Yves Flückiger is the President of the Swiss Academies and Sciences a+. | Photo: Annette Boutellier

Science is the cornerstone of our understanding of the world and it constantly evolves, but its role goes beyond just discovering facts. Science must also ensure that those facts are presented truthfully and inspire confidence. This requires truth and trust to be at the heart of scientific practice.

The truth in science reflects its faithful descriptions of reality, and is founded on empirical evidence and rational conclusions. It involves methodological processes, e.g., testing hypotheses, peer review and replication. However, scientific truth is always provisional, subject to revision when new evidence or better methods arise. The search for truth that drives scientific progress relies on a mechanism of self-correction.

Trust in science extends beyond accepting facts. It depends on our accepting the processes, institutions and people who produce knowledge. While the scientific community generally enjoys high credibility with the public, disinformation amplified by burgeoning social media, political polarisation and scepticism towards institutions are growing challenges that erode this trust.

To address these issues, we must prioritise good practices based above all on scientific integrity that pushes researchers and institutions to respect strict ethical standards including transparency, honesty and reproducibility. They are therefore based on clear communication, which is necessary to overcome the barriers between experts and the public. Researchers need training to simplify complex ideas without distorting them.

By collaborating with the media and by promoting accessible communication initiatives, e.g., public fora, we can make science more approachable and create ties. Finally, these best practices must be supported by the sharing of data and methods. Open science favours independent validation of results, promotes collaborations and accelerates progress and innovation.

The Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences recognise these challenges and contribute to promoting academic integrity, citizen science and open data with a view to strengthening trust in science. This is essential for addressing complex issues like climate change and pandemics.