Public opinion surveys in many countries have shown increasing trust and confidence in science and scientists through the Covid-19 pandemic. A discussion paper based on such surveys for four European countries reports and reflects on these findings.
“Trust in science: assessing pandemic impacts in four EU countries” is the title of a new paper that has been published jointly by PCST Network and EUSEA
This paper developed from a collaboration between the two organisations that started with a conference panel at ESOF 2020 (Euroscience Open Forum).
The paper’s authors are Cissi Askwall, president, and Markus Weißkopf, former president, representing EUSEA, along with Brian Trench, president, and Birte Fähnrich and Massimiano Bucchi, Scientific Committee members, representing PCST.
Findings are reported from public opinion surveys in which some of the authors are directly involved, and which are continuing through the present phase of the pandemic.
The authors note the general increase in public trust in science and scientists and comment that this has occurred at a time when “experts have faced the very significant challenge of securing citizens’ compliance with social restrictions while continuously updating and revising their knowledge”.
