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The “Trust in Science for Policy Nexus" workshop, held in Ispra, Italy, on September 12-13, 2024, convened by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre, the International Science Council, and co-sponsored by the US National Science Foundation, explored the intricate dynamics of trust in science as it relates to policymaking.
This workshop addressed the challenges and strategies for fostering trust among scientists, policymakers, and the public, particularly in the context of disinformation and the current political situation. One of the most fundamental questions was how far issues of trust in science for policy can be separated from issues of trust in democratic institutions in general.
Discussions highlighted the need to integrate scientific evidence in a credible way into policymaking to bolster public trust in specific policies and the democratic system more generally. Furthermore, there is a need for clear governance frameworks to manage expectations and ensure scientific integrity, to support scientists as "honest brokers" and to tackle criticism regarding the limitations of science.
The workshop highlighted that, while scientific evidence can strengthen policymaking and trust in political decisions and institutions, science is subject to human fallibility and scientific controversies, calling for a nuanced understanding of trust that recognises the benefits and limits of science in policymaking.
The workshop also identified the need for further research into the complex relationships between scientific institutions, policymakers, and the public, emphasizing the importance of transparent, responsible, and inclusive scientific practices to enhance trust in democratic governance.
Read the Report here
Suggested Action in the Report to Improve Trust in Science for Policy:
The International Science Council has elicited responses to the report from
Karly Kehoe, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Professor of History and Canada Research Chair in Atlantic Canada Communities at Saint Mary’s University: https://council.science/blog/scientific-freedom-and-the-responsible-conduct-of-scientists/
Robert French was the Former Chancellor of the University of Western Australia. He holds holds Adjunct and Honorary Professorial positions at the University of Western Australia, Melbourne University, Monash University and the Australian National University: https://council.science/blog/trust-in-science-ethical-responsibilities-for-scientists-and-universities/
Françoise Baylis (CM, ONS, PhD, FRSC, FISC) is a Distinguished Research Professor, Emerita at Dalhousie University. She is also Vice-Chair, of the ISC Committee on Freedom and Responsibility in Science (2022-2026) and President of the Royal Society of Canada (2025-2028): https://council.science/blog/science-advocates-and-science-diplomats/
Dr. Jorge A. Huete-Pérez is currently a teaching professor at the Science, Technology and International Affairs Program (STIA) at Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. He is also Foreign Secretary of the Academy of Sciences of Nicaragua and a member of the ISC Committee for Freedom and Responsibility in Science: https://council.science/blog/safeguarding-scientific-integrity-in-fragile-democracies/
Hakan S. Orer is Professor of Pharmacology at the Koç University School of Medicine in Istanbul. He is also the President of the Science Academy, Türkiye; a Member of the UNESCO IBC and a Member of the ISC Committee for Freedom and Responsibility in Science: https://council.science/blog/rebuilding-trust-in-science-cannot-rely-on-persuasion-alone
Heather Douglas is a Full Professor in the Department of Philosophy and a member of the Socially Engaged Philosophy of Science Group at the Michigan State University. She is also a Member of the ISC Committee for Freedom and Responsibility in Science: https://council.science/blog/trust-depends-on-public-openness-about-how-science-is-practised/
Xuan Liu is Director of the Innovation Environment Institute at the National Academy of Innovation Strategy, China Association for Science and Technology (NAIS, CAST). She has an academic background in computer science, communication studies, and social psychology, with education in both China and the UK: https://council.science/blog/the-building-of-trust-in-science-and-the-realization-of-its-public-value/
08 Apr 2026 | 16 Apr 2026
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