Do Australians trust scientists? It depends on the ‘science’

Abstract

Trust in science and scientists underlies public support for social and environmental issues, from taking action on climate change to preventing the spread of viruses. Nationally representative Australian survey data show that public trust in university research is higher than that conducted in other institutions. As sources of information, public trust in scientists is considered across potentially polarising and relatively uncontroversial fields of science, with trust varying considerably according to the type of science examined. Public trust is highest in vaccine science and weather forecasting, and lowest for GM crop science, while climate science and forest management fall in between. Social and political background variables are important correlates of trust in science. Younger, tertiary educated, politically progressive Australians are most trusting. Greens party identifiers and environmentalists are more likely than other respondents to trust all types of science examined here—including GM crop science—while institutional trust is positively associated with trust in scientists.