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Examining the Mistrust of Science

Completed

Historically public opinion has upheld science as a worthy mechanism for identifying truth, and the public has relied on the scientific community to inform policymakers and the public on issues of scientific importance for decades. Uncertainty of science's objectivity—from inside and outside the scientific community—could threaten to destabilize the cultural authority of science and its position within public policy. This meeting considered the trends in public opinion of science, examined potential sources of mistrust, and considered the ways in which cross-sector collaboration between government, universities, and industry may improve public trust in science and scientific institutions.

Description

An ad hoc committee will organize a public workshop to examine trends in public opinion of science in the United States, to be held in conjunction with the February 2017 GUIRR meeting. The workshop will consider how changing opinions of science by subgroups of Americans may inform the presentation of scientific information to policymakers and the public. It will also explore the extent to which cross-sector collaboration between government, universities, and industry may improve public trust in science and scientific institutions in the future. A brief rapporteur-authored workshop proceedings will be published.

Collaborators

Committee

Bradley W. Fenwick

Chair

Rachel E. Levinson

Member

Robert Powell

Member

Staff

Susan Sauer Sloan

Lead

Megan Nicholson

Major units and sub-units

National Academy of Sciences

Collaborator

National Academy of Medicine

Collaborator

Policy and Global Affairs

Lead

Government-University-Industry-Philanthropy Research Roundtable

Lead

U.S. Science and Innovation Policy

Lead

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