Welcome Address

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The 2020 SILBERSALZ Conference will tackle public trust as a common challenge for both contemporary science and media. How can we build and rebuild it as societies face the dual challenge of accelerating climate change and democratic backsliding?

Opinion polls show that there is no general crisis of public trust in science, at least in Germany and other OECD countries. However, conflicting expectations are sometimes placed on scientists, in particular regarding their advisory role in politics. Independent science-based policy advice means that one needs to communicate as clearly as possible that recommendations are based on scientific knowledge, rational argumentation, without political bias or self-serving interests. It is always necessary to draw a clear demarcation line between policy advice and political decision making which is, of course, in the responsibility of democratically legitimized politicians.

Prof. (ETHZ) Dr. Gerald Haug | SILBERSALZ Conference 2020 (credit: Markus Scholz)

Prof. (ETHZ) Dr. Gerald Haug

Präsident, Nationale Akademie der Wissenschaften Leopoldina