Sponsored By: The Alliance for Potato Research & Education (APRE) and Potatoes USA

This Sponsored Satellite Program was originally presented at NUTRITION 2023.

"Follow the science" has become a mainstream mantra in reaction to widespread misinformation, disinformation and mistrust in public health messaging. Despite this movement, science is nuanced, iterative and not impervious to error, bias or misinterpretation. In this collaborative session, two leading nutrition experts discuss how bias can shape a study throughout its life cycle – from research methodology and results to research translation for the general public – and share best practices for creating and communicating scientific content that is both credible and compelling. Andrew Brown, PhD, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, will focus on three key issues that commonly introduce bias into the research process and share solutions to mitigate or avoid these challenges. Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RDN, co-host of the "True Health Revealed" podcast and former Director of Nutrition at WebMD, will provide expert tips on choosing your words during media interviews and crafting engaging consumer-facing messages that stay true to the science. Based on instructive examples from the scientific literature and consumer media, participants will have the opportunity to share media examples, apply best practices and engage with speakers and fellow researchers during the interactive Q&A panel.

Learning Objectives

• Identify and avoid common sources of research bias in study design
• Critically assess the accuracy of research results and their interpretation within the broader media landscape
• Translate scientific findings in a way that is relevant and compelling to the general public without presenting misleading or overgeneralized interpretation of results