Irish public trust in scientists ahead of global averages

Posted on: 20 January 2025

The Irish public’s trust in scientists is ahead of global averages, according to new research conducted by an international team including researchers from Trinity College Dublin. 

The study, published today [Monday, January 20^th] in the leading international journal Nature Human Behaviour, found that “most people in most countries have relatively high trust in scientists”, according to study lead Viktoria Cologna, “and want them to play an active role in society and policymaking”.

It found that the Irish public has a mean trust level of 3.84 on a scale from 1 to 5. The global figure for trust in scientists was 3.62. As such Ireland is ranked 14 out of 68 with Egypt ranked highest with a mean trust level of 4.3 and Albania ranked lowest with a mean trust level of 3.05. 

The study also found that a strong majority of global participants perceived scientists to be qualified (78%), honest (57%), and concerned about people’s well-being (56%). 

The TISP Many Labs study (Trust in Science and Science-Related Populism) is the largest post-pandemic study on public trust in scientists. It’s a collaborative effort undertaken by an international team of 241 researchers to survey 71,922 people in 68 countries, including many under-researched countries in the ‘Global South’. The sample size was some 500 people for the Irish segment of the study.

Participants were questioned on a range of topics including trust in science, definitions of science and scientists, and perceived benefits of science. 

Ireland’s contribution to the study was led by Prof. Joseph Roche and Prof. Mairéad Hurley of the Science & Society Group at Trinity’s School of Education. 

Professor Joseph Roche, School of Education, explained:

“We often hear claims that there is a crisis of trust in science. The results of this global survey tell another story. It finds that the Irish public expressed some of the strongest trust in scientists.”

Further research about the Irish findings of the global study is nearing completion and will be published later this Spring. It will also presented at the Educational Studies Association of Ireland Conference in April 2025. 

Cover image by Tomski&Polanski Illustration Studio

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