UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Sustain Penn State’s Intersections film series will continue its fall program with an online screening of “Merchants of Doubt” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5. Inspired by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway’s 2010 book of the same name, the film by award-winning director Robert Kenner reveals decades-long practices of corporations hiring people who seem to have reputable scientific credentials, but who instead spread scientific disinformation and doubt in order to prevent public regulation and oversight.
Although the film first premiered more than a decade ago, the scientific debates it showcases remain relevant and timely. Scientists and politicians continue to seek ways to communicate more effectively about pioneering research in public health, environmental science and other issues affecting quality of life. The film incorporates perspectives from scientists who have been directly targeted by hate mail campaigns and politicians who have been ousted from office after publicly supporting real science.
Following the film will be a panel discussion hosted by the 2025-26 “Our Common Purpose” initiative. Co-presented by Sustain Penn State, the College of the Liberal Arts, the McCourtney Institute for Democracy, the Bellisario College of Communications, and others, Our Common Purpose is examining how we envision a more truthful, trusting and collective future that works for all Americans as the 250th anniversary of the U.S. and the Declaration of Independence approaches. The discussion will address the current state of science in public discourse and policymaking and how its role in decision making can be protected.
Panelists will include Matt Jordan, head of the Department of Film Production and Media Studies in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications and director of Penn State’s News Literacy Initiative, for which he hosts the podcast “News Over Noise”; Janet Swim, professor of psychology, associate director of the Climate Consortium, and a fellow at the Social Science Research Institute to facilitate research on Social Dynamics of Environmental and Climate Change; and Eli Andrews, adjunct instructor of management and organization and CEO and founder of civicIQ, which assists renewable energy developers in obtaining construction permits.
“We are surrounded by various forms of media, and it is critical for everyone to have media literacy,” said Julius Camper, student and public programming coordinator for Sustain Penn State. “This event will provide a closer look at climate disinformation and its presence in our media, and provide insights regarding how media can be manipulated.”
All films in the Intersections film series are free and open to all. Pre-registration is required at this link.
For more information, contact Julius Camper at jac8761@psu.edu.