Australia's Trust in Scientists Among Global Leaders

Australia Ranks Among Top Countries for Trust in Scientists

A global study of over 71,000 individuals from 68 countries has revealed that Australia ranks among the top five nations in trust towards scientists. The research highlights a strong global confidence in scientific expertise, with Egypt securing the highest ranking. Notably, none of the surveyed countries reported low trust in scientists.

Participants in the study were asked to express their opinions on the role of scientists in society, using a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). The findings indicate that a significant proportion of Australians support the involvement of scientists in policy advocacy. According to study co-author Dr. Zoe Leviston from ANU, around two-thirds of Australians believe scientists should actively advocate for specific policies, while more than 60% think they should be more engaged in the policymaking process.

Dr. Leviston emphasized the importance of public trust in scientists, stating, “Public trust in scientists is vital. It can help us with personal decision-making on matters like health and provide evidence-based policymaking to assist governments with crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic or climate change.” The study also found that 68% of Australians believe scientists should communicate their findings to politicians, while an overwhelming 80% agree that scientists have a duty to engage with the public about their research.

On a global scale, 78% of respondents view scientists as highly qualified, while 57% perceive them as honest. The study also explored the link between political orientation and trust in scientists. Dr. Mathew Marques from La Trobe University observed that in many Western countries, individuals with right-leaning political views tend to have less trust in scientists compared to their left-leaning counterparts. However, Australia appears to diverge from this pattern.

“Unlike in North America and many Western European countries, in Australia, having a right-wing versus left-leaning political orientation didn’t seem to matter,” Dr. Marques noted. “This suggests that political polarization around science may not be as significant in Australia, except for specific issues like climate change.”

The study also examined public opinion on the priorities of scientific research. The majority of respondents worldwide expressed a preference for scientists to focus on improving public health, developing clean energy technologies, and finding innovative solutions to combat poverty. Interestingly, the findings indicated that most countries—except for those in Africa and Asia—believe that scientists dedicate too much effort to developing defense and military technologies.

To measure trust in scientists, researchers evaluated public perceptions of their competence, integrity, benevolence, and openness. The data was collected between November 2022 and August 2023, with contributions from a global team of 241 researchers.

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