Since the beginning of the pandemic, a deepening crisis of trust in American institutions has become apparent. This phenomenon encompasses not only governmental bodies but also the fields of science, media, and expert systems more broadly. The Trust Collaboratory’s official launch event explores what has led to this seemingly unprecedented rise of mistrust. Our lineup of international speakers—social scientists, historians, and legal scholars—share the belief that mistrust in expertise represents a danger to democratic politics insofar as science and experts are integral to the checks and balances on which liberal democracies depend for their health and functioning.

The conference will provide a platform for examining how some of the processes that undermine expert authority, including the diversification and socialization of expertise, have also had the salutary effect of democratizing expertise. Our speakers will explore this tension between the erosion of democracy and the democratization of expertise, seeking to advance our understanding of the potential risks and opportunities this process has unleashed.

We invite scholars, students, and interested parties to join us in exploring these pressing issues and contributing to the ongoing conversation about the role of trust in democratic politics and expertise.

Watch Event on YouTube
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Schedule | Thursday, April 20, 2023

09:15 am - 09:30 am

Welcome & Opening Remarks

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A portrait of a man with short light brown hair, wearing a dark gray blazer and light blue shirt

Gil Eyal | Columbia University

Thomas Medvetz | University of California, San Diego

09:30 am - 11:00 am

Democracy and Expertise

A middle-aged man with gray hair and a slight smile, sitting at a desk or table, with bookshelves filled with books in the background.
A middle-aged man with short gray hair wearing glasses and a light gray t-shirt, smiling gently at the camera against a plain white background.
an older man with gray hair and glasses wearing a suit and a striped tie, smiling outdoors with green trees in the background
A woman with short blonde hair and earrings, standing in front of a bookshelf filled with books.
A woman with shoulder-length gray hair, wearing glasses on her head, a gray and purple top, and a pearl necklace, looks serious and slightly concerned.

THE VALUE OF TRUTH: SCIENCE AS INSTITUTION AND INSPIRATION
Harry Collins | Cardiff University
Robert Evans | Cardiff University

CRISIS OF EXPERTISE? CRISIS OF DEMOCRACY?
COMMENTS ON A CURRENT DEBATE
Peter Weingart | Universität Bielefeld

THE RHETORICAL PRODUCTION OF DEMOCRATIC (IN)EXPERTISE: THE CASE OF MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING
E. Summerson Carr | University of Chicago

DISCUSSANT:
Pamela Smith | Columbia University

Objectivity and Trust

11:15 am - 01:00 pm

A smiling man with short curly hair, dressed in a light blue shirt, standing outdoors with a blurred background of greenery and pink flowers.
A middle-aged man with light brown hair and blue eyes, wearing a blue collared shirt, against a plain white background.
A black and white close-up portrait of an older man with short hair, wearing a suit and collared shirt, sitting in front of a bookshelf filled with books.
A man with dark hair and a beard, sitting indoors in front of a bookshelf, wearing a dark jacket.
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A REGULATORY STATE OF EXCEPTION: VACCINES, EMERGENCY, AND THE MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC TRUST
Andrew Lakoff | University of Southern California

SOME UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF QUANTIFICATION
Theodore Porter | University of California, Los Angeles

EXPERTISE AND COMPLEX ORGANIZATIONS
Stephen Turner | University of South Florida

PUBLIC EXPERTISE IN TIMES OF CONSTITUTIONAL
FRAGILITY
Brice Laurent | Mines ParisTech

DISCUSSANT:
Alma Steingart | Columbia University

02:30 pm - 04:00 pm

Professions and the Media

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Man in a suit with glasses smiling outdoors with green trees in the background.
A woman with blonde hair wearing a black blazer and purple scarf posing outdoors with trees in the background.
Close-up of an elderly woman with short gray hair, smiling, wearing a black top with a brown collar.

THE POST-INDUSTRIAL LIMITS OF PROFESSIONALIZATION (AND THE MISTRUST OF EXPERTS)
Paul Starr | Princeton University

FROM MANAGING BUDGETS TO ANALYZING SCENARIOS: POWER AND KNOWLEDGE IN POLICY ANALYSIS
Frank Pasquale | Brooklyn Law School

MEDIA METACOMMENTARY AND THE INSTABILITY OF EXPERTISE
Eleanor Townsley | Mount Holyoke College

DISCUSSANT:
Diane Vaughan | Columbia University

This event received generous support from:

Location
Interchurch Center
Sockman Lounge (1st Floor)
61 Claremont Avenue
New York, NY 10115

Free and open to public

 
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The TrustWorkers Exhibit Returns to Columbia!

For our launch event, we will bring back the TrustWorkers exhibit, our signature public trust initiative from 2022! The collection will be free to the public and situated within the conference venue.

Click below for more information about the exhibit.

Learn more