The Age of Mistrust? LATE

Are we living in an Age of Mistrust? And what can we do about it? Explore some of the biggest questions of our time like never before in this season’s British Academy Late. Discuss the state of politics in the age of fake news; learn about the latest research on conspiracy theories and misinformation from our funded researchers; and experience the world of data and AI with a live musical performance.
 
Panels:
Politics in the Age of Fake News
With Professor David Runciman FBA, Marianna Spring and Nadine Batchelor-Hunt (chair)
Trust and confidence in the UK’s system of government is at a record low, according to the latest British Social Attitudes survey. Plus, the rapid spread of misinformation on social media is making it harder than ever to distinguish political facts from fictions. Why has trust in politics eroded? And what can we do about it?
 
The Roots of Trust
With Professor Dominic Abrams FBA, Dr Tiffany Watt Smith and Michael Peel (chair)
Do you think most people can be trusted? What happens in our brains when we identify someone as trustworthy? And how do levels of interpersonal trust vary across countries and over time? Delve into the psychological, historical, and cultural roots of trust and why it matters.
 
10-Minute Talks:
 
What’s Inside a Chart?
Dr William Allen
Drawing on research about migration and COVID-19, this talk shows how seemingly straightforward charts and graphs do much more than just inform.
 
Dystopian and Utopian Narratives in an Age of Eco-Anxiety
Dr Emrah Atasoy
Environmental catastrophes are often reflected in narratives of the future. How can these narratives help us better understand the ecological challenges we face today?
 
Stranger danger: Who Do Teenagers Trust When They Use Social Media?
Dr Ysabel Gerrard
Putting young people’s experiences at the centre, this talk confronts the myths and realities of teenagers’ social media usage.
 
Inside the Conspiratorial Mind
Dr Daniel Jolley
Why do people believe in conspiracy theories? This talk will unpack the psychology behind this phenomenon.
 
Public Interventions in Misinformation on Social Media: Cure or Curse?
Professor Florian Stoeckel
Can citizens make a difference by debunking misinformation on social media? A British Academy-funded experiment answers that question.
 
Archaeological Forgeries and the Politicisation of Prehistory
Dr Frederika Tevebring
In the middle of the 20th century, forgeries of prehistoric ‘goddesses’ began appearing on the art market. This talk explores what these forgeries can tell us about our fascination with the deep past, and our desire to imagine alternative histories.
 
Performances and workshops:
 
Digital Spiritual
Digital Spiritual is a musical and visual exploration of identity in the digital age. Join musicia Delay Grounds and visual artist & programmer Will Irving for a live performance of the album.
 
Deepfake Drag
Combining datasets and drag performance, multimedia artist Jake Elwes explores and challenges the biases that underpin Artificial Intelligence.
 
Bad News Games
Test your susceptibility to fake headlines with award-winning games developed by Dr Jon Roozenbeek and Yara Kyrychenko; and learn about how we can develop resilience to online misinformation.