Ricarda ZIEGLER, Wissenschaft im Dialog, Germany
Mike S. SCHÄFER, University of Zurich, Switzerland
Gustav BOHLIN, Vetenskap & Allmänhet, Sweden
Massimiano BUCCHI, University of Trento, Italy
Markus WEIßKOPF, Wissenschaft im Dialog, Germany
Giuseppe PELLEGRINI, Observa, Italy
Niels MEDE, University of Zurich, Switzerland
Since the beginning of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic is changing our way of life. Science undoubtedly plays a central role in dealing with the pandemic and in solving the societal challenges it brings. Accordingly, scientists and researchers from different disciplines have become the center of public and political attention in many countries.
Public perceptions and public trust in science is an important prerequisite for the effectiveness of societal responses to the pandemic. Therefore, social science has analyzed how the current situation affects public perceptions of science and research and particularly, how it affects the reputation of and trust in scientists. In Sweden, Switzerland, Italy and Germany, answers to these questions can be found in repeated waves of nationally representative surveys.
When comparing public opinion data on science and research gathered during the pandemic with previous data, they show high(er) levels of trust in science and a generally positive impression of the performance of researchers during the pandemic. People see that researchers have a crucial role in fighting the pandemic and want politicians to listen and make science-based decisions. At the same time, however, a considerable number of people are undecided or not willing to get vaccinated against the virus, and COVID-19-related conspiracy theories are supported and shared by a non-negligible number of people.
Our results not only offer insight on the size and the composition of these different trusting or distrusting groups within the public but also about where they might get in touch with science and research, using questions on information behaviour and media use. In this way, results from public opinion surveys on science and research offer great potential also for the practice of science communication by providing a basis for defining specific target groups and developing communication activities and messages tailored to them.
In the proposed discussion panel, developments of trust in science and attitudes towards research during the COVID-19 pandemic will be shared based on results from surveys in Sweden, Switzerland, Italy and Germany. Also, their implications for science communication will be discussed.
Speakers: Ricarda Ziegler, Mike S. Schäfer, Gustav Bohlin, Massimiano Bucchi
Moderator: Markus Weißkopf
Links to the science surveys:
www.wissenschaftsbarometer.de
www.wissenschaftsbarometer.ch
https://v-a.se/english-portal/projects/studies/the-public/va-barometer/
https://www.observa.it/italian-citizens-and-covid-19-second-wave/?lang=en