The Policy Institute at King's partners with Wellcome and Sense about Science to explore how research communication can remain effective amid rising polarisation and scepticism about expertise
The Policy Institute at King's College London, Sense about Science and Wellcome announced a new partnership to understand what makes research communication and engagement effective - and what research leaders stand to gain or lose amid growing ambivalence about institutions and authority.
The partners aim to draw out insights from cases of effective two-way communication about research, which is particularly pressing as the accumulated expertise and experience from the past 20 years is not well documented. Through a nationwide survey they will explore whether moral and political identities predict attitudes to scientific research and expertise, to discover how changing political identities could affect the emphasis of research engagement and communication.
The project aims to provide research leaders with evidence-based guidance to develop strategies and focus resources, and with practical approaches that are tuned to trends such as increasing polarization and mistrust of information.
Professor Bobby Duffy, Director of the Policy Institute at King's College London, said:
"Trust in science and scientific research and expertise have been increasingly pulled into 'culture war' debates around the world, where our underlying identities and values may be becoming increasingly relevant to our reactions to scientific evidence and advice. It's vitally important to understand these shifting dynamics, if we're to develop impactful communications and engagement approaches with the public, which will be the key aim of this new study."
Tracey Brown, Sense about Science director said:
"The aim of this collaboration is to remedy the fact that an exceptional two decades of research engagement isn't well codified, and to figure out how the scope for constructive, socially grounded research might be maintained as people's attachments and political identities shift."
Philippa Michael, Head of Public Initiatives, Wellcome said:
"Science only has the opportunity to benefit people if they feel confident in research evidence and institutions. That's why earning and maintaining public trust in science is essential to Wellcome's mission. Part of how we're approaching this is to work with the research community to develop the communication tools they need to demonstrate trustworthiness. This partnership will produce practical, evidence-based guidance to help research leaders to communicate with openness, clarity, and integrity."
