2021 saw FACT Aotearoa recognised by the New Zealand Skeptics society as Skeptic of the Year.
The New Zealand Skeptics recognises excellence in the media or in other high-profile people with their Bravo Awards. The 2021 awards focused on fighting misinformation in our community. “The pandemic has provided a fertile breeding ground for misinformation and disinformation. But many journalists and academics have stepped up and written pieces that explain the science behind COVID, the response to it, and also calling out those promoting misinformation and pseudoscience.”
The Skeptic of the Year award is given to the skeptic who has had the most impact in skepticism within New Zealand. The award comes with a year’s free membership to the NZ Skeptics, and $500 of prize money.
FACT Aotearoa received the award for quickly jumping on misinformation being promoted online and in public, including contacting venues to shut down in-person anti-vaxxer events, and initiating a complaint to NZ’s Law Society about anti-vax lawyer Sue Grey.
We were proud to be in the same company as incredible journalists, scientists and communicators:
Siouxsie Wiles from University of Auckland, for making national and international appearances on the science behind COVID.
Toby Morris, cartoonist at The Spinoff, for creating animated explainers with Siouxie Wiles – with some great examples of effective science communication. These tools have been shared extensively, including being used by the World Health Organisation.
Charlie Mitchell, from Stuff, for a variety of investigative articles on pseudoscience promoters.
David Farrier, who runs the popular Webworm blog, for his commentary on people and groups promoting conspiracy theories; Billy TK, Sue Grey, Peter Mortlock of City Impact Church, the Tamakis from Destiny Church, and more.
Michael Baker, from the University of Otago Department of Public Health, for his science communication around COVID.
Hilary Barry, of TVNZ’s Seven Sharp, for her promotion of vaccines and for being a thorn in the side of anti-vaxxers.
Keith Lynch, of Stuff, for some great articles around COVID, explaining complex science in an easy to digest manner.
Helen Petousis-Harris, of the University of Auckland, for her great written responses to COVID vaccine myths.
Alison Campbell, blogger and retired lecturer from the University of Waikato, for her efforts helping journalists respond to COVID misinformation, her blogging and her constant presence on social media, calling out and correcting pseudoscience in the comment threads.
