Trust Science and Us
This year’s Edelman Trust Barometer,[1] which was released last week in Davos, looks at trust and innovation. Edelman summarizes its findings in a paradox: “Rapid innovation offers the promise of a new era of prosperity, but instead risks exacerbating trust issues, leading to further societal instability and political polarization.”
Edelman notes that experts are no more trusted than peers, and advises scientists to explain their research, engage in dialogue, and harness peer voices. Business leaders, in whom trust is also falling, might do well to heed this advice.
Why has expertise been so maligned? Perhaps because many of us who have risen up in one way or another have forgotten that none of us makes it on our own.
In The Tyranny of Merit: What’s Become of the Common Good? Michael Sandel argues that a focus on merit makes those ordained as “the best” forget the role of the common good in getting to the top of the heap.
We all want the best pilots to fly our airplanes, the best scientists to develop life-saving drugs, and the best businesspeople to lead industry. ?But we forget that the pilot is only one of a large team that enables the plane to fly safely.
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Similarly, the scientists who developed COVID vaccines at unprecedented speed were building on decades of publicly funded research in mRNA technologies. And the business leaders who developed the manufacturing processes and distribution strategies to get vaccines into arms were part of one of the largest public-private efforts in the U.S. since World War II. Not to mention the sustained, collective will and funding that built the universities where most of the scientists and business leaders were educated.
The history of Western civilization can be written as an ongoing pursuit of the right balance between the individual and the collective. Between freedom and equality.
If we all started with a little more humility, engaged in dialog, and remembered that both our individual and collective grit got us where we are, I suspect that scientists in particular, and all of us in general, would be a little more trusted.
CEO Founder - Community of Guardians
1 年???? Building #trust in Science for a Sustainable Future ???? As science professionals, educators, and advocates, it is our responsibility to cultivate trust by promoting transparency, integrity, and open communication in our work. By engaging with the public, addressing concerns, and providing accessible information, we can bridge the gap between science and society and empower individuals to make informed decisions that benefit both themselves and the planet. This is why we need the Community of Guardians! A place where science can be shared and we can start to rebuild our #trust in #science. A place where we can start taking actions that support #sustainability guided by the voice of science! We are launching our updated platform April 2024! A place where individuals can be #empowered and together make big changes happen! Take our “What’s my Number” quiz to find out what you passionate about and join your “Superhero” Team learning about the issues and taking #action that’s measurable and meaningful! Let's work together to build a future where trust in science serves as the foundation for a healthier, more sustainable world for generations to come. Follow me to learn more!
Data Catalog Director, Data Governance at Vizient, Inc
1 年Indeed. Less fragile leaders may want to humble themselves even further: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/free-leadership-gary-martin/