Climate Misinformation, According t discussion , at the BIOMA Institute: "We Need a Society Educated in Scientific Thinking"

On Wednesday, October 21, the University of Navarra hosted the “ roundtable ” on“Climate Change and Misinformation,” featuring science communicators Elvia la Rastreadora, Ricardo Moure, and Laura Camón. This “ meeting ” event provided a space to reflect on the challenges of communicating scientific knowledge in a context where information circulates at high speed and it is not always easy to distinguish verified facts from opinions or misleading content.

The event, organized by theBIOMA Institute for Biodiversity and the Environment at the University of Navarra, in collaboration with the Government of Navarra and the Public University of Navarra (UPNA), was part of the Second Navarra Climate Week, an initiative that seeks to create spaces for dialogue and reflection in a global context where misinformation goes hand in hand with the environmental challenges we face.

Among the topics discussed, some stood out, such as the importance of verifying information against reliable sources, the excessive simplification of complex concepts, the need to promote scientific knowledge and critical thinking in our society, and the vulnerability of climate change to misinformation and hoaxes, despite clear scientific evidence.

“I’d like to emphasize the importance of not trusting the first thing you see on social media or what a friend tells you; you have to learn to verify information and seek out reliable sources,” Elvia noted. The science communicator also addressed denialism from a perspective linked to human behavior. “Human beings tend to be contrarian by nature, and that leads many people to deny even scientific evidence—it’s almost like an instinct. They want to be contrarian and, on top of that, be right,” she added during her remarks.

“As science communicators, we try to entertain by explaining science and foster a love for knowledge, but for the message to get across effectively, we need a society educated in scientific thinking,” Laura said. The speaker emphasized that the fight against misinformation does not depend solely on those who create science communication content. It also requires citizens who are capable of asking questions, recognizing reliable sources, interpreting evidence, and developing a critical attitude toward the information they receive.

The speakers also shared personal experiences during the “ meeting.” Ricardo discussed some of the challenges he faces when conveying scientific knowledge to a diverse audience without compromising the rigor of his communication. He also showed us that humor can be a key “ tool ” for bringing science to a wider audience and even sparking their scientific curiosity.

At this workshop , we also had the pleasure of hearing from Clara González Tosat, a researcher with the Digital News Research Group at the University of Navarra, who presented a discussion paper focused on the current status of climate change communication and misinformation in Spain, based on the data from the IBERIFIER Observatory.

The " workshop " concluded with a shared reflection: combating misinformation requires both scientific knowledge dissemination manager and a society prepared to question, verify, and understand information. At a time when it has never been easier to access knowledge, learning to distinguish scientific evidence from misleading messages has become an essential tool for addressing global challenges such as climate change.