The POIESIS Expert Interview study was recently conducted with 119 mediators and researchers in the 7 partner countries. In this context, the German POIESIS team at Wissenschaft im Dialog spoke to 16 experts in total – 6 researchers working on climate change or Covid-19; 2 institutional mediators and 8 non-institutional mediators – addressing the topics of trust in science, social integration, research integrity, and very importantly, the role of mediators within the 3i4t model.

Although not having been asked the same questions, mediators and researchers shared some important views on the topics discussed. First of all, both, mediators and researchers, generally perceive public trust in science to be high in Germany, though they also note rising instances of societal mistrust. This mistrust is fuelled by vocal anti-science and anti-institutional voices, which, although in the minority, leverage social media effectively to amplify their reach. The COVID-19 pandemic marked a significant shift, drawing science into public debate but also increasing scepticism as scientific uncertainty intersected with political decision-making.

A major concern among a majority of experts interviewed in this study is the politicisation of science, where scientific findings are used to advance specific political agendas. Researchers and mediators argue that the public struggles to differentiate between scientific data and the political decisions based on that data. They feel that politicians bear responsibility for clarifying this distinction.

The audience(s) of science communication were another key theme that emerged from the interviews.  A clear majority of interviewees, once again mediators but also researchers, asked themselves for whom they are actually doing their communication activities. They agreed that it is totally valid, and also necessary, to address those who are already interested in science. Nevertheless, many of them also stressed that they would like to reach new audiences, those who are not interested and even more those with increasing mistrust in science. The question of whom science communication activities are actually for is clearly a central one for all kinds of actors involved in the mediating process.

For a more detailed overview of the findings of this study and recommendations researchers and mediators made to strengthen public trust in science, please see the German and global report at https://poiesis-project.eu/deliverables/.