Survey Finds that Most Americans Believe Science Benefits Them

A backlash against science might exist in some communities, but it turns out that most Americans support a stronger focus on science. This according to a recent survey commissioned by Research!America that found that a strong majority agree that "the COVID-19 pandemic is a disruptive event and requires urgent refocusing of America's commitment to science." On a bipartisan basis, Americans also believe that science benefits them (88%); would pay $1 more a week in taxes to support scientific research (66%); and believe America should maintain its global leadership in science (89%).

An area of concern raised from the survey is that participants aged 18-29 appear to see science as less consequential to our nation's future. They are less likely to say they support a greater share of the U.S. GDP going to research and development (69% compared to 79% of all adults) and less likely to agree the U.S. should be a global leader in scientific research (74% to 89% of all adults). Surprisingly, this group also expresses less interest in federal incentives for STEM education (58% to 70% of adults).

Among all adults, the bipartisan support for U.S. global leadership in science and for increasing the percentage of our GDP spend in science stands in sharp contradiction to the disturbing slippage in our nation's global scientific leadership. According to a report released this month by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Baker Institute of Public Policy, the U.S. has fallen to tenth place among OECD nations in the share of GDP invested in research and development.

"Americans are facing major societal challenges—health, environment, food, and energy—that are now existential, due in large part to decades of underinvestment in STEM and STEM education," said Keith Yamamoto, Ph.D., Vice Chancellor for Science Policy and Strategy at UCSF, a co-chair of the working group. "The survey indicates that Americans are aware of the urgency of addressing these challenges, and that science is essential to succeed."

Complete survey results can be viewed here.