Cultures of trust and trust in science

Cultures of trust are characterized by norms that promote trusting behaviors and by the expectation that others will act in trustworthy ways. Trust in science is embedded within cultures, as perceptions of the trustworthiness of science, and scientists, are shaped by cultural contexts. Organizations often serve as the visible "face" of science, such that the presence or absence of organizational or institutional cultures of trust within scientific institutions functions as a proxy through which public trust in science is evaluated. Thus, in addition to personal characteristics, understanding trust in science requires attention to the interplay of societal, organizational, and institutional cultures that collectively shape how science and its representatives are perceived.