Trust in Scientists Shows Modest Recovery Post-Pandemic

Despite a slight increase, confidence in scientists remains below pre-pandemic levels, with significant partisan differences.

The Pew Research Center's survey indicates 76% of Americans now have confidence in scientists, up from 73% last year but still below the 87% in early 2020.
Democrats express higher trust in scientists (88%) compared to Republicans (66%), though Republican trust has increased by 5 percentage points since last year.
Only 51% of Americans believe scientists should actively engage in policy debates, reflecting a divide on scientists' roles in policymaking.
Public perception of scientists' communication skills has declined, with only 45% of respondents viewing them as good communicators.
The recent re-election of Donald Trump raises concerns about potential impacts on public trust in science, especially among Republicans.