In 2017, thousands marched in Washington DC for science funding and analysis in politics. Fast forward a few years, and America's trust in science was divided. While most Americans trust scientists, the pandemic showed cracks. Democrats kept their faith, but Republicans lost theirs. Masks and vaccines became political hot potatoes. Trust in science shapes big decisions like climate change and health regulations. Now, with Donald Trump back in the White House, scientists worry about the future. But there's hope. Republican trust in science is on the rise again.

The messy process of science can be tough to understand. It's a back-and-forth of testing ideas and making mistakes. People expect consistency in politics, not in science. So when the government changed its mind about masks, people felt betrayed. This hurt trust in vaccines too.

People agree scientists are smart, but not all think they're honest. Many see scientists as socially awkward and bad communicators. But that's changing. Scientists are using social media to connect better. Pictures of scientists smiling make them seem warmer. Building long-term relationships can help too.

Some Republicans don't want scientists in policy debates. They worry scientists only care about data, not people's feelings. But science is key to big issues like climate change and drug regulation. We need to talk about what the data means.

For years, science communicators thought educating the public would fix the trust gap. But it's not about education. It's about being open about mistakes and building relationships. Science isn't political, it's a way of thinking. There's hope that trust in science will bounce back.

Trust in Science: A Divided Nation

Actions