article · Nature Human Behaviour
A global survey of 71,922 individuals across 68 countries reveals that in most nations, the majority of the public trusts scientists. Furthermore, most respondents agree that scientists should take a more active role in society and policymaking. These findings challenge concerns that public trust in the epistemic authority of science has broadly collapsed. Nonetheless, trust levels differ both across and within nations, with differences explained by country-level conditions and individual characteristics such as political orientation. Although general trust is strong, scepticism among even a small minority can still weaken the uptake of scientific evidence in governance and crisis response. The findings offer vital context for scientists and public officials seeking to protect and strengthen public confidence.
Public confidence in scientists is essential for evidence-based decision-making, particularly during international crises. By showing that trust in science remains high across most countries, this research dispels assumptions of a universal trust deficit. At the same time, it underlines how minority opposition can still impede the integration of sound scientific counsel into public policy and national governance.
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Science is crucial for evidence-based decision-making. Public trust in scientists can help decision makers act on the basis of the best available evidence, especially during crises. However, in recent years the epistemic authority of science has been challenged, causing concerns about low public trust in scientists. We interrogated these concerns with a preregistered 68-country survey of 71,922 respondents and found that in most countries, most people trust scientists and agree that scientists should engage more in society and policymaking. We found variations between and within countries, which we explain with individual- and country-level variables, including political orientation. While there is no widespread lack of trust in scientists, we cannot discount the concern that lack of trust in scientists by even a small minority may affect considerations of scientific evidence in policymaking. These findings have implications for scientists and policymakers seeking to maintain and increase trust in scientists.
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DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-02090-5
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