If a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound? Apply this to science: if a groundbreaking discovery is published but never reaches those who need it most, does it truly make an impact?
Today, as technology transforms our relationship with facts, trust, and even reality, the role of research has never been more vital. Publishers face a daunting juggling act: maintain rigorous scholarly integrity, advocate for research's societal role, and make complex science discoverable and comprehensible to diverse audiences who often engage with research outside of its rightful context.
The time for a more expansive model of scientific communication is now—one that is dynamic and resilient amid an ecosystem where information is both democratized and distorted. Trust and credibility are the bedrock of effective communication, and publishers must visibly signal this trust while building infrastructure to defend it.
The Foundation of Scientific Trust
Trust forms the bedrock upon which effective science communication is built. Without trust, even the most carefully crafted communication efforts fail to achieve their intended impact. As stewards of the scholarly record, publishers need to make trust signals visible and accessible. The challenge lies in transparency—not just with the findings themselves, but also funding sources, conflicts of interest, and methodological limitations.Research shows that the version of record needs to clearly communicate along four dimensions of public trust in science:
- Expertise: What knowledge base are we working from, and how was this expertise gained?
- Integrity: Was this research conducted with honesty and ethical consideration?
- Transparency: Are we being open about how this research was conducted and who funded it?
- Dialogue orientation: Are you open to engaging with public concerns, and on whose behalf are you working?
The Version of Record as Trust Infrastructure
The scholarly publishing ecosystem readily accept the role of peer review and publishing workflows as part of our defense against disinformation. The version of record takes on particular significance in this context: it is the authoritative, citable form of content that has earned the public's trust through rigorous validation processes.Clearly signaling that authority gives research findings the credibility, transparency, and integrity they need to rebuild public trust. When publishers treat the version of record as trust infrastructure—not simply as the final published article—they create a foundation that can withstand the challenges of our current information ecosystem.
Platforms as Trust Mediators
Public trust is significantly influenced by the credibility that the public attributes to organizations, according to research from the TRESCA (Trustworthy, Reliable and Engaging Scientific Communication Approaches) project. In this context, platforms aren't neutral conduits. They actively cultivate trust and communicate it more clearly to the public.The TRESCA research made an unexpected discovery: high-quality production values and strong visual aesthetics have tangible benefits for trust levels. However, well-crafted misinformation can exploit these same visual trust signals, creating a paradox for publishers.
Publishers need to find the balance when it comes to maintaining content quality along with a modern user experience that reinforces trust rather than undermining scientific credibility. This means thoughtfully designing platforms that signal authority through both aesthetic choices and functional transparency, making the rigorous processes behind published research visible and understandable.
Building for Resilience
Trust in science remains remarkably resilient globally, and publishers are often a key steward of this trust. With the right trust signals on platforms and the right balance of modern visual identity and gravitas, publishers are building places of genuine engagement and communication.The version of record, properly positioned and presented, becomes more than a document—it becomes infrastructure that supports the entire ecosystem of scientific trust. As the information landscape continues to evolve, this infrastructure will prove essential to ensuring that when discoveries are made, they don't just make a sound—they create lasting impact.
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