World View

Shruti Naik, an immunologist and a strong advocate for diversity in science, has joined forces with Aaron Mertz, who leads programmes that help to explain, connect and maximize the benefits of science for public good. In their World View article, they describe how we must rebuild the public's trust in scientists by engaging in public dialogue that makes science feel human, relevant and transparent.

Francesca Di Rosa works on T cells and is committed to science outreach. Together with Adrian Hayday, she recently conceptualized and delivered the exhibit ‘Vaccination, a time machine’ at the Royal Society Summer Exhibition in London. Here, she shares her thoughts on how to communicate a core scientific content with artistic and historical input, according to her ‘5C’ formula.

Anne Spurkland is a professor of medicine, and her research interests include T cell activation and autoimmunity. She is also an avid baker of cakes that everyone can have and eat too, irrespective of allergies and dietary preferences. This latter passion propelled her into national fame as one of Norway’s most visible experts on immunity and viruses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adrian Liston, professor of pathology at the University of Cambridge, UK, has published several illustrated children’s books on the topic of vaccination and has developed a computer game called ‘VirusFighter’. Here, he shares his thoughts on how to become an effective science communicator.

Gary Koretzky, who was president of the American Association of Immunologists from 2021 to 2022, shares his thoughts on the responsibility of scientists to make science more accessible to a broad public, and reflects on lessons learned during the pandemic.

In this World View article, eminent immunologist Peter Doherty suggests that we should consider the COVID-19 crisis as a training run for future, potentially worse pandemics and organize accordingly.