| Chapter
Overview
Chapter Organization
Chapter Overview
 The vast majority of Americans recognize and appreciate the benefits
of science and technology (S&T). They are aware of the role
new discoveries play in ensuring their health and safety and the
health of the economy. They have welcomed a wide variety of inventions—automobiles,
household appliances, and motion pictures, to name just a few—that
have improved their quality of life and standard of living. More
recently, Americans have enthusiastically embraced major advancements
in communication technologies, including the Internet, cellular
telephones, and DVD players.
The public is also highly supportive of the government's role in
fostering and funding scientific research. According to a survey
conducted at the end of the millennium, Americans believe that advancements
in S&T were the nation's and the government's greatest achievements
during the 20th century (Pew Research
Center for the People and the Press 1999).
Although Americans are highly supportive of S&T, their knowledge
is limited. Many people do not seem to have a firm understanding
of basic scientific facts and concepts. Experts in science communication
encounter widespread misunderstanding of how science works. Moreover,
surveys conducted by the National Science Foundation (NSF)
and other organizations show minimal gains over time in the public's
knowledge of science and the scientific method and suggest that
belief in astrology and other forms of pseudo-science is widespread
and growing.
According to a recent report (NIST 2002),
many in the scientific community are concerned that the public's
lack of knowledge about S&T may result in:
- Less government support for research
- Fewer young people choosing S&T careers
- Greater public susceptibility to miracle cures, get-rich-quick
schemes, and other scams
Chapter Organization
This chapter examines aspects of the public's
attitudes toward and understanding of S&T. In addition to data
collected in surveys sponsored by NSF, the chapter contains extensive
information from studies and surveys undertaken by other organizations
that track trends in media consumption and changes in public opinion
on policy issues related to S&T. (See sidebar "Data
Sources.") One of these sources is the most recent Eurobarometer
on "Europeans, Science and Technology" (European
Commission 2001), the first comprehensive survey of residents
in all European Union member states in nearly a decade.
The chapter is in three parts. The first part focuses on S&T-related
information and interest. It begins with a section on sources of
news and information, including a detailed look at the role of the
Internet. It then examines several measures of public interest in
S&T. (Level of interest indicates both the visibility of the
science and engineering community's work and the relative importance
accorded S&T by society.) The first part also briefly discusses
the public's perception of how well informed it is about science-related
issues.
The second part of the chapter covers knowledge of S&T. It
touches on the importance of scientific literacy; indicators of
the public's familiarity with scientific terms and concepts, the
scientific method, and technology; and belief in pseudoscience.
The third part examines public attitudes about S&T. It presents
data on public opinion about Federal funding of scientific research
and public confidence in the science community. It also includes
information on how the public perceives the benefits and harms of
scientific research and genetic engineering.
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