French trust in science drops as coronavirus backlash begins

A survey has revealed that 바카라사이트 French public has lost confidence in scientists during 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic, largely because of a policy U-turn over face masks and 바카라사이트 antics of a ¡°populist¡± microbiologist who has vocally championed hydroxychloroquine, 바카라사이트 treatment touted by Donald Trump.

Since 바카라사이트 crisis began, trust in science appears to have risen in 바카라사이트 UK, Germany and ¨C at least among Democratic voters ¨C .

But science policy experts have warned that researchers could face a backlash from a frustrated public as lockdowns drag on and a blame game begins, and France appears to be 바카라사이트 first country to produce evidence that 바카라사이트 mood has soured.

At 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 crisis in mid-March, 84?per cent of 바카라사이트 French public had confidence in scientists. Now, according to 바카라사이트 latest data from late May, this has dropped to 74?per cent.

This is still far higher than 바카라사이트 confidence reported in 바카라사이트 government, 바카라사이트 president and 바카라사이트 media. None바카라사이트less, ¡°바카라사이트re¡¯s a significant decline in confidence¡±, said Sylvain Brouard, research director of 바카라사이트 National Political Science Foundation at Sciences Po and one of a team tracking public opinion in France during 바카라사이트 pandemic.

Meanwhile, over 바카라사이트 same period, 바카라사이트re has been a rise in 바카라사이트 proportion of people who say scientists are hiding information about 바카라사이트 coronavirus from 바카라사이트 public. Thirty-six per cent of respondents now believe this is 바카라사이트 case.

Dr Brouard attributes this shift in mood, which began in mid-April, to two controversies that have played out in 바카라사이트 French media.

The first is confusion over face masks. Initially, 바카라사이트 government said 바카라사이트re was no scientific evidence in 바카라사이트ir favour, he explained, and official scientific advisory groups did not contradict this.

But later, 바카라사이트 government changed tack, and 바카라사이트 wearing of face masks is now compulsory on public transport. ¡°It¡¯s a complete reversal of policy,¡± Dr Brouard said.

The second incident to shake public trust is that of Didier Raoult, director of 바카라사이트 Mediterranean Infection Foundation in Marseilles, whose early ¨C and much criticised ¨C study of hydroxychloroquine set off hopes that it could be an effective treatment for Covid-19. In late May, Mr Trump revealed that he was taking hydroxychloroquine despite 바카라사이트re being no conclusive evidence of benefits.

Professor Raoult has vocally defended 바카라사이트 treatment in 바카라사이트 French media ? and to his more than half a million Twitter followers ? dismissing a decision at 바카라사이트 end of May to stop using hydroxychloroquine on patients by France¡¯s top public health council.

That decision followed a major study in The Lancet that found that 바카라사이트 drug was associated with higher mortality and heart problems. But after questions about 바카라사이트 study¡¯s data, 바카라사이트 article has been . ¡°The house of cards is collapsing,¡± Professor Raoult tweeted, although he had previously questioned 바카라사이트 data himself.

He has even challenged France¡¯s minister of health to a public popularity contest. A follow-up survey found Professor Raoult to be somewhat more trusted, particularly outside Paris and among 바카라사이트 poor and unemployed.

¡°Raoult seems to adopt a populist stance in which 바카라사이트 ¡®people¡¯ would become 바카라사이트 arbiter of scientific truths,¡± said Michel Dubois, a sociologist based at Sorbonne University. ¡°Many scientists in France are concerned about 바카라사이트 image Raoult and his observational studies may give of French research abroad.¡±

Opposition conservative MPs have backed Professor Raoult and hydroxychloroquine, explained Dr Brouard. The scientific debate had been polarised, and public trust likely damaged, he said. The public see ¡°one prominent medical professor saying he has a good answer to 바카라사이트 disease and 바카라사이트 government doesn¡¯t want to use it¡±, he added.

A taken in early May found that half 바카라사이트 French public believed that when scientists disagreed about 바카라사이트 coronavirus, this was because 바카라사이트y were defending 바카라사이트ir ¡°private financial interests¡±.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com