⏱ 1 min 30 read
Background
In recent years, several leaders, including US President Donald Trump, have attacked science, notably during the pandemic. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), public trust has been declining since 2018. The organisation has been preparing a global movement in response since October.
The key points
On Friday 6 November 2026 in Geneva, the WHO announced the launch of the movement “Together for Science and Health”. The global launch is scheduled for Tuesday 10 November, with dozens of discussions around the world.
According to WHO Chief Scientist Sylvie Briand, more than 70% of people still believe in science. The decline is sharpest in communities that benefit least from medical advances. She cites anti-vaccination rhetoric in the United States and mistrust of the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The movement will bring together scientists, policymakers, health workers and civil society. It aims to bring science and society closer, connect science and policy, and fight disinformation. A label could guarantee the reliability of some laboratory research processes.
Key figures
- More than 70% : share of the population that still believes in science
- Nearly 150 : countries covered by the survey cited by the WHO
- Around 100 : participants in the WHO information session for civil society on 7 October
Who says what
- Sylvie Briand (WHO Chief Scientist): “The loss of trust is minimal”, but less trust means less investment.
- Viviana Martínez-Bianchi (President of the World Organization of Family Doctors): communities must be partners of science, not just its audience.
- Gerardo Zamora (Office of the WHO Chief Scientist): the movement will not end on 10 November.
What's next
- Global launch on 10 November 2026, with events in Paris and Geneva and online activities.
- Organisations can join the movement by signing a Declaration of Commitment.
