Education
Africa launches six-part webinar series to combat science misinformation, build public trust in biotechnology – EnviroNews
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As biotechnology continues to transform healthcare, agriculture and industrial development across the globe, African science communication experts are joining forces to confront one of the greatest threats to innovation on the continent – misinformation and disinformation.
The BioTRUST Institute and the African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium (AGBC), in collaboration with the Elizabeth R. Griffin Programme at Johns Hopkins University, have announced a six-part webinar series aimed at strengthening science communication and equipping journalists, researchers, policymakers and communicators with the tools to counter false narratives surrounding emerging technologies.
The webinar series, themed “Truth Under the Microscope: Tackling Disinformation and Misinformation in Emerging Technologies and Life Sciences – and What It Takes to Keep Public Trust Intact,” begins on Thursday, August 6, 2026, and will run weekly through September 10.
The initiative comes at a time when biotechnology is increasingly being applied in health, agriculture and industry, yet public understanding of these innovations remains uneven across Africa. Experts say complex scientific concepts, inconsistent regulatory frameworks, limited access to specialist sources and widespread misinformation continue to shape public perceptions of technologies such as engineered gene drives, gene editing and synthetic biology.
Although adoption of these technologies is expanding globally, uptake across Africa remains relatively low, underscoring the need for accurate, accessible and trusted communication that enables informed public discourse and responsible innovation.
According to Dr. Willy Tonui, Founder and Advisor of the African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium, the webinar series is designed to bring together scientists, policymakers, innovators, media professionals, civil society organisations and private sector stakeholders to address the growing impact of misinformation on science and society.
“The webinar series will convene experts, policy makers, researchers, innovators and media professionals, civil society actors and private sector stakeholders to examine the growing risks of disinformation and misinformation in emerging technologies and life sciences,” Dr. Tonui said.
He explained that discussions would examine how false or misleading information can undermine public trust, distort scientific evidence, weaken health systems and impede responsible innovation, while highlighting practical strategies for preventing and responding to misinformation.
The opening session on August 6 is themed “Tackling Disinformation and Misinformation in Emerging Technologies and Life Sciences.” It will be followed by “Trust by Design: Communicating Emerging Technologies with Confidence” on August 13 and “Checking Claims and Clarifying Science for Various Audiences” on August 20.
Subsequent sessions include “Reporting the Science Right: Covering Emerging Technologies Responsibly” on August 27, “Evidence to Influence: Communicating Science for Policy Impact” on September 3, and the concluding webinar, “Rising Voices: Preparing Africa’s Next Science Communicators,” on September 10.
Throughout the series, participants will explore evidence-based strategies for strengthening science communication, fostering public confidence in scientific research and supporting informed decision-making across the continent.
Among the key objectives of the programme are to distinguish between misinformation, disinformation, malinformation and legitimate scientific uncertainty; examine how technologies such as artificial intelligence, synthetic media, biotechnology, digital health tools and data analytics can both spread and combat false information; and assess the implications of misinformation for public health, vaccines, genomics, biosecurity, clinical research and science policy.
The organisers also aim to promote transparency, responsible communication and evidence-based decision-making while fostering stronger collaboration among researchers, regulators, industry, journalists and communities to build resilience against harmful information ecosystems.
Expected outcomes of the webinar series include improved public understanding of the impact of misinformation on emerging technologies and life sciences, enhanced communication capacity among scientists, journalists and policymakers, stronger partnerships between media and scientific institutions, and the development of practical tools for fact-checking, communicating scientific uncertainty and effectively responding to false narratives without amplifying them.
Organisers believe the initiative will contribute to a more informed public discourse on biotechnology and other emerging technologies, ultimately strengthening public trust and supporting Africa’s innovation and development agenda.
