A couple of statistics convey the challenge ahead for scientists as their work is doubted and their policy contributions marginalized. In 2011, two-thirds of Americans could not name a single living scientist. By 2018, 84 percent could not. Scientists’ decreasing visibility is but one of several warning lights flashing on the civic dashboard. A majority of those who vote or lean Republican believe colleges and universities are having a negative impact on the country.
Like the media, science suffers from a trust problem. Science’s institutional priorities have long focused on research and professional publication rather than engaging the public. It will need to make structural changes to create incentives for trust-building activities like transparency and engagement — and philanthropy can play a crucial role to encourage such changes.