Rebuilding Trust in Science: A Morton L. Mandel Conversation - Virtual Registration

The Academy hosted a discussion on the importance of science communication and strategies to bridge the gap between science and the public. The event featured Sean M. Decatur (American Museum of Natural History) and Naomi Oreskes (Harvard University) in conversation with Holden Thorp (American Association for the Advancement of Science). Shirley Malcom (American Association for the Advancement of Science) and Christine Russell provided welcome and closing remarks.

Panelists discussed how scientists, scholars, journalists, institutional leaders, and others who shape public opinion and trust can engage with a divided public in constructive ways. Public trust in science is declining in the United States; contributing factors include misinformation, polarization, politicization, and algorithmically generated news. Only by gaining a better understanding of the causes of the divisions and how to address them can we rebuild trust and repair societal fractures.