In his recent op-ed in The Washington Post, AcademyHealth President and CEO Dr. Aaron E. Carroll argues that if we want science to inform sound policy, we must rethink how we communicate it. The familiar call to “follow the science” was meant to inspire confidence, but instead, it often shut down dialogue and overlooked the complexity of public decision-making. “Science is evidence, not instruction,” Carroll writes. “It rarely offers a single, uncontested answer.”
Dr. Carroll expanded on these ideas in a new interview with Julie Rovner on KFF Health News’ What the Health? podcast, highlighting why separating science from policy, and communicating that distinction with humility, is essential to restoring trust. He emphasized the importance of listening, transparency, and empathy, lessons that are especially critical in today’s polarized environment.
That kind of humility, transparency, and nuance is critical to rebuilding trust in science and it’s exactly the focus of AcademyHealth’s newest offering: Communicating to Build Trust, a four-week online course launching this fall.
Registration is now open for this highly practical course, which empowers researchers to confidently engage audiences beyond academia. Participants will explore how to communicate uncertainty, address misinformation, present data more effectively, engage on social media, and build relationships with the media, all while staying grounded in evidence.
With credibility under attack and politicization on the rise, researchers can’t afford to stay silent. This course offers the tools and support they need to become credible voices for facts, science, and evidence in the public sphere.
Space is limited. Reserve your spot today.