Francis Collins is arguably one of the most powerful biologists in the world. The US-based scientist has helped identify the cause of cystic fibrosis and a number of other genetic diseases. He led the Human Genome Project and, most recently, was a key player in the race to find a vaccine and effective treatments for Covid-19.
Collins is very open about his faith, identifying as an evangelical. His latest book, The Road to Wisdom is his response to the growing mistrust of scientists among the US public, and the disturbing rise in polarisation in recent years.
In a survey before and after the pandemic, confidence that scientists would act in the public interest fell from 86 to 69 per cent in America. This drop in trust was caused – at least in part – by mistakes in communicating and implementing shifting public health policies during the pandemic. Collins is very open about the errors he made during that fraught time, as well as providing some much-needed scientific and behind-the-scenes detail that paints a clearer picture of what was going on.
Collins calls for greater trust in reliable sources, not unquestioning partisan support of any one side. The thought process that he lays out in the book is rational but also provides footholds for moving forwards.
The stories of conversations with individuals on the other side of the scientific and political divides are especially heartening. Whatever your background in faith or science, if you are fed up with politics and polarisation, this book is for you.
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