Our mission is to resist strategic misinformation, promote an informed society, and strengthen democratic discourse.

NEWS

An aerial view of Drumheller Fountain.

CIP’s Carl Bergstrom and Jevin West introduce new ‘Modern-Day Oracles or Bullshit Machines?’ AI course 

02.05.2025

EDUCATION | The humanities course about how to learn, work and thrive in a world increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence was designed for students with and without a technical background. The entire course is free, available online and built around 18 lessons, each which take 5-10 minutes.

During 2025 University Faculty Lecture, CIP’s Kate Starbird to discuss how influence and improvisation shape online conversations

02.24.2025

RESEARCH | At the 2025 University Faculty Lecture on February 24, CIP co-founder Kate Starbird will discuss her work understanding how online rumors, misinformation and disinformation are created and shared in uncertain times — shining a light on the roles we and others play on social media and beyond.

EDUCATION

Fostering a more informed public through media literacy education in WA classrooms and communities 

VIDEO |  AUGUST 2024

At the CIP, we’re proud of our efforts to support multidisciplinary research and the development of educational programming and information literacy resources. Our work not only supports a more informed public, but also has inspired teachers, librarians, and other educators to apply these lessons and skills in their classrooms and communities across Washington and beyond. In a CIP-produced video, we share highlights from our annual MisinfoDay educational event for high school students, teachers and other educators; our Loki’s Loop educational gaming development work at the UW Information School; and support of intergenerational learning opportunities that bring students together with the adults in their lives and communities.

Break-free in a misinformation themed escape room

RESOURCES 

Loki’s Loop games, including the Euphorigen Investigation, immerse people in an interactive escape room of manipulated media, social media bots, deepfakes, and other forms of deception to learn about misinformation. These games, a research project from the University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public in partnership with the UW Technology & Social Change Group, UW GAMER Research Group and Puzzle Break, are designed to improve people’s awareness of misinformation tactics and generate reflection on the emotional triggers and psychological biases that make misinformation so powerful. Loki’s Loop games are available for libraries, schools, and organizations with an educational mission, in both online and in-person versions.

PEOPLE

A headshot of Cullen White.

Cullen White starts as the CIP’s new director of strategy and operations

01.24.2025

Cullen White, a strategic operations leader with more than 15 years of experience driving organizational transformation and social impact initiatives, has started as the University of Washington Center for an Informed Public’s new director of strategy and operations. 

Alexandros Efstratiou joins CIP as postdoctoral scholar

02.05.2025

In his work at the CIP, computational social scientist Alexandros Efstratiou will focus on outgroup misperceptions, polarization through entertainment consumption and lifestyle choices, and the meta-science of the study of misinformation.

CIP’s Madeline Jalbert continuing postdoctoral work through new NSF fellowship funding

10.17.2024

Madeline Jalbert, a Center for an Informed Public postdoctoral scholar based at the Information School, is continuing her research at the CIP thanks to a postdoctoral research fellowship awarded by the National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences.

Jason C. Young selected for 2024 CIP Robert Mason Outstanding Mentorship award

AWARDS

The ability to connect with and understand others is an important quality for mentorship. It’s something that comes naturally to University of Washington Information School senior research scientist Jason C. Young, who was recently recognized by his peers at the Center for an Informed Public with the 2024 CIP Robert Mason Outstanding Mentorship Award, which is intended to highlight the work of individuals making a significant positive impact on others and the CIP community. 

CIP Updates

 

 

“It’s one of the most  important problems of our time that we as a society need to solve. This is not a left or right issue. This is an issue that transcends political boundaries. Everyone wants to get this right.”

— Jevin West, Co-Founder and Inaugural Director

 

CONFRONTING MISINFORMATION

The spread of misinformation is among the most pressing challenges of our time. New platforms for human interaction and information sharing have opened the door to misinformation, disinformation and other forms of networked manipulation, which not only mislead and create divisions, but also diminish trust in democratic institutions such as science and journalism. The nonpartisan Center for an Informed Public at the University of Washington brings diverse voices from across industry, government, nonprofits and other institutions together to confront the problem through our research, education, policy and engagement efforts. Learn More

WHAT WE DO

RESEARCH

We support cutting-edge research with a strong focus on research to practice, which spans disciplines from sociology to information science and law.

EDUCATION

We educate information consumers across the demographic landscape in order to make more informed decisions.

LAW & POLICY

We address information policy through generative analyses of the legal frameworks and the available levers for intervention.

ENGAGEMENT

We engage directly with the public in collaboration with our partners, libraries and community leaders.

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