Timothy Caulfield

Speaking topics

Presentations listed below include in-person and virtual keynotes, as well as workshops, fireside chats, and other presentation formats.

• Knowledge Crisis: How Did We Get Here and What Can We Do?

  We are in the middle of a knowledge crisis. We have never had as much access to information as we do today, but, at the same time, we have never been so misinformed. Lies, spin, and twisted science seem to dominate public discourse and policy debates. How did we get here, why do people believe, and what can we do about it?

  In this provocative presentation, Professor Timothy Caulfield will explore what the most recent evidence tells us about the nature and source of the current infodemic. He will also provide science-informed recommendations to cut through the noise and forge a constructive path forward.

• The “Manosphere” and the Sway of the Growing Masculinity Industry

  Will the stream of science-free wellness nonsense ever stop? One of the most ubiquitous and influential trends: the rise of the “manosphere” and the embrace of traditional masculine norms. Influencers in this space often use the language of real science — a tactic Professor Timothy Caulfield calls “scienceploitation” — to give their claims legitimacy. It has become a growing and ideologically charged echo chamber where traditional masculine norms are celebrated and framed as a required element to a healthy lifestyle. But what does the science actually say?

• When Celebrity Culture and Science Clash

  Celebrities are everywhere! And this matters. Seriously. Research shows that popular culture has a profound influence people’s health. In this fun and provocative presentation, Professor Timothy Caulfield will examine what science tells us about the influence of popular culture and why this trend has become crucially important issue. He will also debunk common health myths and provide practical, evidence-based, recommendations for individuals seeking to live a healthy lifestyle. Finally, Caulfield will review what the emerging evidence tells us about how we can all take steps to push back against pseudoscience.

• Spinning Science: Getting to the Truth About Our Health

  What is the truth about how to live a healthy lifestyle? Whether the issue is diet, exercise, sleep, gut health, genetics or emerging technologies, it has become increasing difficult to separate the real science from the nonsense.

  In this era of “fake news”, “alternative facts”, and conspiracy theories, critical thinking skills are essential. Indeed, the spread of misinformation has become a defining issue of our time. In this fun and provocative talk, Professor Timothy Caulfield will examine the social forces that are twisting science and how we can all cut through the noise to get to the truth about our health.

• Relax Dammit: Healthy and Happy in the Age of Anxiety

  In this presentation, Professor Timothy Caulfield will explore everything we stress about in a typical day, from when we get out of bed to how much coffee to drink to how our kids get to school to how we handle our email to how we can be more productive to whether we should sit on that dirty toilet seat. We make, and worry about, a thousand big and little decisions during our waking hours. Too often these decisions are dictated by concerns or beliefs about our world that simply aren’t true. These misperceptions impact our day-to-day decisions and unnecessarily stress us out and cause us to waste time and money.

• Scienceploitation and the Rise of Science-y Unproven Therapies

  These are exciting times in biomedicine. Research areas like stem cells, personalized medicine, and the microbiome are leading to promising new developments. But too often the language of real science is used to market unproven therapies and health concepts. In this presentation, Professor Timothy Caulfield will argue that “scienceploitation” has emerged as a significant health policy issues, one that is having an adverse impact on both individuals and healthcare systems throughout the world.

• Additional Topics

  • Vaccination Policy and the Spread of Vaccination Myths
  • Evidence-Based Approaches to a Healthy Lifestyle
  • Complementary and Alternative Medicine
  • The Limits of Personalized Medicine
  • The Role of Social Media in the Spread of Misinformation
  • The Marketing of Unproven Stem Cell Therapies