Reflecting on the results of the first Public Attitudes to Science Survey since the pandemic, published today, Katherine Mathieson, Director of The Royal Institution (Ri) said:
“This is the first major survey of public attitudes to science since Covid-19 shone a spotlight directly onto scientists, their research and innovation, and the impact of science in our lives.
“It tells us that people want to see and hear more about science than they currently do.
“Those saying they see or hear too little about science has shifted dramatically, reaching its highest level in 25 years. The number of people feeling informed about science has fallen, reversing a hitherto upward trend to the point of the last survey in 2019. We need to compensate for the decline in science education, with 16 to 24-year-olds saying school put them off science more than any other age group.
“Yet with huge changes in where people find their information and who they trust, we need to do things differently.
“We need to take science to where the audience is; to meet people’s appetite for more interesting science that’s easier to understand and easier to find. And we need more storytelling from real scientists, from a wider range of relatable backgrounds, who are supported and valued for sharing their research and innovation with the public.
“The UK punches well above its weight in science, compared with other countries, but only one-third of the population is aware. To safeguard the UK’s future as a global leader in research and innovation, public support and involvement is vital. Research needs public funding, regulations and policies need public support, and commercial success needs public understanding.
“As science and technology continue to shape our world, this survey highlights a golden opportunity to bring scientists and the public together, to safeguard the UK’s future as a global leader and ensure nobody feels left behind by progress.”