Mainau Island

Palace Meadow

Welcome to Mainau Island

Count Björn Bernadotte
Executive Member of the Board, Lennart-Bernadotte-Foundation, Managing Director, Mainau GmbH, Germany

Pamel – How to Rebuild Trust in Science?

Chevarra Hansraj
Stellenbosch University, South Africa

Maria Leptin
European Research Council, Belgium

Saul Perlmutter
University of California, United States of America

Randy W. Schekman
University of California, Berkeley, United States of America

Yentli Soto Albrecht
University of Pennsylvania, United States of America

Donna Strickland
University of Waterloo, Canada

Moderator: Stefan H. E. Kaufmann
Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Germany

In an age of misinformation and polarization, how can education rebuild trust in science? Nobel Laureates explore the foundations of credibility, curiosity, and critical thinking in a rapidly changing world. The discussion asks: When and how is trust in science formed? How can education systems from the beginning on foster scientific literacy without oversimplifying uncertainty? What role do transparency, communication, and role models play? And how can young researchers become ambassadors of integrity and openness? This session examines how education – across generations and cultures – can strengthen evidence-based dialogue and renew confidence in science as a global public good.