Can you handle the truth? Some ugly facts in science and sensibility

Ahead of her Sense About Science lecture, Tracey Brown digs around the evidence with some uncomfortable concerns about accountability in public life

This evening (Monday 28 September) I'm giving a lecture at the British Library to a group of researchers, policymakers, journalists, and representatives from NGOs, community groups and other societies involved in the work of Sense About Science. They all know us as the evidence people, so they'll be expecting me to talk about my favourite subject: the need for evidence and accountability in public life. What they might not be expecting is to be told that they're part of the problem.

The ugly truth is that all of us - however informed, however good our intentions - end up letting things slide once in a while. We overlook, overstate or understate the evidence behind research, claims, or policies, for a number of reasons.