Public trust in science and researchers has declined globally following the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a major survey published on 10 October by the London-based global biomedical funder Wellcome. The comprehensive study examines public sentiment toward vaccines, pandemic preparedness, clean energy, and artificial intelligence.
The Bottom Line
- The Wellcome-led study represents the third iteration of the project, following prior editions released in 2018 and 2020.
- Geographic variations remain pronounced, with 22% of participants in the Democratic Republic of the Congo reporting no trust at all in science during 2025.
- Broader socio-economic factors, specifically perceived financial security and healthcare access, directly influence public confidence in scientific institutions.
Wellcome Publishes Third Global Assessment on Scientific Confidence
The latest findings from Wellcome outline a complex, mixed picture of global public sentiment that varies significantly across different countries and regions. Kathleen Hall Jamieson, a specialist in science communication at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, noted the regional divergence highlighted in the data.
This edition marks the third time the organization has conducted the survey, building upon previous benchmarks established in 2018 and 2020. For the first time, the assessment explicitly evaluates how people feel about emerging technological sectors like artificial intelligence alongside traditional public health measures.
“We should be paying attention to, and thinking about, what needs to be done to earn that trust,” stated Philippa Michael, head of public initiatives at Wellcome, who led the project. The research touches upon multiple critical sectors, including pandemic preparedness, clean energy, and artificial intelligence.
Socio-Economic Pressures Drive Distance From Research Institutions
The analysis establishes a clear connection between scientific skepticism and an individual’s broader lived experiences, particularly regarding financial security. Economic anxiety appears to widen the psychological gap separating everyday citizens from working researchers.
“If people feel economically insecure, then they’re going to feel a greater distance between themselves and science and scientists,” explained Gordon Gauchat, a sociologist at the Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He emphasized that this disconnect stems from socio-economic friction rather than any failure in scientific efficacy or problem-solving capability.
| Survey Metric | Key Finding | Contextual Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Survey Frequency | Third Edition | Preceded by 2018 and 2020 studies conducted by Wellcome |
| Publication Date | 10 October | Led by the London-based biomedical funder Wellcome |
| Regional Data Point | 22% No Trust | Reported by participants in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2025 |
Healthcare Access Correlates With Local Trust Levels
Beyond macroeconomic factors, the survey uncovered a direct relationship between institutional confidence in local medical infrastructure and overall trust in science. Populations with reliable access to clinics and hospitals demonstrate higher baseline confidence in researchers.
Countries where respondents reported strong confidence in hospitals and healthcare facilities were noticeably more likely to maintain elevated trust in science as a whole. Michael emphasized that maintaining public confidence requires research to remain actively credible, relevant, and beneficial to individuals in their daily lives.
