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

 

Published on October 15, 2020 at 1:55 pm