"Don't flinch" is outgoing Chief Scientist Ian Chubb's parting advice for scientists facing a wide range of detractors, from climate change deniers to those against genetically modified foods.

Professor Chubb, who this week ends his almost-five year term, acknowledged in a statement on Thursday that scientists' work "isn't easy."

"We know there are those who want only to be told what they want to hear. When they aren't, they simply denigrate and disparage and dream up conspiracies," he said.



"I can only say to scientists: don't flinch. Do your work; do it according to the trusted methods of ethical science and talk regularly to the public ... their support, and the weight and quality of evidence, must always trump make-believe."

Professor Chubb told Fairfax Media that scientists have a responsibility to educate the public on what they found out about the world: "We can't afford for the scientific community to back off because they get yelled at or scoffed at. [That would be a] great loss to the planet."