AAAS with Pew Research Survey American's Attitude to Science and Scientists. (July 13, 2009)

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) engaged the Pew Research Center to undertake a new survey of scientists and the American public's perception of science and scientists.

It turns out: "large majorities holding positive views of science. But scientists are concerned about Americans' ignorance of scientific findings and large differences exist between the two groups' views on evolution and global warming. Still, both groups overwhelmingly agree government investments in science and technology pay off in the long run."

Alan Leshner, chief executive officer of the AAAS comments: "Americans by and large admire scientists - only slightly less than members of the
military or teachers. At the same time... a large majority of scientists (85%) consider the public's lack of scientific knowledge to be a major problem. A similar percentage of scientists (83%) characterize television news coverage of science as 'only fair' or 'poor,' with newspaper coverage receiving the same low ratings by a smaller majority of scientists (63%). Also, 2l% of scientists identified public communication or education as a significant scientific failure of the past 20 years."

The survey consisted of 2,533 AAAS members and 2,001 public respondents and nearly three-fourths of public participants considered that federal investment in basic scientific research as well as engineering and technology promises long-term societal benefits. However, only a third of the American public (32%) believe that humans and other living things have evolved over time due to natural processes such as natural selection. Public views about evolution have changed little over the past two decades.

When it came to elementary particle physics 46% didn't know that an electron is smaller than an atom. And it is noteworthy that while a decade ago 47% of Americans believed scientific achievements to be one of the country's most important achievements that has fallen to 27%, which correlates with the decrease in interest by students in pursuing scientific careers.