Politics of bad behaviour - the anti-science backlash 2021

The use of masks and vaccines to control and prevent the spread of the coronavirus have been a political flash point over the past year. Studies have shown that attitudes towards mask use, vaccination and other public health measures have become a symbol of struggle between individual autonomy and social responsibility. How did it come to this and is there a way to go about it?

This panel discussion will bring together leading social scientists and public health experts to discuss how the calls to combat the pandemic turned into a show of political attitude.

Speakers

• A/Professor David Smith (Department of Government and International Relations and United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney)

• Dr Katie Atwell (University of Western Australia)

• A/Professor Lesley Russell (Menzies Centre for Health Policy, University of Sydney)

Moderator

• Dr Gorana Grgic (Department of Government and International Relations and United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney)