Download Brian Kennedy's photo

Download High-Res Image

Brian Kennedy

Senior Researcher

Expertise:Science and Society

Brian Kennedy is a senior researcher at the Pew Research Center, where he studies public views on science issues and the implications of science for society. He is an expert on public opinion on climate, energy and environmental issues and public trust in science. He has authored numerous publications on these two topics in his decade at the Pew Research Center.

Kennedy frequently discusses research on public opinion on climate, energy and environmental issues and public trust in science with the media and regularly presents research on these topics to outside groups, such as academic and policy audiences.

He received his Ph.D. in political science at Michigan State University, where his work focused on cross-national attitudes about climate change. Kennedy received his bachelor’s degree at Davidson College.

Publications

Filtered by:

Refine Your Results

reportMar 28, 2019

What Americans Know About Science

Many Americans can answer at least some questions about science concepts. Science knowledge levels remain strongly tied to education; Republicans and Democrats are about equally knowledgeable.
short readsMar 28, 2019

Science knowledge varies by race and ethnicity in U.S.

About half of whites correctly answered at least nine of 11 science-related questions, compared with much smaller shares of Hispanics and blacks.
short readsNov 19, 2018

Americans are narrowly divided over health effects of genetically modified foods

About half of U.S. adults say genetically modified foods are worse for one’s health than non-GM foods, while 44% think GM foods ingredients are neither better nor worse for one’s health.
reportNov 19, 2018

Public Perspectives on Food Risks

Majorities of Americans see at least some risk from food produced using hormones, antibiotics, pesticides or artificial ingredients; half the public says that foods with genetically modified ingredients are worse for one’s health than foods without.
reportNov 19, 2018

Public Perspectives on Food Risks

Majorities of Americans see at least some risk from food produced using hormones, antibiotics, pesticides or artificial ingredients; half the public says that foods with genetically modified ingredients are worse for one’s health than foods without.
short readsJul 3, 2018

Americans broadly favor government funding for medical and science research

Many Americans say government investments in medical research, engineering and technology or basic scientific research usually pay off in the long run.
short readsJun 22, 2018

Many in U.S. have confidence in what private space companies will accomplish

Most Americans are confident that private space companies will make meaningful contributions in developing safe and reliable spacecraft or conducting research to expand space knowledge.
short readsJun 7, 2018

Space tourism? Majority of Americans say they wouldn’t be interested

About four-in-ten Americans (42%) say they would definitely or probably be interested in orbiting the Earth in a spacecraft in the future, while roughly six-in-ten (58%) say they would not be interested.
reportMay 14, 2018

Majorities See Government Efforts to Protect the Environment as Insufficient

At the same time, Americans are closely divided over whether or not it is possible to cut back on regulations while still effectively protecting air and water quality.
short readsJan 17, 2018

Half of Americans think young people don’t pursue STEM because it is too hard

When Americans are asked why more students don’t pursue a degree in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM), they are most likely to point to the difficulty of these subjects, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. About half of adults (52%) say the main reason young people don’t pursue STEM degrees is they think these subjects are too hard.