Science Communication and Public Perceptions

Science communication encompasses the processes by which scientific knowledge is conveyed to non-specialist audiences, mediating between researchers, policymakers and the public. Public perceptions of science are shaped by trust in scientists, the clarity of messaging and exposure to diverse information sources. Cognitive and normative framings of scientific findings influence how lay audiences interpret evidence and form attitudes towards policy-relevant issues such as public health, climate change and emerging technologies. Perceptions are further modulated by individual-level factors—political orientation, religious beliefs and worldviews—and by societal-level dynamics including media ecosystems and cultural norms. Recent work has highlighted widespread illusions of decline in societal values, persistent albeit varied levels of trust in experts across countries and the critical role of communication strategies in sustaining confidence in scientific institutions. Understanding these interlinked processes is essential for designing interventions that foster informed decision-making and reinforce the social legitimacy of science on a global scale.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have revealed a pervasive illusion of moral decline in many nations despite stable evidence of societal behaviours. Research attributes this misperception to biased exposure to negative information and selective memory, demonstrating that simple psychological mechanisms can generate widespread beliefs of decline. Parallel work has employed a large-scale, 68-country survey to map public trust in scientists, showing broadly high levels of confidence coupled with notable variations by region and political orientation. Respondents generally endorse greater societal engagement by scientists and value transparency in funding and evidence evaluation. Together, these findings underscore the importance of cognitive biases and cross-national differences in shaping the public’s epistemic relationships with science.

Science Communication and Public Perceptions publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in science communication and public perceptions across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Normative language: Statements prescribing actions or policy recommendations based on scientific findings.

Cognitive language: Descriptions of empirical results or data without explicit behavioural guidance.

Epistemic authority: The recognised credibility or trustworthiness accorded to scientific expertise by non-specialists.

Science-related populism: Sceptical attitudes positing that scientific elites are disconnected from ordinary citizens and public values.

References

1. The illusion of moral decline. Nature (2023).
2. Trust in scientists and their role in society across 68 countries. Nature Human Behaviour (2025).
3. Trends in US public confidence in science and opportunities for progress. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (2024).
4. Perceptions of science, science communication, and climate change attitudes in 68 countries – the TISP dataset. Scientific Data (2025).
5. Using Normative Language When Describing Scientific Findings: Randomized Controlled Trial of Effects on Trust and Credibility. Journal of Medical Internet Research (2023).