Instituto Questão de Ciência

The Instituto Questão de Ciência (IQC) (English: Science Question Institute) is a Brazilian non-profit organisation founded in 2018, dedicated to the promotion of scientific and critical thinking and the use of scientific evidence in public policies.[2][3][4][5][6][7]

Instituto Questão de Ciência
EstablishedNovember 22, 2018
Focus* Combating the National Policy of Integrative and Complementary Practices
* Popularizing science
* Promoting critical thinking
* Promoting scientific skepticism
* Combating pseudosciences
PresidentNatália Pasternak Taschner[1]
Websiteiqc.org.br

Goals

One of the primary focuses of the IQC is opposition to the spending of public funds on forms of treatment that are either ineffective or without scientific proof, as is done through the Política Nacional de Práticas Integrativas e Complementares (National Policy of Integrative and Complementary Practices) in Brazil. The IQC seeks to convince the Brazilian government to stop financing such practices through the united health system, Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS).[4] Other themes that motivated the creation of the institute include the phosphorylethanolamine fiasco (during which the drug was distributed in capsules by a professor at USP with the unverified claims that it would treat different types of cancer)[3] and the invasion by anti-animal testing activists of the Royal Institute's laboratories in São Roque in 2013,[3] as well as controversies involving genetic heritage and food labeling.[8]

The IQC list as their focus points science education, scientific journalism and the skeptical movement.[9]

Formation
Natália Pasternak Taschner, founder and president of IQC[3]

The launch of the IQC took place on November 22, 2018, in São Paulo, at an event that included a lecture by British physician Edzard Ernst, an expert in the analysis of evidence about alternative therapies. Since its launch, the institute has received expressions of support from the Brazilian and international scientific community. Drauzio Varella, Paulo Saldiva, Marcelo Knobel and other Brazilian scientists[2] expressed support for the creation of the institute, in addition to skeptic James Randi, Edzard Ernst and other personalities in the world scientific dissemination.[4]

Board
Carlos Orsi, founder and communication director of IQC, editor-in-chief of Revista Questão de Ciência[1]

Until December 2019, the IQC board was composed of its founding members:[1]

  • Natália Pasternak Taschner – President
  • Marcelo T. Yamashita – Director of Science
  • Carlos Orsi – Director of Communications
  • Paulo Almeida – Chief Financial Officer

References
  1. "Diretoria – Conheça os membros da diretoria do IQC". Instituto Questão Ciência (in Portuguese). Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  2. Pasternak, Natalia; Orsi, Carlos (October 10, 2018). "Skeptical Organization To Launch in Brazil". Skeptical Inquirer. Archived from the original on February 6, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  3. Alves, Bariel (October 29, 2018). "Bióloga cria instituto para combater pseudociência e influenciar debate" [Biologist creates institute to combat pseudoscience and influence debate]. www1.folha.uol.com.br (in Portuguese). Folha de S.Paulo. Archived from the original on November 1, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  4. "Cientistas criam instituto para combater gastos públicos em 'pseudociências'". Jornal O Globo (in Portuguese). November 21, 2018. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  5. Naísa, Letícia (November 22, 2018). "Pesquisadores brasileiros criam instituto para combater pseudociência" [Brazilian researchers create institute to combat pseudoscience]. Exame (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on December 11, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  6. de Barros, Daniel Martins (October 30, 2018). "Ciência pública". Estadão. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  7. Leite, Marcelo (November 11, 2018). "Projeto põe fé nas armas da razão contra homeopatia e outras crenças". Folha de S. Paulo. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2020.(subscription required)
  8. "Lançamento do Instituto Questão de Ciência" [Launch of the Science Question Institute]. Agência FAPESP (in Portuguese). December 11, 2019. Archived from the original on December 11, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  9. "Por políticas públicas baseadas em evidências" [Institute of Science Issue – For evidence-based public policies]. Instituto Questão Ciência (in Portuguese). December 22, 2019. Archived from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
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