Students Against Pseudoscience have condemned Cambridge Biomedical Campus for “endorsing pseudoscience” through its involvement in the Cambridge Wellness Festival.

The festival was held yesterday (09/09) on the green of the Biomedical Campus.

In an official Instagram statement posted on Thursday (04/09), the group criticised the festival, held on the Biomedical Campus, for including sessions of the controversial practices of Reiki and Reflexology. It defined these as “pseudoscientific practice with no evidence base”.

Students Against Pseudoscience wrote in the statement that they “are deeply concerned about the decision of the Campus to host such an event”.

While the Festival’s website states it is “facilitated” by the Campus, it claims that the Campus’ “involvement in the Festival should not be seen as endorsement by CBC Ltd or its member organisations”.

The annual Cambridge Wellness Festival aims to promote better wellness by hosting activities such as puppy therapy, meditation, and massage sessions.

Students Against Pseudoscience describe themselves on their Instagram page as a “student-led initiative,” based at Cambridge University, which focuses on promoting awareness of scientific misinformation.

Meanwhile, the web page further defends the festival itself against any claims of endorsing the scientific accuracy of its events. It claims “the accuracy and scientific legitimacy of any content of stallholders, activities and workshops at the Cambridge Wellness Festival is the responsibility of those presenting it”.

Cambridge Biomedical Campus defines its key values as including holding the “highest standards of safety in its environments and practices”.

The student group has called upon the Campus to “re-examine this decision, and to uphold the scientific integrity on which its reputation rests”. 

They continued: “By endorsing pseudoscience, the campus risks legitimising practices with no foundation - particularly concerning a time when anti-scientific movements are rising worldwide.”

Reiki, a practice believed to utilise the body’s natural healing ability when hands are placed above the body, has no scientific backing. Reflexology also has limited scientific evidence to support its claimed benefits.

Students Against Pseudoscience claimed that the inclusion of such practices “risks misleading attendees into believing such practices are comparable to evidence-based healthcare”. 

Individuals who turn to unproven alternative treatments may delay or reject necessary effective medical care.

Cambridge University Health Partners was contacted for comment.