,鈥� says Tracey Brown of SAS.