Survey: Scientific Achievements Less Prominent Than a Decade Ago
Public praises scientists; scientists fault public, media.
A new report by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press finds that overwhelming majorities of Americans believe that science has had a positive effect on society and that science has made life easier for most people. The public - even those skeptical of some scientific conclusions on such topics as climate change and evolution - rates scientists highly and believes government investments in science pay off in the long term.
But the study, conducted in collaboration with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), also finds that the public has a far less positive view of the global standing of U.S. science than do scientists themselves. As the 40th anniversary of the moon landing approaches, just 17% say U.S. scientific achievements rate as the best in the world, compared with nearly half (49%) of scientists who hold that view. (more…)
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People Sometimes Seek the Truth, but Most Prefer Like-minded Views
We swim in a sea of information, but filter out most of what we see or hear. New analysis of data from dozens of studies sheds new light on how we choose what we do and do not hear. The study found that while people tend to avoid information that contradicts what they already think or believe, certain factors can cause them to seek out, or at least consider, other points of view.
The analysis, led by researchers at the University of Illinois and the University of Florida, included data from 91 studies involving nearly 8,000 participants. It puts to rest a longstanding debate over whether people actively avoid information that contradicts what they believe, or whether they are simply exposed more often to ideas that conform to their own because they tend to be surrounded by like-minded people. (more…)
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Study Finds Researchers Open to Knowledge Transfer
Christian Dagenais, director of the Centre de liaison sur l'intervention et la prévention psychosociales (CLIPP).
Scientists like to pay it forward. According to a new study by Université de Montréal professors Christian Dagenais and Michel Janosz, most academics are quite open to knowledge transfer.
“We debunked the myth that researchers are so consumed by their work that they don’t have time for knowledge transfer,” says Dagenais, a professor at the Université de Montréal and director of the Centre de liaison sur l’intervention et la prévention psychosociales (CLIPP).
Although knowledge transfer is becoming a prerequisite of most funding agencies, universities had little data on what the research community thought about sharing results from their life’s work. Until now.
The study was conducted by the VINCI group (Valorisation de l’innovation et du capital intellectuel) and surveyed scientists from 16 research units affiliated to the Université de Montréal. As part of the study, 216 researchers filled out a questionnaire, while 30 academics and five funding agencies were also interviewed. (more…)
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Survey - Basic Scientific Knowledge Sadly Lacking in US
Are Americans flunking science? A new national survey commissioned by the California Academy of Sciences and conducted by Harris Interactive reveals that the U.S. public is unable to pass even a basic scientific literacy test.
Over the past few months, the American government has allocated hundreds of billions of dollars for economic bailout plans. While this spending may provide a short-term solution to the country’s economic woes, most analysts agree that the long-term solution must include a transition to a more knowledge-based economy, including a focus on science, which is now widely recognized as a major driver of innovation and industry. Despite its importance to economic growth, environmental protection, and global health and energy issues, scientific literacy is currently low among American adults. According to the national survey commissioned by the California Academy of Sciences: (more…)
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Half in US See Another Country Emerging as World’s Technological Leader
Half of all Americans expect another country to emerge this century as the world’s leader in addressing technological challenges that range from the economy to global warming, according to a survey of U.S. public opinion released Tuesday by Duke University.
Although only 34 percent of Americans gave themselves a grade of A or B for understanding “the world of engineers and what they do,” 72 percent nonetheless expect the technological advancements of the 21st century to surpass those of the previous century. However, only 49 percent predict the United States will lead the way in producing these advances, according to the survey of 808 adults carried out Jan. 22-25 by Hart Research Associates. (more…)
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