Misinformation Trap & Changing Minds: My Journey from Creationist to Biologist

Our Program: Why do intelligent people fall for science denial, pseudoscience, or conspiracy theories?

In this talk, Melanie Trecek-King will explore how cognitive biases, social influences, and deeply held beliefs can trap us in misinformation. Drawing on her own experience as a former young earth creationist, she’ll explain why facts alone often fail to change minds, and how curiosity, skepticism, and empathy can help us navigate today’s complex information landscape — and connect with those who disagree with us.
Our Speaker: Melanie Trecek-King is a critical thinking communicator, science educator, and creator of Thinking Is Power — a twist on the phrase "knowledge is power"—which empowers individuals with the skills to make better decisions and protect themselves from misinformation.
As an Associate Professor of Biology at Massasoit Community College, she teaches an award-winning general-education science course and works with middle and high school educators to integrate these concepts into their curricula.

Trecek-King is the Education Director for the Mental Immunity Project and CIRCE (Cognitive Immunology Research Collaborative), and is a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.

This talk is cosponsored by the Freethought Society and the Humanist Society of Santa Barbara

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