In a rapidly changing world, scientific discovery has the power to transform the health and wellbeing of everyday people — yet the pace of innovation often outstrips public understanding, policy adaptation, and ethical reflection. This session of The Briefing Room explores how to close that gap: How can we make complex science and ideas relatable without diluting their substance? What systems and ethical frameworks can ensure that science serves society equitably and transparently? And what roles do communicators, creatives, and civic leaders play in building trust and meaning around science in public life? This is a conversation about responsibility, relevance, and the future of innovation in society. By integrating ethics, communication, and systems designed to connect discovery with lived experience, this conversation aims to inspire a new paradigm: one where innovation thrives through inclusive conversation, transparency, and shared purpose.

Moderator:

Virginia Amann, Founder & CEO, ENTENTE

Speakers:

Aaron Mertz, Executive Director, Science & Society, Aspen Institute

Caroline Montojo, President & CEO, Dana Foundation

Robert Ring, CEO, Kaerus Biosciences

Muffy Walker, Author of Memory Weavers & Founder of the International Bipolar Foundation