Covid-19 has thrust science into the public consciousness. In the past year, the study of public health, mRNA technology, developmental psychology, immunology, behavior, and many others besides, have enjoyed a previously unimaginable level of attention.

What effect is this having on how science and scientists are viewed by the public? In the United States, a growing number of people say that they will get vaccinated against Covid-19, but a sizable minority will not. And, while 85 percent of adults have confidence in scientists to act in the best interests of the public, only 39 percent have “a great deal of confidence” in this.

We may have reached a pivotal moment in the relationship between science and the public. This discussion will explore attitudes to science, how they have changed in the past year, and the role that group identities play in shaping people’s views. It will also consider the lessons that science should learn from these responses, as well as from the pandemic.

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