King's College London study links public trust in scientists to perceived alignment, not just expertise

A survey of 4,262 UK adults by the Policy Institute at King's College London and Sense about Science found that 63% of respondents trust scientists highly, while only 5% expressed strong distrust. Regression analysis showed that feeling scientists are 'on their side' and perceiving them as open and transparent mattered more to respondents than judgments of scientific expertise or general benevolence toward society.