Science, Values & Trust: Improving How We Communicate in Health Policy
"Science is not a destination or a set of recommendations. It is a never-ending process through which we pursue truth. Surrounding and accompanying the scientific process are value judgments. What should scientists study? How should they study it? How should scientists interpret uncertain evidence? At what point should people respond to new evidence by changing their behavior? When should policy makers recommend or require that others do so? How should scientists and policy makers communicate evidence, recommendations, and requirements? Answering each of these questions requires value judgments that exist outside the scientific process. Failure to recognize or be open about the values underlying these choices can erode trust among those with different values. ... Amid deep polarization and public skepticism, how can the science and public health communities acknowledge these dynamics while still upholding the rigor and integrity of evidence-informed decision making? This conversation will explore how values and uncertainty intersect in both science and policy and how transparency and humility can strengthen trust in both."
National Academy of Medicine