There is a general belief that science is crucial for evidence-based decision-making. Public trust in scientists, therefore, is believed to help decision makers act on the basis of the best available evidence.
Trust in science and scientists is also seen to provide many benefits to society. For example, helping people make informed decisions on health and nutrition on the basis of the best available evidence, and helping enable the management of global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the COVID -19 example, societies with (perceived) high public trust in science and scientists appear to have dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic more effectively, as it was believed the public were more likely to comply with non-pharmaceutical COVID-19 interventions and had higher vaccine confidence.
But does the global public really trust science and scientists?
A significant survey was recently undertaken on the Trust in scientists and their role in society. The survey included 71,922 respondents across 68-countries with the goal to determine the level of trust in scientists and how this may have implications for scientists and policymakers seeking to maintain and increase trust in scientists.
You can read the outcomes of the survey here