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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Entertainment
Chris McGreal

‘The public wants certainty’: why have Americans stopped trusting in science?

‘Most people want answers and not a laundry list of the gaps and challenges within a scientific issue’ … an image of Anthony Fauci in 2020
Anthony Fauci. ‘You see death threats against scientists, and it’s not just Fauci. These people are dedicating their lives and putting themselves in harm’s way.’ Photograph: Alex Brandon/AP

In the age of the anti-expert, Christopher Reddy has a daring proposition for scientists – put yourself out there.

Reddy, a chemist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution who specialises in oil spills and related environmental disasters, has watched in despair as public confidence in scientists has plummeted in recent years, culminating in widespread pushback against public health measures and vaccines during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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