Originally only available by direct download for a fee from the Science Moms website, in May 2018, the full film was posted to the Science Moms YouTube channel for free viewing.[3][4]
Background
In 2015, a group of bloggers[a] wrote an open letter to several celebrity mothers, including Sarah Michelle Gellar and Gwyneth Paltrow,[6] criticizing their anti-GMO stance, and explaining the safety and benefits of GMOs.[1][7] The letter, in part, read:
Please, don't co-opt motherhood and wield your fame to oppose beneficial technologies like genetic engineering. Certain celebrities have misled thousands of parents into thinking that vaccines are harmful, and we see the same pattern of misinformation repeating itself here. When GMOs are stigmatized, farmers and consumers aren't able to benefit from much-needed advancements like plants with increased nutrients, or plants that can adapt to changing environmental stresses.[5][8]
This letter caught the attention of Natalie Newell, who said "I was so impressed to see this group of intelligent, relatable and reasonable moms standing up for science and against the fear-based culture that seems to have infected the world of parenting."[1] Newell reached out to Jenny Splitter, one of the letter's authors, about working together on a documentary.[1] Following discussion with Splitter and others, Newell went on to produce the film,[1] along with executive producer Stephen Hupp, a professor of psychology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Newell also served as the director on the documentary.[2]
Description
Featured in the film are writer Jenny Splitter,
science communicator Kavin Senapathy.[1][7] As reported by the Center for Inquiry: "Through interviews with five... moms with careers in science, we get both an idea of what the modern parent has to contend with, as well as some clarity on some of the more hot-button issues around food and health."[9]
According to one of the science moms featured in the film, Kavin Senapathy, the film's goal is to provide a counterpoint to wide-spread anti-science misinformation affecting parenting, including anti-
According to Katiraee, another science mom in the film, “Celebrities are beautiful, with aspirational lifestyles... but we shouldn’t take their parenting advice without scrutiny. Giving birth doesn’t mean our ‘mommy instinct’ is correct. That requires evidence.”[11]
Producer/director Newell has said, "The goal of the movie is to provide a counter-narrative to the anti-GMO, anti-vax, pro-alternative medicine culture that has popped up in the world of parenting." She also said that critical thinking is very important, and she hopes Science Moms could act as a springboard to that end.[12]
In her book, Whitewash: The Story of a Weed Killer, Cancer, and the Corruption of Science, Carey Gillam accused the Science Moms team of having ties to Monsanto, alleging that they "post favorable industry information on an array of websites while appearing to be independent of industry influence."[13][14]: 34:00 In a December 10, 2017 interview on the Serious Inquires Only podcast, Natalie Newell speculated as to where Gillam got the idea that the creation of Science Moms was influenced by Monsanto. Newell thinks that it may be due to an email written by biologistKevin Folta which was obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, in which Folta wrote "Moms are people to talk to about this stuff."[14]: 35:40
In January 2018, Parent.com reported on the documentary in an article titled "5 Food Myths It's Time to Stop Believing" and detailed the five food myths that the film takes on as follows:[15][16]