These words, from Michael Gove, date to the time of the Brexit referendum but have continued to resonate in the intervening years. The pandemic response, in particular, has highlighted the wide range of challenges inherent to communication of science and public engagement in the 21st Century. With our third Northern Data Debate, our panellists address fundamental and timely questions around public trust, the nature of “expertise”, and the potential perils—and vital importance—of science and public engagement.