Meet Alex Olshansky, a second-year PhD student at Texas Tech University, and GSIG member. Alex spent some time talking with GSIG’s Rosalynn Vasquez to discuss his research interests in misinformation and pseudoscience, including his work on the Flat Earth movement.
Q: Tell us about your current research regarding “science denial” phenomenon and how your Flat Earth study shed new light into the issue.
A: As one might imagine, it’s hard to find a better example of science denial than when people insist that Earth is flat. My research is finding that most flat earthers are not necessarily less science literate than the general population. In fact, they are often very science curious. However, flat Earthers are also conspiracy-minded and have high levels of distrust of authority and institutions. This means mistrust of science as practiced by scientific institutions. Flat Earthers claim to love science but mistrust mainstream science. They rely on individuals doing their own “science” and “experiments” rather than information coming from any mainstream institutions. The role of YouTube is also crucial, as it serves as an alternative source of information where one can find many different versions of mainstream narratives, including those that fit with and reinforce one’s own worldview. Mistrust of institutions (e.g., government, media, etc.,) is of growing concern and the flat Earth phenomenon is a prime example of it.
Q: Tell us a little more about your professional background and how that led to pursuing a PhD.
A: My background is a bit different than most students in my program. I began working in the banking industry in 2004 and earned a bachelor’s degree in finance in 2006. Most recently, I was an assistant vice president of operations for a small bank in Dallas until I came to Texas Tech in 2017. A friend of mine from high school, Dr. Asheley Landrum, took notice of my interest in science based on my social media posts, and as a fellow science nerd, she reached out to me. I told her I was simply a lowly banker and only a huge fan of science, not a scientist. Fast forward to 2017, Dr. Landrum joined as a new assistant professor, and she asked me, “Hey, how’d you like to come get a PhD and do science communication with me at Tech? Oh, and they’ll pay your tuition.” After some soul searching and conversations with my family and friends, I decided this was an opportunity I shouldn’t pass up.
Q: How did your interest in science develop?
A: This is a deep question. I have to admit, I’m not one of those who had a love for science from a very early age. I remember being interested in space and dinosaurs when I was young, but that faded as I got older. It wasn’t until after college that I really became interested in science. I think it’s common as a young adult to contemplate existence and the nature of reality. There came a point where I became increasingly curious about how everything worked at a fundamental level.
I’ve been influenced by Carl Sagan and Christopher Hitchens, whose works pointed me in the direction of science as having the best answers for the nature of reality. During my spare time, I began watching video lectures on subjects ranging from physics to chemistry to evolutionary psychology. I took a deep dive into science, developed a love and a passion for it, and it has influenced my worldview ever since. Looking back, it may be because I come from a Jewish family and have observant Orthodoxy in my close family that my biggest fascination became the conflict between science and religion. This happens to be my prime area of research and helps explain why I focused on flat Earthers.
Q: What’s the next research project you’re working on?
A: I’m interested in how meta emotions such as awe or elevation influence peoples’ perception of and adoption of disinformation. In my research on flat Earthers, I found that many of them feel that a flat Earth makes them feel important, as though it were created for them, and places them at the center of the universe. This feeling may be closer to a feeling of elevation or “feeling big,” as opposed to the feeling of awe where one generally feels small. I’m interested in potentially measuring these emotions using psychophysiological tools and coupling that with self-reported measures of emotion, all while participants watch flat Earth YouTube videos. I’m curious if there’s an association between emotion and willingness to consider and potentially adopt flat Earth views, or potentially other types of misinformation and conspiracy theories. This may be what I pursue for my dissertation.
Q: What do you hope to pursue after you leave Texas Tech?
A: Like most PhD students in our program, I hope to get a tenure track job at a reputable R1 university with an excellent communications program.
Q: How has your involvement with GSIG and AEJMC helped you in your career development?
A: I am a new member of GSIG, so I’m looking forward to networking with other students and faculty. I’m planning to attend AEJMC for the first time this year to share my research and attend the job hub.
Alex Olshansky is a second-year PhD student in the College of Media & Communication. He focuses on science communication, particularly examining misinformation, conspiracy theories and pseudoscience. He can be reached at alex.olshansky@ttu.edu.
