Fluoridation: Hangout with the University of Waikato

The referenda defeat suffered by the Fluoride Free groups campaigning against community water fluoridation does not mean this issue has now been settled. The activist groups insist they will continue their campaign.

Hamilton is still a prime target for them. Despite the 70% support for fluoridation the referendum was not binding. The  new Hamilton City Council still has to vote on whether to re-introduce fluoridation.  So expect to see more campaigning in Hamilton in the near future.

This means Monday’s “hangout” by Waikato University is still going to draw a lot of attention. It’s a chance for interested people to ask questions directly to a panel of academics with expertise in chemistry, fluoride and the fluoridation issue.

This will be a new experience for me – never participated in an on-line “hangout” – and I am intrigued to see how successful this will be for communicating science to the public.

The video will be available on-line afterwards but for anyone wanting to participate here are the details:

When

Date: Monday 14 October 2013
Time: 12pm – 1pm NZST

Where

On the University of Waikato Fluoridation in Hamilton Hangout website –

The video of the live hangout will be embedded on this page 10 minutes before the event, or you can view and ask questions on the Google+ page –http://bit.ly/1fkzNWe.

The Hangout page advises:

We’ll be asking your questions live to our expert panel. Tell us what you want to know about fluoridation on Facebook or on Twitter using the hashtag #uowhangout or on our Google + Page via the Hangout Q&A app. Once the hangout has started, you will also be able to ask questions via the comments section on the YouTube live hangout.

New to Google Hangouts? Find out more about Google Hangouts here.

What if I can’t make it?

They will be uploading the complete hangout to their YouTube channel to watch after it ends:http://www.youtube.com/UniversityWaikato

The panel:

• Dr Graham Saunders, Senior Lecturer (inorganic chemistry)
• Dr Joseph Lane, Senior Lecturer (physical and theoretical chemistry)
• Dr Michael Mucalo, Senior Lecturer (physical chemistry)
• Dr Carrie Barber, Clinical Psychology Graduate Programme Director
• Dr Alison Campbell, Senior Lecturer (biological sciences)
• Associate Professor Merilyn Manley-Harris, Associate Professor (organic and analytical chemistry)

See also:

Waikato University Fluoridation in Hamilton Hangout Facebook Event page.
Similar articles on fluoridation
Making sense of fluoride Facebook page
Fluoridate our water Facebook page
New Zealanders for fluoridation Facebook page