Conversations, especially on polarizing topics, can turn in circles or escalate to anger and frustration.
There are a few ways you can increase the chances of having a more productive and calmer conversation.
See our website for posts on difficult conversations and more:
scienceupfirst.com
A woman on the left side fanning herself. Text in graphic: "Perimenopause isn’t just about hot flashes. It can change your sex life too." #ScienceUpFirst #PWHR
Menopause can affect your sex life but you’re not alone and you’re not stuck with it.
Changes are common, and support exists if you want it.
Read more here 👇
scienceupfirst.com/womens-healt...
This is a collaborative post with @pwhrcanada
#ScienceUpFirst
A vintage science textbook style illustration. A blue head with a smug face and crown at the top labelled "authority. There's a speech bubble coming from the king's mouth that has a paper with a red x over it labeled "claim". In the middle are four heads staring at the top figure with approval ignoring the bottom row of papers with green check marks on them labeled "contrary evidence". Appeal to authority bias. Accepting a claim as true just because an "authority" says so, instead of looking at the actual evidence." #ScienceUpFirst
Sometimes we accept a claim as true just because an “authority” (or someone who simply looks credible) says so, instead of looking at the actual evidence.
Remember: “they said so” isn’t proof. It’s just a claim.
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scienceupfirst.com/misinformati...
#ScienceUpFirst
This post was made in collaboration with @camhnews.bsky.social
#ScienceUpFirst
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A purple and orange background. In the bottom corner, a hand is shown holding a smartphone. In the center is a search bar, similar to those found on AI platforms, with the number “230 million” displayed. Below that, a text box appears as a response: “That's the number of people who ask ChatGPT a question about their health every single week (1). Here's what you should know before you use Al for your mental health.” #ScienceUpFirst
AI chatbots can seem like a convenient tool for mental health support.
However, they have also missed medical emergencies and failed to activate safety guardrails.
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scienceupfirst.com/mental-healt...
As of now, they do not replace seeking professional help and reaching out for support.
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A black background with a yellow frame, a red arrow pointing downward and a dollar sign. The text in the center reads: “One Small Drop in Measles Vaccination. Billions in Consequences for Public Health.” #ScienceUpFirst
Measles vaccination rates have been slipping for years in Canada. Data from the US is showing that even a slight drop in coverage could lead to thousands of cases, dozens of preventable deaths, and major costs each year to public health systems.
Read more 👇
scienceupfirst.com/vaccines/the...
Chronic kidney disease is a serious condition that can affect anyone. It can be symptomless so it’s important to know the risk factors.
A blood test will usually detect it, so speak to your healthcare provider if you think you may be at risk.
👉 scienceupfirst.com/science-101/...
#ScienceUpFirst
A rainbow infinity sign. A CAMH logo in the lower left corner. Text in graphic: "8 myths about autism" #ScienceUpFirst
In collaboration with @camhnews.bsky.social, we debunk 8 common myths about autism to better understand and support neurodivergent people.
Learn more 👉 scienceupfirst.com/mental-healt...
#ScienceUpFirst
A half-white and half-purple background. An overlaid text reads: “Can a single test really tell you if you're in MENOPAUSE Or PERIMENOPAUSE? No. Read on to learn more.” #ScienceUpfirst
Accessing menopause care is already challenging enough.
Unfortunately, this can also be an opportunity for companies to market at-home tests that do not paint a full or accurate picture.👇
scienceupfirst.com/womens-healt...
This post was made in collaboration with @pwhrcanada
#ScienceUpFirst
We pulled all these tips from the terrific resources created by @mediasmarts.ca.
Visit mediasmarts.ca/canada-ai-li... to learn more.
#ScienceUpFirst
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Think you can always spot an AI image? Think again. It is getting harder.
Look for the original source 🔎
Check other sources 📰
Pause if it triggers strong emotions 😡
Use fact-checking tools 🧰
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scienceupfirst.com/misinformati...
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This post was made in collaboration with @pwhrcanada.bsky.social
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A woman sitting and holding her temples in the lower third looking stressed, a red arrow on the right of her. Text in graphic: "“Try this workout to balance your hormones!” “Always tired? Blame your hormones.” , “Use these 5 food hacks to fix your hormonal imbalance in 30 days!” . Sound familiar? Here’s what the internet gets wrong about hormone balancing." #ScienceUpFirst #PWHRCanada
You’re browsing social media and you see some claims about “balancing out your hormones.” You wonder.
Unfortunately, many hormone fixes promoted online – like supplements, herbs, or specific diets – are not backed by strong evidence.
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scienceupfirst.com/lifestyle-be...
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A colourful dot background with ripped banners, top one is navy blue with darker blue flames and says "feeling burnt out on bad stories?" bottom one is yellow and says "well, we've got some good news for you!" A rounded rectangle juts out from the lower left with a hand pointing right that says "Swipe to smile". #ScienceUpFirst
Feeling overwhelmed by the news? You’re not alone.
Here are a few pieces of good news to hold onto 👇
scienceupfirst.com/lifestyle-be...
#ScienceUpFirst
Two abortion pills in the centre. Text: "Are abortion pills safe? The short answer is yes. And that’s why Health Canada continues to approve their use." #ScienceUpFirst #PWHRCanada
Decades of research show that medication abortion with mifepristone + misoprostol is safe, with serious complications occurring in fewer than 0.4% of patients.
So why are people questioning it? People are using a flawed report to spread misleading claims.
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scienceupfirst.com/sexual-healt...
This post was made in collaboration with @pwhrcanada.bsky.social and @grossesseensante
A pregnant person holding a pill and glass of water in the upper half. Text in graphic "Health misinformation can have immediate consequences. Last September, the Trump administration claimed, without evidence, that Tylenol during pregnancy increases autism risk. Within a month, its use in emergency departments for pregnant people dropped by up to 20%. Here’s what that means." #ScienceUpFirst
When unsupported health claims spread, they can quickly have real impacts on people’s health.
A recent example involving Tylenol and autism shows how fast that can happen.
Read more to learn what the evidence actually says. 👇
scienceupfirst.com/misinformati...
#ScienceUpFirst
This resource was created in collaboration with @immunizecanada.bsky.social and @camhnews.bsky.social
Colourful blobby corners and a light blue centre with text and a rainbow infinity sign. Text: "No vaccines don't cause autism. See the caption for more information." #ScienceUpFirst
While there is absolutely no evidence that vaccines cause autism, it remains one of the most persistent myths surrounding vaccines to date.
But where did this myth begin? Who started it? Why is it unfounded?👇
www.immunize.ca/vaccines-do-...
#ScienceUpFirst
This post was made in collaboration between @camhnews.bsky.social and @scienceupfirst.bsky.social
#ScienceUpFirst
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A hand holding an Ozempic needle in the lower right. Text in graphic: "4 facts about glp-1 medications like Ozempic". #ScienceUpFirst
GLP-1 medications like Ozempic are often talked about for weight loss, but there’s a lot of information online, and not all of it is accurate.
So how do these medications actually work in the body and brain?
Learn more here 👇
scienceupfirst.com/lifestyle-be...
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@cmadocs.bsky.social
@drshazmamithani.bsky.social
@therealtruther.bsky.social
@samanthayammine.com
@drandrealove.bsky.social
@pauloffit.bsky.social
@drjengunter.bsky.social
@niniandthebrain.bsky.social
@sciencewhizliz.bsky.social
@jonathanstea.bsky.social
@unbiasedscipod.bsky.social
Here is but a small selection of the amazing science accounts who we’d invite to our sci comm cottage:
@immunizecanada.bsky.social
@mcgilloss.bsky.social
@drmelissalem.bsky.social
@drtashofficial.bsky.social
@healthcareforreal.bsky.social
@jossreimer.bsky.social
@labmuffin.com
While our rivalry with misinformers may be heated (not that way! Come on…), all our love is for our fellow science communicators who are hard at work (not that way!!) keeping people across Canada informed, educated, and entertained.
Shout out to everyone doing the good work!
#ScienceUpFirst
The image is in the style of a science textbook infographic. A woman looking thoughtful with a syringe and vial above her head. The image is divided in half vertically. The left is labeled action and her thought bubble says "If I vaccinate and something happens, it’s my fault." The right is labeled inaction and her thought bubble says "If I don’t vaccinate and they get sick… that’s just bad luck." Text in graphic: "Omissions bias: The tendency to see harm caused by action as worse than harm caused by doing nothing, even when the outcome is the same or worse." #ScienceUpFirst
In the trolley problem, you must choose whether to save 1 or 5 people.
Many people hesitate because causing harm feels worse than allowing harm to happen. This is called the omission bias. It can influence how some people think about vaccines.👇
scienceupfirst.com/misinformati...
#ScienceUpFirst
A person in a yellow vest is very upset and is screaming at another character that is hidden behind a large speech bubble coming from the first person. Each successive picture shows the bubble getting smaller. The last picture illustrates the second person pushing the text bubble down and saying "Are you done? Can we talk?"
Communication, by definition, is a two-way process.
To be a good communicator, you must listen. Listen to the concerns of your audience and listen to feedback about how your message is being received. Then, adapt.
Big thanks to the artist @francos_dessine !
#ScienceUpFirst
A circle of faces looking at a book that says #1 bestseller most are happy, two aren't. The unhappy are labeled "disagree but join in" there's a coloured circle joining them labeled "popular opinion". Text in graphic: "Bandwagonning: A cognitive bias that is used to convince someone that something is true (or untrue) simply because lots of people think it is."
Have you ever bought a book just because it was on the best-seller list? You might have succumbed to the bandwagon fallacy.
Don’t know what it is? We’ve got you! Read more here 👇
scienceupfirst.com/misinformati...
#ScienceUpFirst
Two pie charts in the centre displaying 8 million Canadians and 26 million Americans. Text: "The base rate fallacy.Here's who tuned in for the men's gold medal Olympic games. 8 million is 21% of Canadians but 26 million is just 7.6% of Americans. They won this one but it's still our game." #ScienceUpFirst
We’re still grieving the men’s hockey gold medal game, so we are using math to cope 😭🥇
The way data is presented can greatly influence how we perceive it.
👉 scienceupfirst.com/misinformati...
#ScienceUpFirst
An illustration divided in half vertically. On the left is earth with a thermometer above it, mountains, snowy mountains and desert. On the left is a thundercloud, cloudy sun and a snowflake. Text in graphic: "Climate versus weather" #ScienceUpFirst
Is it climate or is it weather? It can be hard to tell the difference, you can read more about the finer details here👇 scienceupfirst.com/climate/clim...
Questions about climate change? Tell us in the comments.
#ScienceUpFirst
A hand reaches out of the ocean on the left side and a hand on the upper right with a firehose blasts that drowning hand in a full spray of water. Text in graphic: "Misinformer Tactic: Firehose of Falsehood" #ScienceUpFirst
Same misinformation repeated again and again? That’s part of the firehose of falsehood tactic.
Learn why this propaganda technique works so well here 👇
www.scienceupfirst.com/project/misi...
#ScienceUpFirst
