Sceptics In A Pub - Numeracy and the media: is it a lost cause?

Where?
Elephant & Castle
White Hill
Lewes,
East Sussex
BN7 2DJ

Who?
David Spiegelhalter

What's the talk about?

David Spiegelhalter is Winton Professor of the Public Understanding of Risk at the University of Cambridge. His background is in medical statistics, particularly the use of Bayesian methods in clinical trials, health technology assessment and drug safety. He led the statistical team in the Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry and also gave evidence to the Shipman Inquiry.

In his post he leads a small team (UnderstandingUncertainty.org) which attemp
ts to improve the way in which the quantitative aspects of risk and uncertainty are discussed in society. He works closely with the Millennium Mathematics Project in trying to bring risk and uncertainty into education. He gives many presentations to schools and others, advises organisations and government agencies on risk communication, and is a regular columnist on current risk issues. He presented the BBC4 documentary ‘Tails you Win: the Science of Chance”, and in 2011 competed in Winter Wipeout.

He was elected FRS in 2005 and awarded an OBE in 2006 for services to medical statistics.
David will look at the portrayal of numbers in the news, with particular attention to risk stories of the ‘cats cause cancer’ variety, and the use of ghastly statistical graphics. After (with luck) getting some cheap laughs, he will consider whether things are getting better or worse, and make a few tentative suggestions for how we all might help.