Aspen Institute Science & Society Program

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In Washington, DC, Science & Society Executive Director Dr. Aaron Mertz attended the Second Annual State of the Science ...
06/17/2025

In Washington, DC, Science & Society Executive Director Dr. Aaron Mertz attended the Second Annual State of the Science Address at the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine.

In a compelling keynote, NASEM President Dr. Marcia McNutt emphasized the need for a modern strategic vision for American science—one that rebuilds public trust, invests in youth STEM education, and adapts to today’s scientific challenges. These priorities align closely with the Science & Society Program’s mission to bridge science and the public good.

The event concluded with a dynamic panel moderated by former White House science adviser Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier, reflecting on how the U.S. research enterprise must evolve for the future.

🎥 Watch the recording: https://tinyurl.com/4fnxynaj

🎉 We would like to give a warm welcome to Laine Massick as our newest Civic Science Fellow! A Biology major with a minor...
06/10/2025

🎉 We would like to give a warm welcome to Laine Massick as our newest Civic Science Fellow! A Biology major with a minor in Global Health Policy at Princeton University, Laine brings a passion for healthcare accessibility, advocacy, and policy. She’ll be supporting both the Science & Society program and Our Future is Science, helping us bridge the gap between science and community engagement. Outside the classroom, Laine is a powerhouse—serving in Undergraduate Student Government and competing on Princeton’s NCAA Division I Varsity Fencing team. We’re thrilled to have her on board for the summer!

🧬 Beyond the Lab: Trust, Storytelling, and the Fight for America’s Attention 🗞️“In today’s fragmented and often skeptica...
05/22/2025

🧬 Beyond the Lab: Trust, Storytelling, and the Fight for America’s Attention 🗞️
“In today’s fragmented and often skeptical information landscape, ‘because I said so’ doesn’t cut it.”
⁠
Authors Dr. Aaron Mertz and Dr. Shruti Naik make the case for why how we communicate science matters just as much as what we discover. It’s not enough to publish findings — we must make them relatable, transparent, and rooted in real life.⁠
⁠
🔗 Read the full piece in Nature: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41577-025-01184-z

What happens when we take science for granted? 🧬Six Degrees From Science pulls back the curtain on the challenges early-...
05/16/2025

What happens when we take science for granted? 🧬

Six Degrees From Science pulls back the curtain on the challenges early-career scientists—especially those from underrepresented communities—face just to stay in the field. From funding fights to systemic bias, their journey is anything but easy.

With 90% of footage captured, this feature-length documentary is nearly complete and tells a powerful story of resilience, discovery, and what’s at stake if we stop investing in basic science.

🎥 Learn more and follow the journey: SixDegreesFromScience.com

We know misinformation spreads fast. But what actually works to change minds—and protect truth?In a new TIME article, ou...
05/15/2025

We know misinformation spreads fast. But what actually works to change minds—and protect truth?

In a new TIME article, our advisor Dr. Lee McIntyre shares what decades of research reveal about how people actually change their beliefs.

It’s not about calling people out—it’s about meeting them with empathy, facts, and trust.

Read more: https://time.com/7282640/how-to-address-misinformation/

What does it take to build trust in science?On March 10–11, 2025, science communicators, researchers, and policymakers g...
05/13/2025

What does it take to build trust in science?
On March 10–11, 2025, science communicators, researchers, and policymakers gathered at MIT for Building Trust in Science for a More Informed Future—a collaboration between the Aspen Institute and MIT Press.

Now you can watch the powerful sessions on YouTube, including The Power of Public Health Storytelling for Societal Transformation.

📍 Held at MIT
🎥 Full sessions at on YouTube

Science has been part of the American story since the beginning. The U.S. Constitution actually encourages the “progress...
04/25/2025

Science has been part of the American story since the beginning. The U.S. Constitution actually encourages the “progress of science and useful arts.”

From everyday discoveries to big breakthroughs, science helps us make sense of the world. 🧠✨

Read more from our Science at the Ballot Box Magazine!

🌍 This Earth Day, let’s remember: the health of our planet is the health of us all. Climate change and infectious diseas...
04/22/2025

🌍 This Earth Day, let’s remember: the health of our planet is the health of us all. Climate change and infectious diseases are connected—and so are we. One Health. One Planet. One future.

Read more from our May 2022 Publication—One Health / One Planet: A Special Magazine on Climate Change and Infectious Diseases

https://shorturl.at/7yv7X

“At a time when trust in public health is both fragile and essential, storytelling can bridge a complex health issue and...
04/17/2025

“At a time when trust in public health is both fragile and essential, storytelling can bridge a complex health issue and even lived experiences—making public health more relevant, accessible, and actionable.” — Dr. Jylana Sheats

This quote comes from our March event, Building Trust in Science for a More Informed Future, co-hosted with MIT Press. The conversation explored how storytelling can help rebuild trust in public health, especially when it is most fragile and most needed.

From highlighting lived experiences to shaping science narratives that resonate, this event reminded us that powerful storytelling is key to connection and action.

Tap the link in bio or head to 👉 bit.ly/4ikljr2 to learn more.

🎯 Building trust in science starts with how we communicate. In a world where misinformation spreads quickly and public t...
04/15/2025

🎯 Building trust in science starts with how we communicate. In a world where misinformation spreads quickly and public trust feels fragile, how we share science matters more than ever. The “Building Bridges, Earning Trust” report from 2023 reminds us that it’s not just what we say—it’s how, when, and by whom.

Today, as science plays a central role in everything from public health to climate change, clear and intentional communication is key to bridging the gap between discovery and impact. 💬🌍

📥 Read the full report: https://shorturl.at/nWQyp

Our Executive Director Aaron Mertz and Dr. Robert Klitzman, Science & Society Program Advisory Council member, attended ...
04/03/2025

Our Executive Director Aaron Mertz and Dr. Robert Klitzman, Science & Society Program Advisory Council member, attended Eureka Day in NYC—a sharp, satirical play that unpacks the chaos of vaccine debates, social media-fueled misinformation, and the struggle for common ground.

These themes remain just as relevant in 2025, as trust in science continues to face challenges amid the rise of AI-generated misinformation, evolving public health crises, and ongoing debates over scientific consensus.

Our 2021 PBS series, INFODEMIC: Global Conversations on Science and Misinformation, tackled these urgent issues, and in 2024, we expanded its reach, translating the series into multiple languages and hosting global events on trust in science and disinformation.

The conversation isn’t over. As misinformation evolves, so must our efforts to foster scientific literacy and trust. Follow this link to see our work on INFODEMIC: https://shorturl.at/rB20K

Today, we are celebrating six years of the Science & Society Program at the Aspen Institute. Founded in 2019 by Aaron F...
03/25/2025

Today, we are celebrating six years of the Science & Society Program at the Aspen Institute.

Founded in 2019 by Aaron F. Mertz, Ph.D., this program was created as a laboratory to test ideas and approaches that explain, connect, and maximize the benefits of science for public good. Thanks to its intellectual and programmatic success, Dr. Mertz was recently promoted from Director to Executive Director in 2024.

We’re proud of how far we’ve come, and we’re so excited for what’s ahead.

Donate today to support our programs across our four key pillars: Global Science, Public Trust in Science, Science and Community, and Science Policy.
Your support helps us continue to foster conversations and drive impact at the intersection of science and society.

🔗 Donate here: [support.aspeninstitute.org/give/581773](https://support.aspeninstitute.org/give/581773/?_ga=2.4283443.1275145566.1742942092-1077000208.1739774933 #!/donation/checkout)

Thank you to our community for your support, and here’s to many more years of impact!

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