Pew Report: Large Gap Exists Between Public, Scientists on 12 Key S&T Issues

The American public and scientists have dramatically different views on a range of science, engineering, and technology issues, according to a new report from the New Pew Research Center. The largest gap exists between the two groups on safety of genetically modified (GM) foods. While 57 percent of the public believe GM foods are generally unsafe, 88 percent of scientists connected with American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) believe that GM foods are generally safe. Other questions asked that show a significant fracture between the public and scientific community include: the role of human activity in climate change; human evolution; use of animals in research; nuclear energy; and, offshore drilling.

The only one of 13 issues compared where the differences between the two groups are especially modest is the space station. The report also provides data on the public and AAAS scientists’ views on STEM education, effects of science on society, and perception of U.S. scientific achievements. Both scientists and the public are general positive about the impact of science on U.S society and U.S. scientific achievements as compared to their industrial peers. Both groups also are highly critical of K-12 STEM education. These are some of the findings from a new pair of surveys conducted in 2014 by the Pew Research Center in collaboration with the AAAS. Read more of the report’s findings…