Biology conference in Italy sparks criticism for including anti-vaccine speakers

A conference set to take place in Rome at the beginning of March to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Order of Biologists has sparked controversy around Italy because it will host a series of speakers associated with the anti-vaccine movement.

Many Italian scientists have distanced themselves from the “New Frontiers of Biology” conference.1 But the president of the order, Vincenzo D’Anna, who has rejected the nickname AntiVaxxer, defended the conference for questioning the safety of scientific developments.

He told The BMJ that he could not understand “all the fuss” about the conference. “Should someone have something to complain about, there will be an hour …