How
should scientists, science communicators, and educators respond to the
growing prevalence in fake news and misinformation? This is particularly
pertinent given the apparent decline in public reliance on facts and
scientific evidence. The decades-old phenomenon
of climate science denial offers insights into our current predicament.
Science denial manifests the same characteristics of motivated
reasoning as those observed in the post-truth movement. For example, one
insight gleaned from research into science denial
is that trying to convince people who reject scientific evidence is
largely futile, and can be counterproductive. A more effective approach
is inoculating the undecided majority against the influence of
denialists misinformation. Consequently, psychological
research into climate science denial may be instructive for scientists
and educators grasping for communication approaches in the post-truth
era.