We created a simulation about trust in science for the closing event of the PERITIA Research Project. The event ‘Research Insights for European Policymaking’ took place at the European Parliament’s Info Hub in Brussels in the beginning of May. It was organised by the European Parliament Science Media Hub (STOA), the European Science-Media Hub and the European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities (ALLEA).

Our team together with the experts from the PERITIA project designed a social simulation drawing upon research of Prof. Maria Baghramian, Prof. Catherine Holst, Dr. Kirstie Hewlett, and Prof. Bobby Duffy. The effects of the cooperation is the Climate Science Crisis Simulation set in the Pangean Union – a simulated world in which participants have to address the crisis of trust in climate science and expertise.

It all starts with revelations and allegations about a start-up funded by a large oil company, which they say is performing stratospheric aerosol injections (i.e. solar geoengineering) at scale. Through ensuing misinformation spreading across the Pangean Union, failed attempts by scientists to reassure the public, and further revelations, the SolarGate controversy reaches epic proportions. 

Participants were shown a video depicting these events, containing various narrative and storytelling devices. The audience was then told that the events in the video were from 2029 and that in the current day (04 May 2030) and that they were going to take part in the Regain Trust Conference – an invitation-only, fictional conference organised by the Pangean Commission to discuss policies and measures to address the damage caused by SolarGate and – more importantly – to prevent crises of trust in expertise, in the future. 

The simulation on the topic of trust in science is part of our portfolio of narrative simulation. To learn more about social simulations go to the Socialsimulations.org.