Trust in Science and the Role of Personal Connection

In this episode, I talk with Melanie Trecek-King — biology professor, science communicator, and creator of Thinking Is Power. I’ve been a fan of her content for years, and it was great to finally chat with her on my podcast. We discuss her journey from teaching biology and ecology to developing a critical thinking course that teaches skills, not just facts. Melanie shares how her frustration with traditional science education inspired her to focus on critical thinking education, skepticism, and understanding our own biases. We also talk about the challenges of engaging with misinformation online (and social media), building trust in science, and how to teach critical thinking without triggering defensiveness — all with a healthy dose of humor.

Keywords

critical thinking, science communication, misinformation, skepticism, media literacy, cognitive biases, trust in science, education, social media, identity and belief, Thinking Is Power

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