Invited Symposium I: Dispatches from the pandemic: Creating an accurate scientific record and speaking up for science and equity during chaos [presented in person and live streamed]

The conference theme of this year's Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice recognizes the underlying value that has long driven our profession and the commitment to upholding this principle in the current setting. Eradicating racism, alleviating poverty and economic inequality, enhancing social inclusion, and fighting the Coronavirus pandemic require a continuous pursuit and advocacy of this strongly embedded value that defines the profession. In this Invited Symposium, two eminent scholars will discuss key challenges and strategies to uphold this value, particularly, how to create an accurate scientific record and speak up for science and equity during chaos. When Dr. Thorp became the Editor-in-chief of Science in October 2019, he wasn't planning to write editorials challenging the US president during an international crisis. However, as the pandemic began to unfold, Dr. Thorp was triggered by Donald Trump's inaccurate and irresponsible statements about the COVID-19 disease and vaccine development. Dr. Thorp then published a series of editorials (19 of them as of December 2021) to speak up for science and the urgency of promoting racial, social, and political justice during chaos. In this Symposium, Dr. Takeuchi will discuss with Dr. Thorp on important themes of these editorials, and their implications to social work science and practice.