Establishing trust between researchers, government and the public: proposing an integrated process for evidence synthesis and policy development

The journey from evidence to policy is inevitably complex and frequently becomes divisive as arguments rage about the validity and worth of the evidence presented. This is especially true in the "post-truth" era, where the opinions of experts are viewed with scepticism, opposing views (and evidence) are dismissed as "fake news", and social media algorithms have fostered an "echo chamber" effect which further entrenches opinions. To effectively navigate this complexity, Peter Horton and Garrett Wallace Brown propose a new methodology for policy development, one which fully integrates scientific investigation with political debate and social discourse.