The Hoover Institution Center for Revitalizing American Institutions webinar series features speakers who are developing innovative ideas, conducting groundbreaking research, and taking important actions to improve trust and efficacy in American institutions. Speaker expertise and topics span governmental institutions, civic organizations and practice, and the role of public opinion and culture in shaping our democracy. The webinar series builds awareness about how we can individually and collectively revitalize American institutions to ensure our country’s democracy delivers on its promise.
The Hoover Institution's Center for Revitalizing American Institutions (RAI), in partnership with the Technology Policy Accelerator, invites you to join us for an engaging conversation on In Science We Trust? Understanding Americans’ Confidence in Science, Scientists, and Scientific Institutions with Russ Altman, Mark Horowitz, Arthur Lupia, and Amy Zegart on April 1, 2026, from 10:00-11:30 a.m. PT.
This webinar examines how Americans think about and trust science in an era of rapid technological change, political polarization, and misinformation. Through data-driven analysis and discussion, panelists will explore trends in public confidence toward scientists, the institutions that produce scientific knowledge, and the social and cultural factors that shape these attitudes. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of what strengthens or undermines trust in science—and what that means for policymaking, education, and the health of American democracy.
About the Speakers
Russ Altman is the Kenneth Fong Professor of Bioengineering, Genetics, Medicine, and Biomedical Data Science at Stanford University. His research applies AI, data science, and informatics to advance medicine, with a focus on drug action and how genetic variation influences drug response. He helps lead an FDA-supported Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation. Altman holds an AB from Harvard and both an MD and PhD from Stanford. A member of the National Academy of Medicine, he has received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. He is founding editor of the Annual Reviews of Biomedical Data Science and host of the podcast The Future of Everything.
Mark Horowitz is the Fortinet Founders Chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering, Yahoo! Founders Professor in the School of Engineering, and professor of computer science at Stanford University. A pioneering engineer and entrepreneur, his work has shaped modern digital systems and high-speed design. He advanced RISC microprocessors and distributed shared memory multiprocessors, and in 1990 cofounded Rambus Inc., helping develop high-bandwidth memory interfaces that influenced today’s high-speed links. He later collaborated with Marc Levoy on computational photography, contributing to innovations behind the Lytro camera. His current research spans electrical engineering, computer science, and applications in neurobiology and molecular biology.
Arthur Lupia is vice president for research and innovation at the University of Michigan, where he advances excellence, integrity, and public impact across the university’s research enterprise. A professor of political science and research professor at the Institute for Social Research, he has also served as assistant director of the National Science Foundation and cochaired the White House Subcommittee on Open Science. His work focuses on increasing the public value of research and strengthening trust in science. Lupia is a recipient of U-M’s President’s Award for Public Impact and serves on national advisory bodies dedicated to research excellence and integrity.
Amy Zegart is the Morris Arnold and Nona Jean Cox Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, where she leads the Technology Policy Accelerator and the Oster National Security Affairs Fellows Program. Specializing in US intelligence, emerging technologies, and national security, she is also an associate director and senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI and a senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute.
