The Role of Learning in Building Trust

Many current efforts to build trust in science operate under the label of "public engagement." But in recent research on "learning science in informal environments" and in research on public knowledge and attitudes, "public engagement" has been used in different ways. This has been especially true when addressing global issues (such as climate change) or issues with strong national culture components (such as ethics of genetic counseling). This talk will explore how specific understandings of "public engagement" affect issues of public trust in science.