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Americans Value U.S. Role as Scientific Leader, but 38% Say Country Is Losing Ground Globally
Americans divided over public opinion’s role in science policy
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- Americans Value U.S. Role as Scientific Leader, but 38% Say Country Is Losing Ground Globally
- Most Americans support role for U.S. as global leader in science, but few see its prominence increasing
- Democrats far more likely than Republicans to support an active policy role for scientists
- Americans’ confidence in scientists differs across partisan affiliation, race and ethnicity, and education
- Americans’ trust in scientists steady over past year
- Majorities of U.S. adults express at least some confidence in scientists and medical scientists, but ratings remain lower than early in the coronavirus outbreak
- Democrats continue to express higher confidence in scientists than Republicans
- College-educated Democrats express higher confidence in scientists
- About three-in-ten Americans have a great deal of confidence in scientists
- Decline in share of Americans saying scientists should play an active role in policy debates
- Partisan divides in views of scientists’ influence on public policy
- Share of Americans who think scientists make better policy decisions declines
- Americans divided over public opinion’s role in science policy
- Most Democrats and Republicans say government investments in scientific research are worthwhile
- 54% of Americans think it is very important the U.S. is a world leader in scientific achievements
- Few Americans think the U.S. is gaining ground in science compared with other countries