TIME TO PROTECT EXPERT ADVICE

The occupations at borders and in Ottawa are another example of the disruptive effects of what the WHO calls an infodemic, an onslaught of poor and incorrect content that interferes with public health responses and so makes the pandemic even more dangerous. [...] A vibrant knowledge and research sector that engages with the public and decisionmakers is a key component of a healthy society and essential for protecting democracy. [...] Attacks disproportionately target women and researchers of colour, worsening the historical marginalization of their expertise and so, in turn, reducing the overall quality of scholarly and public discussions. [...] Under the Royal Society of Canada’s Task Force on COVID-19, we have published a policy briefing calling on governments, research funders, and the post-secondary sector to take action to ensure that knowledge producers, researchers, and experts are better supported in public engagement. [...] And we call on funding agencies, researchers, and universities alike to think hard about when, how, and why to speak out—in the service of the public good, not public relations.