A study published in January 2025 in Nature reveals that most of the global population trusts scientists and supports their involvement in society and policymaking. The research, titled “Trust in scientists and their role in society across 68 countries”, analyzed the opinions of 71,922 people from 68 countries and found that, despite recent challenges to the epistemological authority of science, there is no widespread crisis of trust in the scientific community.
The study highlights that trust in science is essential for evidence-based decision-making, particularly in times of crisis. The results indicate that most respondents consider it important for scientists to play a more active role in society and policymaking. However, the study also warns that, although distrust in scientists is a minority view, its presence can affect how scientific evidence is considered by policymakers.
The publication presents a ranking in which countries are listed according to their level of trust in scientists. Respondents rated their trust on a scale from 1 to 5. The countries where the majority of the population trusts scientists the most were Egypt (4.30), India (4.26), and Nigeria (3.98). Brazil ranked 21st among the 68 surveyed countries, with a score of 3.78.
The researchers identified significant variations in trust in scientists across countries and within each nation, influenced by factors such as political orientation and sociocultural characteristics.
