• 17 FEB 16
    • 0

    The AusSMC’s expert advice on the Catalyst program, Wi-fried.

    Now that the Catalyst program has aired, there is a media frenzy attacking the program with a number of experts canning the whole program and even calling for it to be pulled off the Internet althogether. It is illustrative to go to the source of much of this criticism: The Australian Science Media Centre (AusSMC), who states on their website:

    The Australian Science Media Centre (AusSMC)is an independent not-for-profit service for the news media, giving journalists direct access to evidence based science and expertise. We aim to increase the quality and accuracy of science reporting in the media, and hence the public understanding of science.

    So, AusSMC provides journalists with expert scientists advice on a wide range of issues on their simex website. When it comes to anything to do with Cell phones, wi-fi etc. the experts are primarily from ACEBR and ARPANSA.

    The BIG question however, what is the selection process for experts at AusSMC? The history of the AusSMC is an interesting story to be explored shortly…..

    Stay tuned

    Don

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    Excerpt from the AusSMC/simex website: https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/expert-reaction-abcs-catalyst-programme-wi-fried-about-em-radiation-and-health

    Expert Reaction

    These comments have been collated by the Science Media Centre to provide a variety of expert perspectives and reflect independent opinion on this issue. Feel free to use these quotes in your stories. Views expressed are the personal opinions of the experts named. They do not represent the views of the SMC or any other organisation unless specifically stated.

    Professor Rodney Croft is Director of the National Health & Medical Research Council of Australia”™s Centre for Research Excellence in Electromagnetic Energy, he is a current ICNIRP Commissioner, and Professor of Health Psychology at University of Wollongong

    “I was particularly disappointed to see “Wi-Fried” air yesterday in the guise of science journalism, and felt it important to reassure other viewers that the fringe position provided by Dr Davis and associates is merely that, a fringe position that is not supported by science. There is very strong scientific consensus that, even after considering such personal views as Dr Davis”™, there is no substantiated evidence that the low levels of radiofrequency emissions encountered by mobile telecommunications can cause any harm. Of course it is impossible for science to demonstrate that anything is absolutely safe, and so regardless of whether we”™re talking about Wi-Fi or orange juice, science cannot demonstrate absolute safety. However, given that radiofrequency emissions are one of the most heavily researched agents that science has ever assessed, and given that (contrary to Catalyst”™s claims) no substantiated health effects have emerged, we can be very confident that the emissions are indeed safe. For further information about the international consensus view in this area, you may find the website of the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) of interest (www.icnirp.org).”

    Read the full AusSMC/simex posting here

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