As the world witnesses a surge in interest in psychedelics, Ayahuasca has emerged as a cultural phenomenon, drawing thousands from around the globe to Peru in search of spiritual and therapeutic breakthroughs. Unfortunately, the field of psychedelics has been steeped in mysticism and pseudoscience for decades, complicating efforts to assess their true benefits and risks. This conference delves into the rise of Ayahuasca tourism and the broader psychedelic renaissance, inviting participants to explore the promises and pitfalls of these substances through a lens of skepticism, critical thinking and science-based medicine.
About the Speaker:
Olivier Bernard (B.Pharm, M.Sc, FOPQ, M.S.M.) has been a pharmacist since 2004 and a Fellow of Ordre des Pharmaciens du Québec since 2022. He holds a master’s degree in research in pharmacogenetics (2006). Since 2012, he has been involved in science communication as an author and illustrator on social media and in several books. He received the Innovation Award from Ordre des Pharmaciens du Québec (2015) and the Marc Lebel Award from the Faculty of Pharmacy at Université Laval (2022) for his science outreach work. In 2019, he was awarded the international John Maddox Prize in London for defending science in the face of adversity, related to his work on injectable vitamin C in cancer patients. From 2016 to 2022, he wrote and hosted the documentary series Les Aventures du Pharmachien on Radio-Canada (CBC). Since 2020, he produces Dérives, the most-listened-to podcast on Radio-Canada OHdio, whose first season won a gold medal at the New York Festivals Radio Awards 2021. In 2024, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Decoration by the Governor General of Canada, recognizing Canadians who have made exceptional contributions to the nation.
Website & socials:
https://www.instagram.com/le.pharmachien
