Aired Jan 8, 2025

Information is everywhere—limitless, instant, and free. But alongside this unprecedented access, a flood of misinformation and deliberate disinformation threatens our ability to make informed decisions, trust experts, and engage meaningfully with others.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. David Helfand, a professor of astronomy at Columbia University, former president of the American Astronomical Society, and author of A Survival Guide to the Misinformation Age. Dr. Helfand has spent decades tackling one of society’s biggest challenges: helping people sharpen their critical thinking skills to navigate a world awash in false and misleading information.

Whether you’re overwhelmed by today’s information overload or simply curious about how we can think more clearly, this conversation is for you.

Dr. David J. Helfand is a professor of astronomy at Columbia University, where he has taught for over 45 years, serving as Chair of the Department of Astronomy for nearly half that time. A past president of the American Astronomical Society and current Chair of the American Institute of Physics, he has authored over 200 scientific publications and mentored 22 PhD students. Dedicated to science education, he introduced the first science course to Columbia’s Core Curriculum in 50 years. Dr. Helfand’s books include A Survival Guide to the Misinformation Age and The Universal Timekeepers: Reconstructing History Atom by Atom.

Links

David Helfand | Astronomy & Astrophysics (Columbia University)

David J. Helfand (davidjhelfand.info)