2024 has been an exciting year for the CONSPIRACY_FX team as we continue our research on the consequences of conspiracy theories and engage with researchers, scholars, and professionals across the globe.
In May, Karen took part in a dynamic panel discussion titled ‘Fake News Gone Viral: Countering the Misinformation Epidemic’ at Oxford. This important conversation tackled the spread of misinformation in the digital age and examined its intersection with conspiracy theories. Then, in July, Karen delivered a seminar on conspiracy theories at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna Summer School in Italy, and Ricky and Mikey attended the ISPP 2024 Annual Meeting in Chile, where they explored the broader implications of social and political psychology on conspiracy theory belief. Karen also presented at the Symposium of Social Psychology in Hungary, expanding on the psychological mechanisms behind belief in conspiracy theories and how these beliefs can influence behaviour and decision-making on a larger scale.
In September, Karen attended the Summit of Minds in Chamonix to discuss the societal consequences of misinformation and the role of conspiracy theories in shaping public opinion and Daniel represented CONSPIRACY_FX at the 53rd DGPS Congress/15th ÖGP Conference in Vienna. September also bought the annual CONSPIRACY_FX Writing Retreat, and as usual, Great Higham Barn was an inspiring environment for the team to come together with colleagues from across the University of Kent to focus on writing, brainstorming, and advancing their research.
One of the year’s major highlights was the CONSPIRACY_FX Conference which took place at the University of Kent in Canterbury between 28th and 30th June. We were joined by over 70 researchers across a number of fields, to present their work on the consequences of conspiracy theories. It was an opportunity to exchange ideas, discuss new findings, and network. Thanks to everyone who came and made the event so successful!
2024 was an incredibly productive year, on top of all of the above, we have also continued to publish our research – you can find details of the publications from 2024 and more here.
We look forward to continuing our work in 2025, stay tuned for more updates, and thank you for being a part of our journey.