Fifth CHALLENGE: The public’s trust in science

This is the fifth challenge at the DDA Winter School for postdocs. We are currently in an era where there is increasing distrust in the public debate about science. A survey made for the Ministry of Education and Research in Denmark revealed that two out of three people that responded have a high or very high degree of trust to the researchers; however, 82% only vaguely (or not at all) trust that the media report scientific findings truthfully! In general, they believe that the public debate is not supported sufficiently by facts from research. Denmark is not alone in painting this picture. Other countries, such as the USA, face an uphill battle for the public validation of science. Examples abound in climate science, regenerative medicine, and the uprising of anti-vaccination campaigns. Too often, miscommunication and the need for sensational news leads to this outcome.