2025-06-19

In Search of Trust in Science: Insights from a Lithuanian Survey Presented at the EMBL Conference

On June 16–17, the 24th “Science and Society” conference titled “In Science We Trust?” was held in Heidelberg, Germany, by the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). The event brought together more than 150 participants from across Europe – scientists, policymakers, ethics experts, and members of the academic community. The conference focused on exploring public trust in science in the context of information overload, misinformation, and rapid technological change. 

Dr. Reda Cimmperman, the Ombudsperson for Academic Ethics and Procedures of the Republic of Lithuania, presented the findings of a national survey entitled “Survey of the Lithuanian Academic Community on Ethical Experiences: Attitudes and Opinions.” The survey gathered insights from 725 respondents on topics such as trust in science, the use of artificial intelligence in academia, violations of academic ethics, and institutional reliability. 

Dr. Cimmperman noted: “Most people still trust science – particularly individual researchers more than institutions – and state-funded research is seen as more trustworthy than private research. Attitudes toward artificial intelligence remain mixed: those who trust AI tend to support students using tools like ChatGPT, while others continue to question the ethical implications.” 

EMBL is one of Europe’s leading research institutions in the life sciences, organizing cutting-edge research, training, conferences, and science communication initiatives. The annual Science and Society conference provides a critical platform for discussing how science impacts society and the responsibilities scientists and institutions bear in strengthening public trust in science. 

Survey report in Lithuanian and English:
https://etikostarnyba.lt/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lietuvos-akademines-bendruomenes-apklausa.pdf 

More about the conference:
https://www.embl.org/about/info/course-and-conference-office/events/sns25-01/ 

Photos from the Office’s archive