researchEd presentation on myths about myths

Last weekend I gave a Dutch and English version of my ‘This is the new myth’ talk. This talk did not come about in some vain attempt to take over the mythical status of some other excellent ‘mythbusters’, like Pedro De Bruyckere, Paul Kirschner and Casper Hulshof in their excellent book, but more with frustration how some facts opposed to certain myths, became simplified beyond recognition, often distorting the original message. In other words, a danger that the debunking of myths became new myths on their own. In this talk I go into how myths might come about, and give some examples, including one on iron in spinach. I then give some examples where I think facts are misrepresented on and in the (social) media. I have mainly chosen themes that are often highlighted by those who endeavour for a more evidence-informed approach to teaching, in that process purport…