Trust in Science

Trust in science is a cornerstone of democratic, evidence-informed societies. As Europe faces rising disinformation, social polarisation, and rapid technological change, strengthening this trust has become a central priority for ALLEA and its Member Academies. Bringing together Europe’s academies across disciplines and countries, ALLEA works to understand how trust is built, how it can erode, and how scientific institutions can remain reliable partners to society and policymakers. 

At the heart of these efforts is the ALLEA Task Force “Strengthening Trust in Science“, which examines how scientific advice is produced, communicated, and received across Europe. Its work complements ALLEA’s broader contributions to the European Research Area (ERA), where ALLEA leads on a structural policy that promotes enhancing trust in science through citizen participation, engagement and science communication. 

Trust in science also relies on the wider ecosystem that underpins scientific quality and reliability. Such prerequisites for trust in science include research integrity and ethics, academic freedom, responsible research assessment, open science practices, and scientific literacy and education. Through its activities in all these areas, ALLEA plays an active role in analysing the underlying dynamics and systemic conditions for trust in science. By advancing shared standards, providing guidance, and enabling dialogue among researchers, policymakers, and the public, ALLEA ensures that research remains trustworthy and supports public trust in scientific expertise.