Talks from the Hoover Institution In Science We Trust? Understanding Americans’ Confidence In Science, Scientists, And Scientific Institutions
Apr 2, 2026
Mark Horowitz, Stanford electrical engineering professor and entrepreneur; Russ Altman, Stanford bioengineering professor and AI-in-medicine researcher; Arthur (Skip) Lupia, University of Michigan research leader on public trust. They debate how the internet and media reshape public confidence in science. They discuss why basic research needs protection, how polarization and social media erode trust, and practical fixes like transparency and better communication.
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Google Emerged From NSF Digital Library Research
- Google began from NSF-funded digital library research when students applied PageRank to the entire internet.
- Mark Horowitz uses this example to show how basic research can spawn transformative companies years later.
Reaffirm The Scientific Bargain With Clear Roles
- Reassert the postwar compact: government funds high‑risk basic research while industry scales proven ideas.
- Russ Altman urges re-examining and updating the scientific bargain to maintain public value and trust.
Only Public Funding Can Seed High Risk Breakthroughs
- Government uniquely funds high‑risk, long‑horizon research because national benefits outweigh private capture of value.
- Mark Horowitz and Arthur (Skip) Lupia note universities seed ideas and trained students; private firms capture downstream returns.