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  • Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences
  • Department of Political Science
Accolades & Honors

Michael MacKenzie Co-Authors Piece Arguing for More Open Disagreement Among Scientists in Political Settings

Michael MacKenzie, assistant professor of political science at the University of Pittsburgh’s Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Art and Sciences, recently co-authored an analysis piece published in the British Medical Journal arguing for more open disagreement and diversity in expertise among scientists in political settings.

MacKenzie worked with Alfred Moore from the University of York in the United Kingdom on the piece. MacKenzie’s research focuses on democratic theory, political representation and public engagement among other areas.

The two suggest that scientific experts be allowed to carefully craft messaging rather than having political committee deliberations published to eliminate misinterpretation, have experts vote to form collective judgments, take the selection of relevant experts out of the hands of political leaders and encourage competing groups of experts to contribute to policy debates.