Why We Need Information Curators to Build Public Trust in Science
Sponsored by Sage
Recorded on 12/01/2025
Posted in The Authority File
Episode 450
In this month’s four-part series, we dive into public trust in science. Inspired by the recent guide The People’s Case for Curators from Sage and Sense about Science, the series investigates the need for the guide and what issues within and outside scholarly communication have compounded on each other, creating unique challenges to strengthening public trust in research.
We first chat with Camille Gamboa, AVP of Corporate Communications at Sage, and Tracey Brown, Director of Sense about Science, in episodes one and two, digging into their collaboration on the guide, key takeaways, and the value of research communicators. In episodes three and four, Louis Coiffait-Gunn, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP), joins Camille to discuss the obstacles impacting public trust in science and the key role of information professionals in combatting these issues.
In this first episode, Tracey shares the mission behind Sense about Science and why the organization wanted to team up with Sage on the guide. Further, Camille and Tracey define public-good curators, explaining how librarians, research officers, and journalists each play a unique and crucial role in building public trust.
About the guests:
Tracey Brown
Director
Sense about Science
Tracey Brown OBE is the director of Sense about Science. Under her leadership, the charity has launched important initiatives to promote open discussions of evidence, including AllTrials – a successful global campaign for the reporting of all clinical trial outcomes, the Ask for Evidence campaign and Risk Know-How. She initiated Evidence Week in the UK Parliament and co-founded the international Maddox Prize. As a champion of public engagement in some of the trickiest areas of research and evidence for more than two decades, Tracey writes about the public and evidence and leads Sense about Science’s work on transparency of evidence and AI in policy. She is honorary Professor in the Department of Science, Technology and Engineering in Public Policy at UCL.
Louis Coiffait-Gunn
CEO
CILIP the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals
Louis is responsible for championing CILIP members and the whole library, knowledge, and information profession, as well as ensuring the talented CILIP team keeps performing and evolving to meet members’ needs. He is passionate about helping members to inform decision-making at all levels and in all sectors of society, to support people to learn, and to enrich our culture.
Louis has worked in government, research organisations, professional associations, universities, trade bodies and the press, and has volunteered on the boards of schools, universities and charities.
Camille Gamboa
AVP of Corporate Communications
Sage
Camille Gamboa is Associate Vice President of Corporate Communications at Sage, where she leads a team dedicated to sharing the stories and actions behind the company’s mission, vision, and values. She also oversees Sage’s public affairs and advocacy programs, bringing together voices from across the trans-Atlantic to champion a strong future for social and behavioral science. A regular contributor to the Charleston Hub, she writes on the intersection of research, publishing, and academic librarianship. Camille holds a Master of Arts in Communication from Pepperdine University and a Women & Leadership certificate from Antioch University. She lives in the Washington, D.C. area with her husband and two daughters.
Enjoy the conversation? Listen to the rest of the series:
- Key Takeaways and Action Steps to Increase Public Trust in Science
- Evaluating the Current Environment for Public Trust in Science
- Supporting Librarians as Essential Information Professionals
Check out our previous series with Sage:
– Documentaries as Learning Tools
– Definitions, Uses, and Current Contexts for “Fake News”
– Librarian Skills Landscape Report and Overview
– The Intersection of Critical Thinking Skills and AI
– Building Skills for Student Success
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