Industry and Science
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Industry and science have had a fraught history. Industry research and funding can drive innovation. But when industry has financial reasons to hide harms from their products, they may try to distort the scientific record to their own benefit. As a result the history of science is rife with cases where various industries - tobacco, sugar, pharmaceuticals, plastic, oil and gas - attempted to influence science, and often succeeded.
This influence is not a thing of the past. It is increasingly clear that information technology companies have been shaping science, including science about social media sites and various AI products. Pharmaceuticals, meat producers, soda manufacturers, and others likewise are attempting to impact the current scientific record. This symposium brings together experts at the cutting edge of research on industry influence who will share their perspectives on new threats in this area, key research directions, and needed policy interventions.
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