PewResearch today released the results of surveys aiming to glean some insight into the opinions of Americans when it comes to science. The research covers many topics from climate to animal research and from space to evolution. There are many interesting fining here. I can’t possibly detail them all, you can read the report for yourself here. It is important to remember that this research only focuses on the U.S.A. and so there are obvious biases presents. Never the less here are some details I found interesting:
- Gender plays a large role in the attitude to science. For example men are strongly in favour of using animals in research while women are strongly against it. This split in option is also present between races (African Americans and Whites).
- The majority of people think that genetically modified is ‘generally unsafe’ although option is fundamentally divided. In addition when asked if people thought that scientists had clear understanding of genetical modified foods 67% thought they did not.
- Most people think that Astronauts are essential for the future is the U.S. space program.
- Despite much of the news rhetoric in the American press 68% of people think that vaccine should be required. Very few (9%) thought that vaccines were harmful.
Bioscopical 