Trust in scientists and their role in society across 68 countries
Authors: Cologna Viktoria , Mede Niels G. , Berger Sebastian , Besley John , Brick Cameron , Joubert Marina , Maibach Edward W. , Mihelj Sabina , Oreskes Naomi , Schäfer Mike S. , van der Linden Sander , Abdul Aziz Nor Izzatina , Abdulsalam Suleiman , Shamsi Nurulaini Abu , Aczel Balazs , Adinugroho Indro , Alabrese Eleonora , Aldoh Alaa , Alfano Mark , Ali Innocent Mbulli , Alsobay Mohammed , Altenmüller Marlene , Alvarez R. Michael , Amoako Richard , Amollo Tabitha , Ansah Patrick , Apriliawati Denisa , Azevedo Flavio , Bajrami Ani , Bardhan Ronita , Bati Keagile , Bertsou Eri , Betsch Cornelia , Bhatiya Apurav Yash , Bhui Rahul , Białobrzeska Olga , Bilewicz Michał , Bouguettaya Ayoub , Breeden Katherine , Bret Amélie , Buchel Ondrej , Cabrera-Álvarez Pablo , Cagnoli Federica , Calero Valdez André , Callaghan Timothy , Cases Rizza Kaye , Çoksan Sami , Czarnek Gabriela , De Peuter Steven , Debnath Ramit , Delouvée Sylvain , Di Stefano Lucia , Díaz-Catalán Celia , Doell Kimberly C. , Dohle Simone , Douglas Karen M. , Dries Charlotte , Dubrov Dmitrii , Dzimińska Małgorzata , Ecker Ullrich K. H. , Elbaek Christian T. , Elsherif Mahmoud , Enke Benjamin , Etienne Tom W. , Facciani Matthew , Fage-Butler Antoinette , Faisal Md. Zaki , Fan Xiaoli , Farhart Christina , Feldhaus Christoph , Ferreira Marinus , Feuerriegel Stefan , Fischer Helen , Freundt Jana , Friese Malte , Fuglsang Simon , Gallyamova Albina , Garrido-Vásquez Patricia , Garrido Vásquez Mauricio E. , Gatua Winfred , Genschow Oliver , Ghasemi Omid , Gkinopoulos Theofilos , Gloor Jamie L. , Goddard Ellen , Gollwitzer Mario , González-Brambila Claudia , Gordon Hazel , Grigoryev Dmitry , Grimshaw Gina M. , Guenther Lars , Haarstad Håvard , Harari Dana , Hawkins Lelia N. , Hensel Przemysław , Hernández-Mondragón Alma Cristal , Herziger Atar , Huang Guanxiong , Huff Markus , Hurley Mairéad , Ibadildin Nygmet , Ishibashi Maho , Islam Mohammad Tarikul , Jeddi Younes , Jin Tao , Jones Charlotte A. , Jungkunz Sebastian , Jurgiel Dominika , Kabdulkair Zhangir , Kao Jo-Ju , Kavassalis Sarah , Kerr John R. , Kitsa Mariana , Klabíková Rábová Tereza , Klein Olivier , Koh Hoyoun , Koivula Aki , Kojan Lilian , Komyaginskaya Elizaveta , König Laura , Koppel Lina , Koren Nobre Cavalcante Kochav , Kosachenko Alexandra , Kotcher John , Kranz Laura S. , Krishnan Pradeep , Kristiansen Silje , Krouwel André , Kuppens Toon , Kyza Eleni A. , Lamm Claus , Lantian Anthony , Lazić Aleksandra , Lecuona Oscar , Légal Jean-Baptiste , Leviston Zoe , Levy Neil , Lindkvist Amanda M. , Lits Grégoire , Löschel Andreas , López Ortega Alberto , Lopez-Villavicencio Carlos , Lou Nigel Mantou , Lucas Chloe H. , Lunz-Trujillo Kristin , Marques Mathew D. , Mayer Sabrina J. , McKay Ryan , Mercier Hugo , Metag Julia , Milfont Taciano L. , Miller Joanne M. , Mitkidis Panagiotis , Monge-Rodríguez Fredy , Motta Matt , Mudra Iryna , Muršič Zarja , Namutebi Jennifer , Newman Eryn J. , Nitschke Jonas P. , Ntui Ntui-Njock Vincent , Nwogwugwu Daniel , Ostermann Thomas , Otterbring Tobias , Palmer-Hague Jaime , Pantazi Myrto , Pärnamets Philip , Parra Saiani Paolo , Paruzel-Czachura Mariola , Parzuchowski Michal , Pavlov Yuri G. , Pearson Adam R. , Penner Myron A. , Pennington Charlotte R. , Petkanopoulou Katerina , Petrović Marija B. , Pfänder Jan , Pisareva Dinara , Ploszaj Adam , Poliaková Karolína , Pronizius Ekaterina , Pypno-Blajda Katarzyna , Quiñones Diwa Malaya A. , Räsänen Pekka , Rauchfleisch Adrian , Rebitschek Felix G. , Refojo Seronero Cintia , Rêgo Gabriel , Reynolds James P. , Roche Joseph , Rödder Simone , Röer Jan Philipp , Ross Robert M. , Ruin Isabelle , Santos Osvaldo , Santos Ricardo R. , Schmid Philipp , Schulreich Stefan , Scoggins Bermond , Sharaf Amena , Sheria Nfundiko Justin , Shuckburgh Emily , Six Johan , Solak Nevin , Späth Leonhard , Spruyt Bram , Standaert Olivier , Stanley Samantha K. , Storms Gert , Strahm Noel , Syropoulos Stylianos , Szaszi Barnabas , Szumowska Ewa , Tanaka Mikihito , Teran-Escobar Claudia , Todorova Boryana , Toko Abdoul Kafid , Tokrri Renata , Toribio-Florez Daniel , Tsakiris Manos , Tyrala Michael , Uluğ Özden Melis , Uzoma Ijeoma Chinwe , van Noord Jochem , Varda Christiana , Verheyen Steven , Vilares Iris , Vlasceanu Madalina , von Bubnoff Andreas , Walker Iain , Warwas Izabela , Weber Marcel , Weninger Tim , Westfal Mareike , Wintterlin Florian , Wojcik Adrian Dominik , Xia Ziqian , Xie Jinliang , Zegler-Poleska Ewa , Zenklusen Amber , Zwaan Rolf A. 
Published: January 2025

Science is crucial for evidence-based decision-making. Public trust in scientists can help decision makers act on the basis of the best available evidence, especially during crises. However, in recent years the epistemic authority of science has been challenged, causing concerns about low public trust in scientists. We interrogated these concerns with a preregistered 68-country survey of 71,922 respondents and found that in most countries, most people trust scientists and agree that scientists should engage more in society and policymaking. We found variations between and within countries, which we explain with individual- and country-level variables, including political orientation. While there is no widespread lack of trust in scientists, we cannot discount the concern that lack of trust in scientists by even a small minority may affect considerations of scientific evidence in policymaking. These findings have implications for scientists and policymakers seeking to maintain and increase trust in scientists.