Science is power. So is the ability to persuade people that something is scientific or supported by science, i.e. that science is “on your side”. In a scientific civilisation, when our world is increasingly shaped by, and dependent on, the achievements of science, and the word “science” is often wielded as a weapon, what are the challenges facing scientists and non-scientists in distinguishing good science from what is merely presented as science, and in identifying the legitimate limits of science?

For our fifth Ramsay Event for 2025, the Ramsay Centre is pleased to present an in-person lecture by world renowned scientist Ian Frazer, former Australian of the Year and co-developer of the basic technology behind the world’s first cancer vaccine. Professor Frazer delivers an address titled: The Truth Test: Science and Pseudoscience in a World of Information Overload.

Professor Frazer examines how we can tell good science from bad, and why there is good reason to be optimistic. He is joined by Nick Enfield, Linguistics Professor and Director of the Sydney Social Science and Humanities Advanced Research Centre at the University of Sydney, who provides additional context and insights.

Please join us for this compelling discussion exploring scientific research and its commitment to societal well-being.