Finster
10th July 2009, 06:41 AM
http://people-press.org/report/528/
A combination of interesting, encouraging, and depressing.
A few snippets -
“Americans like science. Overwhelming majorities say that science has had a positive effect on society and that science has made life easier for most people. Most also say that government investments in science, as well as engineering and technology, pay off in the long run. And scientists are very highly rated compared with members of other professions:”
“A substantial percentage of scientists also say that the news media have done a poor job educating the public. About three-quarters (76%) say a major problem for science is that news reports fail to distinguish between findings that are well-founded and those that are not. And 48% say media oversimplification of scientific findings is a major problem.”
“Most notably, 87% of scientists say that humans and other living things have evolved over time and that evolution is the result of natural processes such as natural selection. Just 32% of the public accepts this as true.” - This never ceases to amaze and depress me.
“A majority of the public (60%) says that government investment in research is essential for scientific progress”
“Fewer than half (46%) know that electrons are smaller than atoms.”:boggled:
A combination of interesting, encouraging, and depressing.
A few snippets -
“Americans like science. Overwhelming majorities say that science has had a positive effect on society and that science has made life easier for most people. Most also say that government investments in science, as well as engineering and technology, pay off in the long run. And scientists are very highly rated compared with members of other professions:”
“A substantial percentage of scientists also say that the news media have done a poor job educating the public. About three-quarters (76%) say a major problem for science is that news reports fail to distinguish between findings that are well-founded and those that are not. And 48% say media oversimplification of scientific findings is a major problem.”
“Most notably, 87% of scientists say that humans and other living things have evolved over time and that evolution is the result of natural processes such as natural selection. Just 32% of the public accepts this as true.” - This never ceases to amaze and depress me.
“A majority of the public (60%) says that government investment in research is essential for scientific progress”
“Fewer than half (46%) know that electrons are smaller than atoms.”:boggled: