Why science deserves scepticism and the role of science communication

The coronavirus crisis, if not before, has changed the relationship between science and the public. Suddenly, scientific certainties that previously enjoyed some certainty were called into question. The shock caused by this partial loss of credibility in science runs deep and is still being processed. On the one hand, ‘science marches’ aim to regain lost trust and fight back against the alleged destruction of truth. On the other hand, some voices argue that science should indeed be viewed with greater scepticism and warn against an ‘epistocracy’ – that is, the political domination of scientific expertise. How can these contradictory positions be reconciled? Is there such a thing as good and bad scepticism towards science? And what does this conflict mean for science communication?