In 2011, for its chiropractic course, RMIT University was awarded the Bent Spoon which "is presented annually to the perpetrator of the most preposterous piece of paranormal or pseudo-scientific piffle." This is rightly harmful to the reputation of RMIT and harmful to the reputation of science degrees that RMIT offers.

It is important that universities teach and promote science and educate against ignorance or misinformation. Both chiropractics and acupuncture are based on out-dated models and still lack enough strong evidence that demonstrate their effectiveness as treatments.

The scientific method works and for this simple reason, its name is often hijacked in the support of unscientific medicine that can cause harm and prevent or delay patients from seeking proper medical care. If we want to ensure the public makes informed decisions with health care and if we want to keep the trust of the community in science and in our tertiary institutions, then we must criticise pseudo-science and we urge RMIT University to support evidence based medicine.

http://www.ebm-first.com/acupuncture.html​

http://www.ebm-first.com/chiropractic.html​

http://www.skeptics.com.au/latest/announcements/featured-announcement/bent-spoon-to-rmit-soty-to-loretta-marron/​

http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD005319/acupuncture-for-shoulder-pain​

http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD005427/combined-chiropractic-interventions-for-low-back-pain​

http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD001002/manual-therapy-for-asthma​

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/%2021923248