I'm grateful for the growing number of scientists and science reporters who are advocating for a credible investigation of both natural and lab #OriginOfCovid hypotheses.
People in the future need to be able to look back and see that some scientists have integrity & courage.
People in the future need to be able to look back and see that some scientists have integrity & courage.
Knowing that there are checks and balances in our research system (including its funding, publication, and media reporting), and people to actually enforce those checks and balances, builds the bedrock of public trust in science.
If the #OriginOfCovid is traced to research activities, it would make me most relieved if scientists played a prominent role in investigating and determining the origin - and not in covering it up or suppressing an investigation out of self-preservation or fear.
If the #OriginOfCovid is traced to research activities, there should be stories that can be told of scientists, especially virologists, holding to the truth & not dismissing a lab origin prematurely. There should be stories of them investigating & making pathogen research safer.
Even if the #OriginOfCovid is found to be natural, it will build public trust if scientists & virologists demonstrate they can rigorously investigate their own & make research safer anyway - that there aren't just stories of scientists closing ranks or being bystanders.
A country whose people have poor public trust in science and technology does not have a future as a global leader.
That trust has to be earned through actions from the scientific community and scientific leaders.
That trust has to be earned through actions from the scientific community and scientific leaders.
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