The Conditions for Trust in Science, Technology and Innovation

Chapter by Maria Michali, Amalia Kallergi, Eva Paraschou, Laurens Landeweerd, Steffi Friedrichs, Athina Vakali & George Gaskell: “…examines three historical case studies: (1) ‘genetic modification to genome editing’; (2) ‘controversies over climate science’, and (3) ‘artificial intelligence in social media’. On this basis it develops an understanding of how public trust and confidence in science, technology, and innovation (STI) can be gained, maintained, or lost. This leads to practical recommendations for ethical and societally sustainable STI. There are both intuitive and evidenced warrants for trust in science. Intuitive warrants arise when innovation creates an immediate sense of familiarity, making the future feel like a natural continuation of the past. Evidenced warrants occur when science generates new insights or produces technologies that benefit individuals or society. However, trust in science may be undermined by scientific fraud, the dismissal of public concerns about innovations that challenge societal values, and the populist rejection of science, often accompanied by conspiracy theories. Building and maintaining public trust in STI is a multifaceted challenge that requires coordinated efforts from scientists, research institutions, funding bodies, regulators, and democratic governance processes. A commitment to transparency, proactive engagement with public concerns, risk assessment and mitigation, responsible communication, and strong regulatory frameworks is essential for navigating the complexities of technological advancement and ensuring public trust…(More)”.