Federal Independent Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal independent agencies
Featured Stories
Targeted Sanctions as a Key U.S. Foreign Policy Tool to Promote Religious Freedom
WASHINGTON, May 7 (TNSrep) -- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued the following news release on May 6, 2026:
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Targeted Sanctions as a Key U.S. Foreign Policy Tool to Promote Religious Freedom
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released the following report on targeted sanctions:
Targeted Sanctions in Response to Violations of International Religious Freedom - Targeted sanctions are a vital U.S. foreign policy tool for promoting accountability for violations of religious freedom.
Measures such as denying U.S. visas and freezing U.S.-based
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 7 (TNSrep) -- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued the following news release on May 6, 2026:
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Targeted Sanctions as a Key U.S. Foreign Policy Tool to Promote Religious Freedom
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released the following report on targeted sanctions:
Targeted Sanctions in Response to Violations of International Religious Freedom - Targeted sanctions are a vital U.S. foreign policy tool for promoting accountability for violations of religious freedom.
Measures such as denying U.S. visas and freezing U.S.-basedassets aim to influence behavior and demonstrate that the U.S. government will not tolerate such abuses.
In addition to the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998, other laws provide tools to sanction individual perpetrators, including the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act of 2016 and the Immigration and Nationality Act.
This factsheet outlines these relevant authorities and their application in countries such as Afghanistan, China, India, and Nicaragua, examining the role of targeted human rights sanctions within broader U.S. foreign policy efforts to advance religious freedom.
In its 2026 Annual Report (https://www.uscirf.gov/publications/annual-report-chapter-irfa-implementation), USCIRF urged the administration to apply its new global visa restriction policy related to religious freedom violations with a particular focus on countries USCIRF recommends for designation as Countries of Particular Concern (CPCs) and placement on the Special Watch List (SWL).
Given the strength of these tools, USCIRF further recommended the use of targeted sanctions in response to particularly severe or severe religious freedom violations in many of the countries that USCIRF recommends for these designations.
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at media@uscirf.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.uscirf.gov/news-room/releases-statements/targeted-sanctions-key-us-foreign-policy-tool-promote-religious
SBA Announces New $50 Million Grant Opportunity to Support Made in America Manufacturing, Workforce Training
WASHINGTON, May 7 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release on May 6, 2026:
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SBA Announces New $50 Million Grant Opportunity to Support Made in America Manufacturing, Workforce Training
Manufacturing in America E2G Grants will fund training for small manufacturers in critical industries
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Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced a new funding opportunity offering up to $50 million in grant awards to as many as 10 eligible applicant organizations who will provide training and technical assistance to support small manufacturers in the SBA's
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 7 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release on May 6, 2026:
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SBA Announces New $50 Million Grant Opportunity to Support Made in America Manufacturing, Workforce Training
Manufacturing in America E2G Grants will fund training for small manufacturers in critical industries
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Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced a new funding opportunity offering up to $50 million in grant awards to as many as 10 eligible applicant organizations who will provide training and technical assistance to support small manufacturers in the SBA'sEmpower to Grow (E2G) Program. The Manufacturing in America E2G Grant Initiative will empower qualified awardees to deliver regional support to small manufacturers in critical industries, in support of the agency's ongoing effort to rebuild domestic supply chains, bring back American jobs, and promote industrial dominance.
"America's reindustrialization is accelerating under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump, and the SBA is proud to stand with the small manufacturers driving that resurgence," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "As I travel the country and meet with these builders, innovators, and job creators, I've seen firsthand the essential role they play in restoring American industrial strength. Through this targeted initiative, we are equipping them with the resources and workforce support they need to grow, reshore critical supply chains, and help secure America's position as a global manufacturing powerhouse for generations to come."
The SBA's E2G Program is designed to provide eligible U.S. small businesses with free business courses, in-person hands-on training, and one-on-one consulting to support growth, operations, hiring, regulatory compliance, and government contracting competitiveness. The program includes businesses in key industries such as aerospace, ship building, rail equipment, mining, industrial machinery and equipment, construction equipment, metal fabrication, electrical equipment, food processing, medical and precision manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, and robotics.
An eligible applicant for a Manufacturing in America E2G Grant must:
* Be a for-profit or not-for-profit entity (including, but not limited to small businesses, other than small businesses, trade and professional associations, and educational institutions).
* Been in existence continually for at least the past three years.
* Have experience providing technical assistance, tools, or training, etc. relating to small manufacturing businesses on a regional or national basis.
* Demonstrate that it has the capacity to provide hands-on manufacturing-related training and technical assistance to small business concerns.
The deadline to submit proposals electronically via https://www.grants.gov is June 15 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. To learn more about this grant opportunity, visit here. The SBA will host a webinar on the following dates to inform the public about the grants. Registration is required through the link provided:
Monday, May 11, from 2-3:00p.m. EDT
Wednesday, May 27, 2-3:00p.m. EDT
Wednesday, June 3, 2-3:00p.m. EDT
The Manufacturing in America E2G Grant Initiative is the SBA's latest offering to support small manufacturers, who make up 98% of all U.S. manufacturers. The agency announced a new 90% Made in America loan guarantee for small manufacturers and waived loan fees for manufacturing NAICS codes in Fiscal Year 2026, pairing stronger credit support with lower borrowing costs to help manufacturers invest, expand, and grow domestically. The SBA also established the first-ever loan program dedicated to American manufacturers and launched its Make Onshoring Great Again Portal, a free tool connecting small businesses to more than one million domestic suppliers and producers.
To learn more about the manufacturing grants and webinars, visit: Manufacturing Grants. Additional questions or requests for assistance should be submitted via email to e2g@sba.gov.
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About the Empower to Grow Program
The Empower to Grow program, formerly known as 7(j) Management and Technical Assistance program, provides eligible U.S. small businesses with free business courses, tailored training, and one-on-one consulting to support their growth, operations, hiring, regulatory compliance, and government contracting competitiveness. The Empower to Grow program uplifts businesses to be procurement ready for federal, state, and local government contracts. For more questions about the Empower to Grow program, visit: Empower to Grow Program.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.sba.gov/article/2026/05/06/sba-announces-new-50-million-grant-opportunity-support-made-america-manufacturing-workforce-training
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom: Nicaragua Continues Its Unrelenting Campaign to Eliminate Religious Freedom
WASHINGTON, May 6 (TNSrpt) -- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued the following news release:
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Nicaragua Continues its Unrelenting Campaign to Eliminate Religious Freedom
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released the following report:
Nicaragua Country Update - In 2026, the government of President Daniel Ortega and self-appointed Co-President Rosario Murillo weaponized laws on treason, sovereignty, and various crimes that restricted freedom of religion or belief (FoRB).
The government used arbitrary arrest and detention, closure
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 6 (TNSrpt) -- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued the following news release:
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Nicaragua Continues its Unrelenting Campaign to Eliminate Religious Freedom
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released the following report:
Nicaragua Country Update - In 2026, the government of President Daniel Ortega and self-appointed Co-President Rosario Murillo weaponized laws on treason, sovereignty, and various crimes that restricted freedom of religion or belief (FoRB).
The government used arbitrary arrest and detention, closureof nongovernmental organizations, and transnational repression to harass, intimidate, and repress religious individuals. Catholic and Protestant churches continue to face severe restrictions on their FoRB. Ortega and Murillo increasingly target indigenous populations and Nicaraguans in exile--many of whom are expelled clergy or laypeople--as they seek to maintain power.
Nicaragua has resisted efforts by the international community, including the United States, to alter the regime's actions.
In its 2026 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended Nicaragua be designated as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).
USCIRF has reported on the authoritarian repression of FoRB in Nicaragua, Cuba, and Venezuela, and held a hearing on Nicaragua's religious freedom violations.
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at media@uscirf.gov.
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REPORT: https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/2026-03/USCIRF%202026%20Annual%20Report%20Nicaragua.pdf
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Original text here: https://www.uscirf.gov/news-room/releases-statements/nicaragua-continues-its-unrelenting-campaign-eliminate-religious
NASA's Next-Gen Near-Earth Asteroid Space Telescope Takes Shape
PASADENA, California, May 6 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
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NASA's Next-Gen Near-Earth Asteroid Space Telescope Takes Shape
A team of engineers and scientists are building NEO Surveyor to seek out the hardest-to-find asteroids and comets that could impact Earth.
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The Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor -- NASA's first infrared space telescope purposely designed to discover potentially hazardous asteroids and comets -- is undergoing integration and testing. With launch set for no earlier than September 2027, teams across the United States are hard at
... Show Full Article
PASADENA, California, May 6 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
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NASA's Next-Gen Near-Earth Asteroid Space Telescope Takes Shape
A team of engineers and scientists are building NEO Surveyor to seek out the hardest-to-find asteroids and comets that could impact Earth.
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The Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor -- NASA's first infrared space telescope purposely designed to discover potentially hazardous asteroids and comets -- is undergoing integration and testing. With launch set for no earlier than September 2027, teams across the United States are hard atwork building the spacecraft's components, planning the kind of survey and science it will do, and developing the software to process the huge quantity of data the mission will generate.
In 2005, Congress tasked NASA with discovering potentially hazardous near-Earth objects, or NEOs, but many of these objects are difficult to find with ground-based surveys. Some are as dark as charcoal, others are tiny, and many lurk in the glare of the Sun, where ground-based optical telescopes can't see. To mitigate this, NEO Surveyor is being custom-built to scan the solar system to detect objects that will glow in the infrared as they are heated by the Sun -- as opposed to the optical light they reflect, which is what ground-based surveys measure -- to provide enough advance warning for humanity to do something about them, if necessary.
Read more about the new mission and how it's progressing (https://science.nasa.gov/blogs/neo-surveyor/2026/05/05/nasas-next-gen-near-earth-asteroid-space-telescope-takes-shape/).
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Original text here: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-next-gen-near-earth-asteroid-space-telescope-takes-shape/
Inter-American Development Bank: 'Too Fast to Adjust: Adoption Speed and the Permanent Cost of AI Transitions'
WASHINGTON, May 6 (TNSLrpt) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following white paper in April 2026 entitled "Too Fast to Adjust: Adoption Speed and the Permanent Cost of AI Transitions."
Here are excerpts:
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1 Introduction
For most of the past decade, AI adoption has been organizationally incremental: tools layered onto existing firms, accelerating tasks without restructuring the production processes around which those tasks are organized. Recent developments suggest this is changing.
In early 2026, Project Prometheus--a start-up led by Jeff Bezos and former Google executive
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 6 (TNSLrpt) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following white paper in April 2026 entitled "Too Fast to Adjust: Adoption Speed and the Permanent Cost of AI Transitions."
Here are excerpts:
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1 Introduction
For most of the past decade, AI adoption has been organizationally incremental: tools layered onto existing firms, accelerating tasks without restructuring the production processes around which those tasks are organized. Recent developments suggest this is changing.
In early 2026, Project Prometheus--a start-up led by Jeff Bezos and former Google executiveVikram Bajaj, valued at $30bn after a $6.2bn raise--announced plans to raise tens of billions more through a holding company targeting industrial firms disrupted by AI.1 Prometheus is not selling AI tools to manufacturers. It is building AI systems capable of mapping physical processes, understanding engineering design, and modeling the manufacturing of complex objects--jet engines, semiconductors--with the explicit aim of reorganizing those industries around what it builds. The capital scale and the sovereign wealth fund backing illustrate what a fast-adoption episode looks like: organizational restructuring at scale, rather than incremental augmentation of existing workflows.
The historical parallel is precise. The steam engine did not transform manufacturing when it was invented; it did so when firms restructured their factory layouts around it. In 1913-14, Henry Ford reorganized Highland Park around the moving assembly line. Within eighteen months, output per worker tripled and annual worker turnover reached 370 percent. The technology was unambiguously productivity-enhancing; the transition was not. Ford's response--the $5 day, more than doubling wages overnight--was not philanthropy. It was the market's belated correction for absorbing displacement faster than the Detroit labor market could reallocate workers on its own.
Automation episodes like these may follow the same sequence as 1913: incremental adoption gives way to structural reorganization, and the labor market cost depends not on how much gets automated--the long-run endpoint--but on how fast. This paper formalizes that argument. Holding fixed the long-run automation envelope, transition welfare depends on adoption speed.
We build a dynamic model of labor market transition in which the long-run share of tasks eventually automated--the long-run automation envelope--is taken as given from the task-based framework of Acemoglu and Restrepo [2018, 2022].
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View full text here: https://publications.iadb.org/publications/english/document/Too-Fast-to-Adjust-Adoption-Speed-and-the-Permanent-Cost-of-AI-Transitions.pdf
[Category: IADB]
EPA Launches Transparent, Interactive Permitting Map
WASHINGTON, May 6 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Launches Transparent, Interactive Permitting Map
Accessible public tool breaks down permitting barriers and removes confusion to unleash American prosperity
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Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching the EPA Permitting Authority Map. The interactive map-accessible via EPA's website-identifies which regulatory agencies have the authority to issue permits covering all of EPA's permitting programs and environmental statutes. The development of the map is an integral resource
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 6 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Launches Transparent, Interactive Permitting Map
Accessible public tool breaks down permitting barriers and removes confusion to unleash American prosperity
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Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching the EPA Permitting Authority Map. The interactive map-accessible via EPA's website-identifies which regulatory agencies have the authority to issue permits covering all of EPA's permitting programs and environmental statutes. The development of the map is an integral resourcein advancing Pillar 3 of Administrator Lee Zeldin's Powering the Great American Comeback initiative: Permitting Reform, Cooperative Federalism, and Cross-Agency Partnership.
"Too often, uncertain permitting processes stand in the way of innovation, efficiency, economic opportunity, and prosperity. Thanks to the Trump EPA, anyone can now select a location and see exactly which permitting authority is responsible for issuing environmental permits with the click of a button," said EPA Deputy Administrator David Fotouhi. "This new innovative map provides state and local leaders, Tribes, entrepreneurs, and the public the information they need in one place on the regulatory authorities of permits throughout EPA's permitting programs."
The EPA Permitting Authority Map supports federal agencies, states, territories, Tribal nations, local agencies/governments, and the general public with:
* The ability to make a quick determination whether the permitting authority is with EPA or if there has been an approved delegation, primacy, or authorization given to a state, territory, Tribal nation, or local agency.
* The use of a Geo Platform based web map, which provides maximum flexibility for site visualization and project planning ability.
Although EPA directly issues some permits, many jurisdictions-such as states, territories, Tribal nations, and local agencies-are often approved to directly implement federal environmental permit programs on EPA's behalf (entirely or in part), with the agency retaining federal oversight and/or enforcement authority when necessary.
Background
On April 15, 2025, President Trump signed the Presidential Memorandum, Updating Permitting Technology for the 21st Century Exit EPA's website, to enhance transparency, reduce fragmented data management, and update technology in the federal environmental review and permitting process. EPA is making strides to make permitting faster, cheaper, and easier - and is working closely with states and localities to help them build and improve their communities. The EPA Permitting Authority Map supports these goals by providing transparency and efficiency in identifying the regulatory authorities for EPA Permit Programs.
EPA also released new informational tools and resources to help community members, local officials, data center developers, and other interested parties assess the viability of Brownfield and Superfund sites as possible locations for industrial reuse. EPA's Redevelopment Mapper for Superfund and Brownfield Sites Exit EPA's website can help screen for suitable site characteristics on a Brownfield or Superfund site. The Mapper provides site locations and options for adding data layers that highlight site features and surroundings.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-launches-transparent-interactive-permitting-map
Building Trust in Science--How Effective Communication Can Help
WASHINGTON, May 6 -- The National Academy of Medicine issued the following news:
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Building Trust in Science--How Effective Communication Can Help
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Experts from AcademyHealth, the University of Chicago, Emory University, and Yale University discuss why trust in science has declined in recent years, what can be done to restore that trust, and how thoughtful and effective science communication can help.
The vast majority of the American public-about 75% -believe that scientists are acting in the public's best interests. This level of confidence is substantial but has fallen since the early
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 6 -- The National Academy of Medicine issued the following news:
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Building Trust in Science--How Effective Communication Can Help
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Experts from AcademyHealth, the University of Chicago, Emory University, and Yale University discuss why trust in science has declined in recent years, what can be done to restore that trust, and how thoughtful and effective science communication can help.
The vast majority of the American public-about 75% -believe that scientists are acting in the public's best interests. This level of confidence is substantial but has fallen since the earlydays of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than half of Americans t rust individual doctors and government health agencies, but these levels have also fallen slightly since January 2024. Additionally, discussions in the media and conversations among individuals and communities often reveal a persistent level of distrust despite these reported high levels of trust in clinicians and scientists.
On December 9, 2025, the National Academy of Medicine's Health in the Headlines series hosted a discussion - moderated by Michael F. Cannon, Director of Health Policy Studies at the Cato Institute and a public health and health care scholar - that brought together science and health policy leaders to discuss the state of public trust in science and medicine, how trust is lost and earned, and how scientists and clinicians can communicate more authentically and effectively with the communities they serve.
This article explores four key takeaways for health science communication best practices, how effective strategies today may differ from those in the past, and why these changes are necessary to build and rebuild trust.
There Are Many Reasons for Distrust-And Don't Assume You Know What They Are.
Aaron Carroll, President and CEO of AcademyHealth and a nationally recognized science communicator and health services researcher, began the conversation by defining three levels of personal resistance to change -or, in the context of this conversation, resistance to following health-related guidance:
1. I don't understand it.
2. I don't like it.
3. I don't like you.
Carroll noted that traditional science communication has often assumed that only the first level needs to be addressed, and that people simply need more facts to understand why they should change their behavior. However, in every situation, there is likely a large group of individuals who do understand the issue, but simply don't like the guidance, don't believe it's necessary, or have competing priorities that place another behavior above the one being recommended. Historically, traditional science communication practices have ignored these people. When individuals are ignored or feel talked down to, they begin to lose trust, and without trust as a foundation, knowledge dissemination backfires. For example, if a parent expressed hesitancy about a vaccine to their child's pediatrician, the pediatrician, historically, may have reached for a printout explaining the factual benefits of vaccination or a pamphlet from the state health department rather than having a conversation with the parent to understand the values or narrative behind their hesitancy. There is an urgent need to engage with people who don't like the guidance or don't like the messenger-but understand the information-because without their trust, knowledge dissemination not only doesn't work, but will often make things worse.
When engaging with these groups, Venkat Narayan, Professor at Emory University and internationally recognized for his multidisciplinary work in diabetes and translational research, warned against assuming or generalizing ideas about individuals and their beliefs. Just because an individual holds one belief doesn't necessarily mean that they hold other similar beliefs-or dissimilar beliefs-as well. Listening to the person, hearing their concerns, and trying to understand their motivations is more important to ultimately successful communication than conveying any data.
Scientists and clinicians understand that science, as a process, never ends. However, more than 30% of Americans believe that the scientific process produces "unchanging core principles and truths," so when new data emerges that causes existing scientific or medical guidance to change, those changes can create substantial distrust. When communicating about science and medicine, experts should be clear about what is known-and what isn't known, which may be uncomfortable at first. However, trust is also lost when scientists and clinicians speak with a level of surety that does not match the available evidence-so being honest about issues where the evidence is less robust-could help rebuild lost trust.
"The American public wants science communicated to them. It would be a failure for scientists and clinicians to not actively communicate in ways that are intelligible and respect people's intelligence."
- Venkat Narayan
Scientists and Clinicians Must Understand How Their Biases and Values Affect Their Work
Scientists and clinicians bring enormous zeal to their work, and this fervor has led to numerous breakthroughs and improved care for individuals and communities. However, Narayan acknowledged, this passion can also make them feel that anyone or anything-including new data-that disagrees with their work is standing in the way of their mission. This inflexibility can harden their scientific or medical beliefs and make individuals unwilling to accept or integrate new information or viewpoints into their work. Scientists and clinicians must understand-and check in-with the biases and values they bring to their work, in order to produce the most neutral research possible, identify the most impactful issues to study, and know which battles are not worth fighting.
"We need to learn, when seeking truth, to separate passion from what the data are saying."
- Venkat Narayan
The Key to Effective Communication is Listening-Not Speaking
The panelists agreed that effective science communication begins with listening: not just looking for an opportunity to rebut or reply to what the person is saying but deep listening to truly understand the person's perspective. By listening, a relationship with that person, in which the scientist or clinician has demonstrated that they are also worth listening to, begins to build. Listening conveys respect, and respect is the foundation that trust is built on.
Listening also helps to build relationships with people who disagree-and these relationships are vital in beginning to rebuild trust and change the trajectory of public opinion about science and health.
"Building a relationship with people is more important as the initial step than convincing them that you're right."
- Harold Pollack
Disagreement Isn't Bad-It May Be the Most Important Catalyst for Rebuilding Trust
The panelists agreed that living with, interacting with, and trying to understand individuals who disagree with you is critical to rebuilding trust-and emphasized that scientists and clinicians should actively try to disrupt their own echo chambers. Carroll stated that scientists and clinicians shouldn't end relationships when people disagree with them or don't do what they say-because the goal is trust, not "winning."
Harold Pollack, Professor at the University of Chicago and researcher focused on improving services for individuals at the boundaries of the behavioral health and criminal justice systems, illustrated the benefit of relationships between individuals who disagree through the example of PEPFAR -the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which was mobilized by a collaboration between public health professionals and evangelical Christians and worked at every level of the health system to combat HIV and AIDS by providing prevention services, care, and treatment. Since HIV and AIDS emerged as a disease that primarily infected gay men -and evangelical Christians generally believe that homosexuality is a sin -the partnership between public health officials and evangelical Christians to jointly advocate for and support a program focused on caring for people with HIV and AIDS was a surprising one. However, evangelical Christians focused on how the program would care for vulnerable children and public health professionals focused on attempting to eradicate a communicable disease-and the resulting program saved more than 25 million lives since 2003. If, despite their deep differences, this improbable relationship had not existed, those lives would have been lost.
"It's important to acknowledge that people are hearing conflicting evidence and are concerned about their families and communities. Don't dismiss what people are observing with their own eyes and ears."
- Megan Ranney
You Might Not be the Correct Messenger
Megan Ranney, Dean of the Yale School of Public Health and leading advocate for innovative approaches to public health, acknowledged that she and her co-panelists are likely not the best messengers for many science and health topics, noting that the best messenger is often someone who belongs to the community most impacted by the topic. As science and medicine slowly becomes more diverse-racially, ethnically, and across gender, socioeconomic status, and geographic location-trainees could be excellent liaisons for such communication, but scientists and clinicians also need to be open to partnerships with impacted communities. Identifying appropriate messengers is critical because an important goal of effective science communication is helping individuals understand the risks and benefits of an approach or intervention. A trusted messenger can contextualize scientific data with local value systems-which often drive individual risk and benefit calculations-much more adeptly than an outsider.
What scientists and clinicians say may also be less important than what they actually do. Ranney emphasized the value of showing up for the individuals and communities that scientists and clinicians are in partnership with. Showing up-again and again and again-can build trust in equal, and perhaps greater measures, than anything a person communicates verbally.
Beyond ensuring the correct messenger, the panelists also agreed that there are huge differences in how communication succeeds in different situations and audiences. There is no single way to communicate-effective methods depend on the situation, audience, topic, and other variables. However, Carroll emphasized that the best way to communicate science is just to go talk to people. He stated that too many people are searching for the perfect soundbite that will suddenly convince everyone to change their minds-and that such perfect descriptions don't exist. Building trust can't be scaled up-it is built through individual relationships over time.
"I resist the idea that we need to come up with pithy phrases to explain things. Some science is complicated, and we need more than a soundbite to answer the questions in ways that completely explain the issue and build trust."
- Aaron Carroll
Rebuilding Public Trust in Science Is Slow and Hard
Panelists cautioned that this work, albeit crucial, will be lengthy and challenging. People have been looking for answers and frustrated with the information they have been given for a long time. Rebuilding trust is done by building and maintaining relationships, and relationships are not built in days or weeks-they require months and years of sustained effort to grow.
Pollack noted that one of the ways that you show people respect is that you are honest with them-and being completely honest is often hard. He encouraged scientists and clinicians to pursue honesty in their work even when their findings might be unpalatable-and consequently, for scientists outside of the published work to be more accepting of findings that might contradict their own. Being a trusted messenger means that people know you are going to give them a straight answer-not that you are going to strategically respond with data that only serves your own ends. Despite these challenges, panelists encouraged scientists and clinicians to stay in the work, roll up their sleeves, and actually talk to the people around them.
"There is no quick fix for solving this problem of trust. Even all of us together cannot flip a switch and change people's trust of health information overnight."
- Megan Ranney
Watch a recording of the full discussion about science communication and rebuilding trust below.
Stay Up to Date with the Health in The Headlines Series
Tune in to Health in the Headlines, a free webinar series from the National Academy of Medicine held on the second Wednesday of every month from 3:00-4:30 pm ET. Health in the Headlines brings together experts from opposing viewpoints to discuss timely health topics, encouraging conversation that transparently combines scientific evidence and personal, cultural, and policy values. Sign up for updates and watch recordings of past webinars here.
Disclaimer
Statements, recommendations, and opinions expressed in the webinar and this document are those of individual presenters and participants. These views are not necessarily endorsed or verified by the National Academy of Medicine or the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and should not be construed as reflecting any group consensus.
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Original text here: https://nam.edu/news-and-insights/building-trust-in-science-how-effective-communication-can-help/
