The Age of Mistrust? LATE

Are we living in an Age of Mistrust? And what can we do about it? Explore some of the biggest questions of our time like never before in this season’s British Academy Late. Discuss the state of politics in the age of fake news; learn about the latest research on conspiracy theories and misinformation from our funded researchers; and experience the world of data and AI with a live musical performance.

Panels:

Politics in the Age of Fake News

With Professor David Runciman FBA, Marianna Spring and Nadine Batchelor-Hunt (chair)

Trust and confidence in the UK’s system of government is at a record low, according to the latest British Social Attitudes survey. Plus, the rapid spread of misinformation on social media is making it harder than ever to distinguish political facts from fictions. Why has trust in politics eroded? And what can we do about it?

The Roots of Trust

With Professor Dominic Abrams FBA, Dr Tiffany Watt Smith and Michael Peel (chair)

Do you think most people can be trusted? What happens in our brains when we identify someone as trustworthy? And how do levels of interpersonal trust vary across countries and over time? Delve into the psychological, historical, and cultural roots of trust and why it matters.

10-Minute Talks:

What’s Inside a Chart?

Dr William Allen

Drawing on research about migration and COVID-19, this talk shows how seemingly straightforward charts and graphs do much more than just inform.

Dystopian and Utopian Narratives in an Age of Eco-Anxiety

Dr Emrah Atasoy

Environmental catastrophes are often reflected in narratives of the future. How can these narratives help us better understand the ecological challenges we face today?

Stranger danger: Who Do Teenagers Trust When They Use Social Media?

Dr Ysabel Gerrard

Putting young people’s experiences at the centre, this talk confronts the myths and realities of teenagers’ social media usage.

Inside the Conspiratorial Mind

Dr Daniel Jolley

Why do people believe in conspiracy theories? This talk will unpack the psychology behind this phenomenon.

Public Interventions in Misinformation on Social Media: Cure or Curse?

Professor Florian Stoeckel

Can citizens make a difference by debunking misinformation on social media? A British Academy-funded experiment answers that question.

Archaeological Forgeries and the Politicisation of Prehistory

Dr Frederika Tevebring

In the middle of the 20th century, forgeries of prehistoric 'goddesses' began appearing on the art market. This talk explores what these forgeries can tell us about our fascination with the deep past, and our desire to imagine alternative histories.

Performances and workshops:

Digital Spiritual

Digital Spiritual is a musical and visual exploration of identity in the digital age. Join musician Delay Grounds and visual artist & programmer Will Irving for a live performance of the album.

Deepfake Drag

Combining datasets and drag performance, multimedia artist Jake Elwes explores and challenges the biases that underpin Artificial Intelligence.

Bad News Games

Test your susceptibility to fake headlines with award-winning games developed by Dr Jon Roozenbeek and Yara Kyrychenko; and learn about how we can develop resilience to online misinformation.

Unfortunately, Dr Ysabel Gerrard and Professor Florian Stoeckel are unable to speak at the event due to unforeseen circumstances.

Free, booking required. As tickets are free, people sometimes book and don't attend, so we have to issue more tickets than there are seats available to allow for this. Entry into the event is on a first-come, first-served basis and we recommend arriving in good time to avoid any disappointment.

The first 50 arrivals will receive a free drink. Please note this event is reserved for adults, aged 18 and over.

This event will have live subtitles provided by StageTEXT, delivered by MyClearText.

If you have any questions about this event please refer to our Events FAQs. If your question is not answered, please email [email protected].