She’s comfortable in the two cultures of science and journalism and spoke from the both at a Monash graduation

Dr Finkel was originally a research biochemist, moving to co-found science-for-all journal Cosmos. She spoke from the core values of both disciplines in a Monash graduation address this week, warning of threats from fake news and how to face them down.

“The clear communication of science is also our best tool for trying to blow away the dark and dangerous fog of the post-truth era,” she said.

But while Dr Finkel pointed to the power of scientific method to achieve the astonishing, the detection of gravitation waves, the first glimpse of a black hole, she acknowledged anti-science “grows ever-stronger.” The measles epidemic in the US is a “victory for the anti-vaxers,” she said.  But while zealots are beyond convincing, “there are plenty of people who are open to reason and evidence and to them we must communicate.”

“I entreat you not to sit on the sidelines, take up the baton that has been passed to you,” she told science graduates.

“Around the family table, your workplace, at bar or on-line, challenge the group-think, test the evidence and do your bit to bring back enlightened thinking,” she said.