Concluding PERITIA: Impact, Tools, and Youth

2 min read

BRUSSELS, Belgium — On May 4-5, after more than three years of research activities, the EU-wide PERITIA research project on public trust in expertise, in which the American University of Armenia (AUA) was a partner, held its closing event in Brussels. The “Research Insights for European Policymaking” event took place at the European Parliament’s InfoHub and was co-hosted by the European Parliament’s Panel for the Future of Science and Technology and the European Science-Media Hub. 

Over the course of two packed days, PERITIA researchers and team members discussed their research results before an audience of experts and policymakers from the European Parliament and European Commission. The event included a roundtable discussion on the key findings and implications of the project, experience with deliberative mini-publics in Berlin, London, Dublin, Warsaw, and Yerevan, the release of the podcast series on trust, and the launch of the Trust Hub and Trust Toolkit. 

The event also recognized the 12 winners of the Youth on Trust competition, in which 13-18-year-old students from across Europe were invited to compete. The students were asked to share their views on trust in social and political life through essays, podcasts, films, and more. 

More than 40 students from Armenia had submitted entries for the competition, four of whom were announced as winners by an international jury of experts, along with eight winners from Ireland, Poland, and Turkey. The four winners from Armenia, each accompanied by a parent, traveled to Brussels to receive their awards. They had a chance to publicly exchange views about trust and also tour the European Parliament.  

The six part series of podcasts called The Trust Race portrays pivotal moments in the last 60 years that have shaped trust in science. The podcasts explore various scandals through conversations with journalists, scientists, philosophers, lawyers, and activists, to examine the complex nature of trust.

The Trust Toolkit provides simple tests and guidance that prepare people to better gauge the trustworthiness of experts. The kit is accessible to everyone, including secondary school students, regardless of their technical expertise. The Trust Toolkit will continue to evolve over time.

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.