Organized Science Denial
An Action Plan for Solutions
Oxford University Press
Published on 20. November 2025
Book
Hardback
400 pages
978-0-19-895303-6 (ISBN)
Description
Science denialism - fuelled by mis/disinformation - is a global existential crisis that erodes social cohesion and our collective capacity to confront crises like climate change, transform energy systems, and curtail pandemics. Despite scientific breakthroughs, denialism appears to be not only persisting, but accelerating. Research on the causes, consequences, and cures most often focus on individual-level denial. Yet science denialism is not exclusively caused by individuals' biases or lack of knowledge, which is addressed with more/better education, but also by other more contextual causes. Thus, even if we could talk to one person at a time, we will never reverse this denialist tide. Missing is a systematic examination of the role that organizations play for diagnosing the sources and levels of science denialism, understanding the tactics used, and strategizing effective solutions.
Organized Science Denial addresses these urgent questions: Why and how do doubts in science persist in society? What is the role of organizations and institutions in science denialism? And which strategies can organizations implement to effectively mitigate this global and collective issue? To answer these questions, the editors bring insights on science denialism from an array of internationally renowned management scholars. The book leverages socio-psychological and organizational theories, examines the roles of organizations and institutions in both perpetuating and combating denialism, and creates innovative solutions.
Organized Science Denial addresses these urgent questions: Why and how do doubts in science persist in society? What is the role of organizations and institutions in science denialism? And which strategies can organizations implement to effectively mitigate this global and collective issue? To answer these questions, the editors bring insights on science denialism from an array of internationally renowned management scholars. The book leverages socio-psychological and organizational theories, examines the roles of organizations and institutions in both perpetuating and combating denialism, and creates innovative solutions.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 237 mm
Width: 167 mm
Thickness: 32 mm
Weight
736 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-895303-6 (9780198953036)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Dr. Elena Bruni is an Assistant Professor at LUISS Guido Carli University in Rome, Italy. Her research examines linguistic and multimodal rhetorical processes in driving institutional change and developing theory. Her setting of studies has ranged from exploring creative settings to the transition from traditional media to social platforms. Recently, she has focused on broader societal phenomena, such as the rhetoric of vaccination hesitancy and questionable ethical practices. She has received several awards, including second runner-up for a symposium at the Academy of Management conference (2021), and has secured research funding totalling over EUR500,000.
Dr. Lianne Lefsrud is the Risk, Innovation, and Sustainability Chair (RISC) and Professor, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta. Her research asks: How can management systems be enhanced so organizations are better equipped to recognize, understand, and respond to unforeseen events and manage risks? She develops enhanced methods of hazard identification; risk management, evaluation, and communication; and drivers of technology adoption. Her research has resulted in $12+ million of research grants and the supervision of 100+ grad and undergrad students who have won awards including Fulbright, Aga Khan, and National Geographic.
Dr. Lianne Lefsrud is the Risk, Innovation, and Sustainability Chair (RISC) and Professor, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta. Her research asks: How can management systems be enhanced so organizations are better equipped to recognize, understand, and respond to unforeseen events and manage risks? She develops enhanced methods of hazard identification; risk management, evaluation, and communication; and drivers of technology adoption. Her research has resulted in $12+ million of research grants and the supervision of 100+ grad and undergrad students who have won awards including Fulbright, Aga Khan, and National Geographic.
Content
Section I Science Denialism Through An Organizational LensElena Bruni and Lianne M. Lefsrud:
1: Renate E. Meyer and Dennis Jancsary: In the 'twilight zone': Challenges to science between outright denialism and healthy critique
2: Nelson Phillips and Thomas B. Lawrence: 'Doubt is our product': Understanding the role of corporations in science denialism
3: Julien O. Beaulieu, A. Wren Montgomery, and Thomas P. Lyon: Deny or greenwash?: Exploring the interactions between science denialism and greenwashing
Organizational solutions
Section II Social Media Dynamics of ScienceDenialism
4: Stephen Lile and Shaz Ansari: Lost in misinformation: The news media's struggle to defend science
5: Elise Berlinski, Martin Kornberger, and Jan Mouritsen: The role of social media in the spread of conspiracy theories
6: Martina Linnenluecke: Privatized governance: Social media organizations' approach to the COVID-19 infodemic
Social media solutions
Section III Supporting Legitimate Debate So Scepticism Becomes Invention
7: Sukanya Roy and Andrew Hoffman: From denial to disinformation and delay: Evolving forms and frames of climate science scepticism
8: Alessandro Niccolo Tirapani: The fuzzy boundary between scientific pluralism and 'science denialism' in management and organization studies
9: Claudio Biscaro, Roja Ratzinger, and Piotr Makowski: Denial as a catalyst for creative exploration: Hopeful paths
Constructive solutions
Elena Bruni, Federico Brandmayr, and Lianne M. Lefsrud: Conclusion: Rooting out denialism: from breakdown to breakthrough
Paolo Quattrone: Coda: Utopia, dystopia, and denialism: The making of science in between a professional endeavour and a marketplace
Appendix
Glossary
1: Renate E. Meyer and Dennis Jancsary: In the 'twilight zone': Challenges to science between outright denialism and healthy critique
2: Nelson Phillips and Thomas B. Lawrence: 'Doubt is our product': Understanding the role of corporations in science denialism
3: Julien O. Beaulieu, A. Wren Montgomery, and Thomas P. Lyon: Deny or greenwash?: Exploring the interactions between science denialism and greenwashing
Organizational solutions
Section II Social Media Dynamics of ScienceDenialism
4: Stephen Lile and Shaz Ansari: Lost in misinformation: The news media's struggle to defend science
5: Elise Berlinski, Martin Kornberger, and Jan Mouritsen: The role of social media in the spread of conspiracy theories
6: Martina Linnenluecke: Privatized governance: Social media organizations' approach to the COVID-19 infodemic
Social media solutions
Section III Supporting Legitimate Debate So Scepticism Becomes Invention
7: Sukanya Roy and Andrew Hoffman: From denial to disinformation and delay: Evolving forms and frames of climate science scepticism
8: Alessandro Niccolo Tirapani: The fuzzy boundary between scientific pluralism and 'science denialism' in management and organization studies
9: Claudio Biscaro, Roja Ratzinger, and Piotr Makowski: Denial as a catalyst for creative exploration: Hopeful paths
Constructive solutions
Elena Bruni, Federico Brandmayr, and Lianne M. Lefsrud: Conclusion: Rooting out denialism: from breakdown to breakthrough
Paolo Quattrone: Coda: Utopia, dystopia, and denialism: The making of science in between a professional endeavour and a marketplace
Appendix
Glossary