Public scepticism about science, compounded by poor communication, is standing in the way of implementing sustainable technologies that could solve pressing global issues, such as the provision of sufficient clean energy, water and food (see go.nature.com/6rs2ih and go.nature.com/yvzaht). I suggest that this obstruction could be alleviated by providing more effective training for young scientists in the advantages of public engagement.

Early-career scientists may feel neither encouraged nor equipped to communicate beyond the scientific community. Current trends in performance-evaluation criteria do not seem to motivate scientists to engage more effectively with society (see go.nature.com/t43rhg).

Postgraduate education needs to include exposure to and training in social responsibility, public communication and leadership. Basic personal engagement with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, policy-makers, industries and communication specialists, for example, would lead to a more connected cohort of scientists, who could then pass their skills on to the next generation of researchers.