NASA Shares its Discovery on Rebuilding Public Trust

It is generally accepted that America’s space agency enjoys a high level of public trust and is one of our nation’s most valued treasures.  In fact, its iconic symbols can be spotted as frequently on the casual wear of college students as it can on the upscale brands of the cultural elite or the fashion-conscious choices of suburban and urban youth.  This widespread approval has not always been the case. NASA has taken significant steps over the years to regain the public's trust after high-profile system failures rocked the once infallible agency.

One of the most notable ways NASA regained public trust was through increased transparency and communication. NASA learned from its mistakes and became more transparent in sharing information about their spacecraft and missions and provided more opportunities for public access and involvement. Additionally, NASA made a concerted effort to communicate more effectively with the public, using social media and other channels to provide updates and insights into their work.

NASA also regained public trust through a series of successful missions and other scientific discoveries. The amazing images recently captured by the James Webb Space Telescope have amazed and inspired us all.  These missions demonstrated NASA's expertise and capabilities and helped to rebuild public confidence in the agency's ability to safely and successfully carry out space exploration. 

That is why we are pleased to announce Marc Etkind, NASA Associate Administrator for Communications, will be a featured speaker at this year’s National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing and Media in Atlanta, Georgia, July 19-21.  Mr. Etkind will share how the impossible was made possible and what public health can learn from NASA’s exceptional journey.  

To learn more about how NASA regained the public’s trust, read the featured article, Public health agencies: learn from NASA about regaining the public’s trust, by Judy Monroe, Sept. 22, 2022