Modern Trends of Perceiving Scientific and Expert Knowledge in the Society

Modern society facing the necessity of dealing with global warming, estimating the consequences of rapid development of new technologies and securing favorable living environment tends to have ambiguous opinion on the results of research conducted by scientists and experts. Scientific achievements of latest centuries have been aimed not only at improving the level of life of the population but at solving political problems by means of developing and spreading nuclear energy and different viruses. For decades reputable scientists have been invited to tele- and radio studios to discuss new efficient vaccines, vitamins, harm and benefits of electro-magnetic emission of mobile phones. A huge flow of information prevents the viewers and listeners of such programmes from being able to define whether reason moves scientists or they are eager to make fortune on advertising which makes common citizens doubt available data and trust scientists less. Meanwhile, academia and other experts in the field realizing the burden of potential consequences are trying to look into the current state of affairs in order to finally improve the quality of scientific research and get across to those whom this research is aimed at. On the basis of analysis of a range of argumentative materials the author outlines changes in major components of understanding trust in science and factors building up the authority of science in the society as well as specifies potential stimulus of strengthening trust in science.