Photo: Getty Images By Contributor 12th May 2021
Prof Deirdre Madden, Deputy Chair of the HSE writes about the public’s trust in science
Everything in this pandemic is about trust. We are asked to trust the science, trust the experts, and trust the government. Why is trust in science so important? Firstly, scientific knowledge is a critical resource that enables politicians and policy makers to inform and legitimise their decisions.
It is also important for laypeople in terms of forming public opinion about important issues.
Distrust in science can be problematic for society; for example, people who do not believe in climate change will not see the need to take political action to slow its progress.