The infodemic — and the scientists fighting against it | Jessica Malaty Rivera

Public health crises involve two simultaneous outbreaks: the pathogen itself and a parallel, non-neutral outbreak of information. Public health scientist and epidemiologist Jessica Malaty Rivera argues that leadership in this environment requires shifting from demanding blind obedience to actively earning public trust. Because trust is a critical determinant of health outcomes, experts must prioritize "sense-making"—translating complex, often uncomfortable scientific truths into accessible language that resonates with individual experiences. Rather than relying solely on data, which rarely changes minds in isolation, effective communication integrates personal storytelling and radical transparency about the scientific process. By acknowledging uncertainty and fostering multidisciplinary collaboration, scientists can bridge the gap between elite institutions and the public, ensuring that life-saving interventions are not just developed, but actually understood and utilized by the communities they serve.