Science Polls Indicate Americans Losing Some Respect For the Lab Coat

First, the good news for scientists: Americansrights as an issue of public concern. Ten years ago,
respect advancements in science, technology andjust 5% of people felt that it was the most
medicine more than advancements in any other field,impressive advancement. In the most recent
other than the always-impressive "don't know."surveys, that number has more than tripled, perhaps
Unfortunately, however, science polls indicate thatspurred by the election of biracial President Barack
respect for for the field is dwindling in comparison toObama.
others.On an optimistic note for science, polls indicate that
Current science polls from the Pew Research centerAmericans still have overwhelmingly positive views of
indicate that 27% of Americans think that ourit, with 84% replying that they thought it was a net
nation's greatest achievements are those that takegood for society. Only 6% felt it was largely
place in beakers, petri dishes and physics labs. Whilenegative. While there aren't past science polls that
no doubt an impressive number, similar polls from aare exactly comparable, responses have always
scant ten years ago suggested that number wasindicated that, on the whole, Americans are
nearly 50%. Despite exciting advancements inpro-science.
medicine and technology -- the proliferation of theIn all, there doesn't seem to be much to worry about
Internet comes to mind -- it's clear the public doesn'tfor science -- polls indicate that Americans are a long
place as high a priority on these sorts ofway away from abandoning it in favor of divination
developments as it did in the past.or magic. It is interesting, however, that its
Perhaps partially explaining the relatively poorerprevalence in the national consciousness seems to be
performance of science in polls is the rise of equalslightly receding.