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University of Florida

Austin Hubner

A hand holds a mobile phone showing the U.S. National Science Foundation logo on the screen.

Support for scientific funding doesn’t have to be partisan — but scientists must make the case, says new study

Monday January 5, 2026

The real driver of distrust in agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation isn’t ideology per se, but a form of scientific populism that goes beyond political parties. Instead, scientific populism reflects a belief that scientific “elites” are out of touch and that ordinary people should have more authority over what research gets funded and conducted.

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Austin Hubner

Austin Hubner authors articles on how scientists shape public trust and how the public evaluates scientific information sources

Monday December 8, 2025

Austin Hubner, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Public Relations assistant professor, is the author of two research articles slated for publication in scholarly journals. Hubner’s research project, “When scientists speak up: …
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UFCJC faculty, graduate students and alumni represented at 2025 National Communication Association Convention

Friday November 21, 2025

University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) faculty, graduate students and alumni will receive awards and present at the 2025 National Communication Association (NCA) Convention in Denver from Nov. 20-23. Advertising Professor Bobi …
Young female wearing a lab coat and gloves seated at a lab bench handling objects.

Calling Wonder Woman for Science: How Female Experts Engender Likability and Trust

Monday February 3, 2025

Public trust in science has been declining for decades, a challenge that may be exacerbated by pop culture and media portrayals of scientists as cold and disconnected. Could a female face give science communication the warmth it needs to succeed?

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Study: A Scientist’s Gender May Influence Perceptions of Likability, Competence and Trust

Thursday November 14, 2024

A new study has found that exposure to science messages from female scientists significantly increases trust in science and perceived competence. The findings by Olivia Bullock, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) …
Austin Hubner

Austin Hubner to Join UFCJC Public Relations Department in Fall 2025

Tuesday November 5, 2024

The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications today announced that Austin Y. Hubner will join the College in fall 2025 as a Public Relations assistant professor with an appointment to the STEM Translational Communication Center. Hubner …