John Kennair's column (Gazette, March 10) reinforces the role that both evidence and science should play in serving the public. Both are credited with the astounding contributions to sustained global progress. But trust in both is being undermined by social media, fake news, conspiracy theorists, religious extremism, populist politics, and the intrusion of government into everything. (St. Albert City Council's recent lack of transparency in raising its salaries comes to mind.) The drift away from empiricism is serious.
Our defences are few: education free from government manipulation; information from an independent media and professions; and public leadership, all having a respect for science. And finally a healthy dose of personal skepticism when confronted to join, to believe, to care – without evidence as to why.
Perry Kinkaide, St. Albert
The Alberta Council of Technologies Society
