What Does the Public Need to Know About Research?

Since the launch of People and Perspectives (P&P) in 2013, we have interviewed a variety of individuals, from the founders of the research ethics field to those who have only been in it for a few years. But one thing we ask most of them is, “what do you think the general public needs to know about research?” Though their responses are different, many reference a common theme: people need to understand why research matters to them.
What do you feel the general public needs to know about research? What would you tell a person on the street about research?