Does Science have a Trust Problem? New Findings from the Wellcome Global Monitor 2026

Do people around the world trust science? Do levels of trust differ across countries and communities? And what does this mean for global health?

The Wellcome Global Monitor 2026 - the world’s largest study of public attitudes towards science and health across global, regional and national levels - offers new insight into how trust in science is changing around the world.
At a time of mounting pressure on health systems, growing misinformation and increasing global uncertainty, understanding how people view science matters. Trust can influence whether health advice is acted on, whether scientific advances reach the people who need them most, and whether science is seen as working in the public interest.

This interactive session will explore:
• Where trust in science is strongest, where it is under pressure, and what patterns emerge across different countries and communities
• Why global averages do not tell the whole story, and what a closer look at local contexts reveals
• How lived experiences of health systems and other institutions influence perceptions of science
• What researchers, policymakers, funders and leaders can learn from these findings, and how they can translate those insights into action

Join leading experts and global health leaders to examine one of the most comprehensive sources of evidence on public attitudes towards science and health, discuss why the findings matter, and explore what they could mean for policy, practice and decision-making around the world.