Over 50 SU physics students, faculty denounce Deepak Chopra event
UPDATED Oct. 15 at 6:02 p.m.
The office of Enrollment & Student Experience at Syracuse University sent out an email on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 announcing an event titled “An Evening with Dr. Deepak Chopra” to take place on Friday, October 16, 2020. Deepak Chopra is arguably the most prominent peddler of pseudoscience and misinformation in the world. He is cut from the same cloth as flat-earthers, anti-vaxxers, and anti-maskers. Worse still, he has authored several books exploiting those in need, under the pretense of self-care, and has profited from it.
We, as members of the scientific community of Syracuse University, cannot sit idly by while a renowned fraud is given a platform to sell his brand. We therefore condemn this decision made by the University to endorse Deepak Chopra and his brand, in any capacity. It undermines the work we do as scientists and educators, making steady progress not only in our fields through research, but also in trying to educate the community on science and scientific thinking. The importance of critical thinking, especially in the current climate, cannot be understated, and the proliferation of pseudoscience and misinformation is not to be taken lightly. For an example of its impacts, look no further than the (still rising) heavy death toll from COVID-19 in the US. This was caused in a large part due to negligence from the government, and its embrace of pseudoscience and misinformation.
We recognize that mental health and wellness are of great importance, especially in these tough times, and we are in full support of the University’s initiative to address these issues. We also recognize that meditation and mindfulness have real, positive effects. However, to say that “Chopra has been at the forefront of health and wellness”, as it states on the event’s invitation, is a massive insult to the people who dedicate their professional lives to advancing the field of health and wellness with methods shown to work. Moreover, it is a betrayal of the people in the SU community struggling with their own mental health.
Chopra’s book, “Quantum Healing” is one of many that is full of false, pseudoscientific claims such as “the effects quantum mechanics has on health.” Chopra”severely misuses jargon from Physics and Chemistry, starting from the very title of the book. It is this (mis)use of jargon that gives it the illusion of authenticity to the untrained eye, which is what makes people like Chopra dangerous. He has built his brand on such lofty hogwash claims, and profited from the false hope the readers derive therein. Opening the gates for the consumption of his products by our community would serve to be detrimental to their wellbeing, at a point in time when staying healthy is crucial. SU’s invitation and association with Deepak Chopra not only endorses his brand of pseudoscience, but also promotes it, as Chopra will be using SU’s platform to market his fraudulence. SU’s endorsement of Chopra’s message might cause people to rely on his false methods, thereby dissuading those in need from seeking real, medical help.
From the invite, it is abundantly clear that the event aims primarily to promote his new products, which could cause harm to the health of our student community. Therefore, we implore the administration to reconsider the benefits of endorsing events like this, which promote pseudoscience and are designed to make money from students rather than contribute to an academic conversation. Let us come together to ensure that SU’s tradition of open conversation and free speech serves the public good, by allowing the free exchange of ideas in search for the truth, and is not subverted by pseudoscientific claims made for the purpose of promoting a product, or marketing to students.
Sincerely,
Bharath Sambasivam, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
List of signatories:
Vidyesh Rao Anisetti, Phd Student, Department of Physics
Muhammad Asaduzzaman, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Dr. Aiyalam Balachandran, Joel Dorman Steele Emeritus Professor, Department of Physics
Andrew Ballard, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Michelle Berry, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Steven Blusk, Professor of Physics
Ava Breitbeck, Undergraduate, Department of Physics
Elenna Capote, PhD Candidate, Department of Physics
Bobby Carroll, Research Postdoc, Department of Physics
Faraz Chahili, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Prashali Chauhan, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Brad Cole, PhD Candidate, Department of Physics
Matthew Cufari, Undergraduate, Department of Physics
Raj De, PhD Candidate, Department of Physics
Nicholas Didio, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Pan Dong, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Abhilash Yallappa Dombara, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Paul Franco, Undergraduate, Department of Physics
Walter Freeman, Associate Teaching Professor, Department of Physics
Mahesh Gandikota, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Julia Giannini, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Tighe Gugerty, Undergraduate, Department of Physics
Tyler Hain, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Vito Mariano Iaia, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Ali Imran, PhD Candidate, Department of Physics
Indrajeet, PhD Candidate, Department of Physics
Eric King, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Suman Kumar Kundu, PhD Candidate, Department of Physics
Hong Beom Lee, Undergraduate, Department of Physics
Amber Lenon, PhD Candidate, Department of Physics
He Li, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Kesavan Manivannan, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Manu Mannattil, PhD candidate, Department of of Physics
Chandler Martin, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Tianna McBroom, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Patrick Miles, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Erik Muñiz, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Eva Nesbit, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Mônica Soares Nunes, Research Postdoc, Department of Physics
Mario Olivares, PhD Candidate, Department of Physics
Kamalendu Paul, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
JT Paustian, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Ari Joel Pedersen, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Arnab Pradhan, PhD Candidate, Department of Physics
Kenneth Ratliff, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Gabriele Rigo, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Ohana B. Rodrigues, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Sourav Roy, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Christian Santangelo, Professor, Department of Physics
Michael Senatore, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Ethan Stanifer, PhD alumnus, Department of Physics
Maxx Swoger, PhD Candidate, Department of Physics
Goksu Toga,PhD Candidate, Department of Physics
Aaron Trowbridge, Undergraduate, Department of Physics
Daniel Vander-Hyde, PhD Candidate, Department of Physics
Aravindhan Venkateswaran, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Subham Vidyant, PhD candidate, Department of Physics
Scott Watson, Associate Professor, Department of Physics
Laurel White, Undergraduate, Department of Physics
Eric Yelton, PhD candidate, Department of Physics