During the pandemic, citizen science is thriving, as amateur astronomers and aspiring bird-watchers peer at the world and share their findings. After a gruelling year where doctors and researchers very publicly saved the day, the surge in citizen contributions gestures towards a return to trust in science.

What makes people believe in a brand’s activist efforts? How can companies connect with values-minded consumers? And can creativity save the world? In this part of the 2021 Expert Outlook, we speak to three experts about how the multiple crises of 2020 will impact consumer citizenship.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top immunologist, has attracted a dedicated stanbase due to leading the US in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic. His popularity sheds some light on how people’s attitudes to experts, and leaders, may change in a post-pandemic world.

Economic growth used to make people feel better about the state of the world, but that’s no longer the case. Research shows that frustration with wealth inequality has resulted in widespread disillusionment with capitalism, leading people to feel deeply sceptical of public institutions.