Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A crisis of trust: for science, scientists or for institutions?

  • Commentary
  • Published:

From Nature Medicine

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Stem cell research, xenotransplantation and somatic and germ line gene therapy are examples of emerging technologies that, if successful, will forever change the way we live. But how well does the public understand the benefits and risks of these technologies, and whose responsibility is it to communicate them? Here, Erik Millstone and Patrick van Zwanenberg of the University of Sussex, UK, discuss whether science is suffering because of a lack of transparency in presenting scientific information to its main consumer group—the general public.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Phillips, Lord of Worth Matravers, Bridgeman, J., Ferguson-Smith, M. . The BSE Inquiry Vol. 1, Findings and Conclusions, 233 (The Stationary Office, London, 2000).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Irwin, A. & Wynne, B. (eds.) Misunderstanding science?: the public reconstruction of science and technology. (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 1996).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  3. Frewer, L.J., Howard, C., Hedderley, D. & Shepard, R. What determines trust in information about food risks? Underlying psychological constructs. in Reader in Risk and Modern Society. (eds. Lofstedt, R. & Frewer, L.) 193,(Earthscan, London, 1998).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Grove White, R., McNaughton, P., Mayer, S.D. & Wynne, B. Uncertain world, Genetically Modified Organisms, Food and Public Attitudes in Britain. (CSEC, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK, 1997).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Greenberg, S. The British Test (Report to Monsanto, 5 October 1998).

    Google Scholar 

  6. May, R. Bringing science into governance. (presented at the conference, Science and Governance in a Knowledge Society: the Challenge for Europe, Brussels, Belgium, 16–17 October 2000).

  7. Millstone, E. et al. Beyond the 'substantial equivalence' of GM foods. Nature 401, 525–526 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Derby, B. & Levy, A.S. Consumer perceptions of GM food labelling issues in the United States: a focus group study. (presented at the Joint Conference of the Society for the Social Studies of Science and the European Association for the Social Studies of Science and Technology, University of Vienna, Austria, 30 September 2000).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. SPRU—Science and Technology Policy Mantell Building University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9RF, UK

    Erik Millstone & Patrick van Zwanenberg

Authors
  1. Erik Millstone
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Patrick van Zwanenberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Millstone, E., van Zwanenberg, P. A crisis of trust: for science, scientists or for institutions?. Nat Med 6, 1307–1308 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/82102

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/82102

  • Springer Nature America, Inc.

This article is cited by

Search

Navigation