NEWS11 September 2026Politics and a sense of whether scientists are ‘on their side’ influence people’s trust in scientists, finds new report.ByChris Simms0Chris SimmsChris Simms is a science writer based in Somerset, UK.View author publicationsSearch author on: PubMed Google ScholarSave articleView saved researchProtesters call for the public to put stock in scientists at a UK climate march. Credit: Michael Kemp/AlamyAt a time when misinformation is rife and many seem to be questioning scientific evidence, do people really trust scientists? In the United Kingdom, the answer is mostly yes, finds a study led by the Policy Institute at King’s College London and Sense about Science, a charity based in London.Trust in science: How to build and maintain public support in an era of polarizationNearly two-thirds (63%) of 4,262 UK adults surveyed said they trust scientists, giving a score of 7 or higher on a zero to ten scale. Only 5% rated their trust at three or below.To explore what drives trust and distrust of scientists, the researchers used regression modelling to identify factors most strongly associated with trust. The most influential factors were whether respondents felt that scientists are "on the side of people like them" and whether they thought of scientists as open and transparent. Both outweighed perceptions of scientific expertise.Previous research has shown that benevolence — the idea that researchers care about society and want to do good — is a core pillar of public trust in science1. Now Bobby Duffy, director of the Policy Institute at King’s College London and one of the authors of the UK study, says that the work reveals that trust in scientists was less associated with scientists being eager to work for the good of society in general (12%) and had more to do with whether they are on the side of people like the respondent (21%).“In a politically divided society, people become much more interested in, ‘What’s in it for me?’” says Duffy.Where trust faltersWhen the researchers delved into specific fields, they found that trust declined for scientists working on vaccines, space and climate (see ‘Pockets of trust’). And more people had more confidence in academics rather than in scientists working in government and in private companies. Perhaps unsurprisingly, people with little trust in scientists are more likely to think conspiracy theories about climate change, vaccines and the effects of 5G phone towers are true, says the report.Six ways to put the public at the heart of science and policydoi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-02883-wReferencesHautea, S., Besley, J. C. & Choung, H. Public Underst. Sci. 33, 872–883 (2024)Article PubMed Google Scholar Schulman, J. et al. Public Opin. Q. 89, 1200–1238 (2025).Article Google Scholar Cologna, V. et al. Nature Hum. Behav. 9, 713–730 (2025)Article PubMed Google Scholar Download references Science’s big problem is a loss of influence, not a loss of trust Have people stopped trusting science? The data tell a surprising story The complex truth about trust in science Scientists should recognize their own political biases to build public trustSubjectsSocietyScientific communityHuman behaviourLatest on:SocietyScientific communityHuman behaviourJobs News Intern, Nature NewsJob Title: News Intern, Nature News Location: Washington, D.C or New York — Hybrid Working Application Deadline: September 23, 2026 About Springe...Washington D.C.Springer Nature LtdPostDoc grant: Decode obesity drivers in dogs and catsJoin Boehringer Ingelheim as a PostDoc to decode conserved obesity drivers across dogs and cats through systems biology and multi-omics research.Biberach an der Riß, Baden-Württemberg (DE)Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbHOpen-Rank Tenure-Track Faculty PositionThe Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) at Academia Sinica invites applications for one tenure-track faculty position.Taiwan (TW)Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia SinicaAssociate or Senior Editor, Nature Communications (Geochemistry)Title: Associate or Senior Editor, Nature Communications (Geochemistry) Locations: Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing or Pune (Hybrid) Application Deadline...Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing or Pune (Hybrid)Springer Nature Ltd