How should experts behave when communicating with non-experts? In this talk Joe Roussos presents a paper on the science-policy interface, with a focus on communication between scientists and policymakers. The central question of the paper is: should experts communicate strategically, with an eye to the policy outcomes they think are best, or should they rather be open and honest? The paper centers on the cases of climate change and covid-19, high-stakes situations in which there is a significant demand for science advice. Joe Roussos frame the discussion around a provocative 2018 paper by Stephen John, titled “Epistemic trust and the ethics of science communication: against transparency, openness, sincerity and honesty”, and argue in favor of a specific form of honesty (about scientific uncertainty) and against some forms of openness or transparency, although not for strategic reasons.

Joe Roussos, researcher in philosophy at the Institute for Futures Studies. He completed his PhD at the London School of Economics, with a thesis entitled Policymaking under scientific uncertainty. He often works on issues related to scientific modelling, or using the results of models, and focuses largely on climate science.#LSE #philosophy #sciencecommunication

Recorded at the Institute for Futures Studies in Stockholm, Sweden, February 2025.