Critical Thinking in Science

The Covid-19 pandemic revealed a lack of critical thinking skills in medicine and public health. Group-think and herd mentality superseded evidence-based medicine; the collection and examination of important data, and open scientific discussions. The problem manifested itself in insufficient protection of older high-risk Americans; lockdown restrictions that caused significant collateral damage on public health, education and the economy; and an insufficient attention on potential therapeutics. Everything was focused on the suppression of one virus at the expense of other health issues, children, the poor, and other vulnerable populations.

It is vital that the future generation of physicians and public health officials are not only knowledgeable about their field but also well trained in critical scientific thinking and evidence-based medicine.

The Academy for Science and Freedom is developing a curriculum for education in critical thinking in medicine and public health, covering research design and methodology, research evaluation, historical examples and medical ethics. We will offer one-week summer courses for undergraduate and graduate students and shorter courses for physicians and other health professionals. The focus will be a hands-on evaluation of scientific evidence and the current process for evidence-based decision making. The open-access curriculum will be made available to anyone around the world.

The Academy also writes and publishes general essays on critical scientific thinking, as well as specific critical evaluations of published research.

Academy Activities

Curriculum Development

… in progress …

Short Courses for Health Professionals and Students

… planned for 2024 ….

Critical Evaluations of Scientific Research

… list ….

Articles and Essays

… list …