The newly released Public Attitudes to Science (PAS) 2025 data show that many of our everyday assumptions about how science is seen are actually incorrect.
As science and technology continue to transform our lives – from AI tools to climate innovations – PAS 2025 holds up a mirror to the nation. What we see is not apathy, nor disinterest, but a more nuanced picture: one of enthusiasm mixed with uncertainty, curiosity mixed with frustration, and strong support that risks fading without care.
Here are some of the biggest myths the new data overturns.
Myth 1: “Most people aren’t interested in science.”
Reality: People want more science, not less.
One of the most striking findings from PAS 2025 is that 62% of people say they see or hear too little about science, the highest level in 25 years and a huge jump from 47% in 2019. This isn’t confined to people already engaged with science, it’s true for many different groups. Far from being fatigued, people feel under-served.
Yet at the same time, fewer people feel confident the information they do encounter is trustworthy. Those saying scientific information is “generally true” has dropped from 50% to 40% since 2019. So the public doesn’t want less science – they want better, clearer, more reliable science.
Myth 2: “Young people are naturally confident about science.”
Reality: Many young adults feel let down by science education and turn to patchy online sources.
It’s easy to assume today’s young people feel at ease with science, having grown up in a world shaped by technology and surrounded by digital content. But PAS 2025 paints a different picture: a worrying 32% of 16–24yearolds say school put them off science, significantly more than the adult population overall. Many describe science at school as disconnected from real life and lacking handson experiences.
As a result, this age group now relies heavily on Instagram, TikTok and other social platforms to learn about scientific issues. These channels can be exciting and creative, but the quality and reliability of scientific content there varies enormously.
Myth 3: “If people feel informed about a topic, they’ll naturally feel positive about it.”
Reality: AI is an exception for which knowledge doesn’t equal comfort.
For most technologies, PAS data has historically shown a clear pattern: the more informed people feel, the more positive they tend to be. But AI breaks this rule.
Even though many adults say they feel relatively informed about AI, the public remains sharply divided: 36% believe the benefits outweigh the risks, while 33% believe the reverse.
Unlike other areas of science, simply providing information isn’t enough to build confidence. People want clarity about who controls AI, how it’s regulated and how it will affect everyday life. This leads to a different kind of communication: more transparent, more participatory, and less authoritative than other topics like public health.
Myth 4: “People view science as neutral.”
Reality: Many people feel scientists are unrepresentative, secretive, or narrowminded.
Despite high overall trust in science, PAS 2025 highlights deeprooted perceptions that risk undermining public connection:
- 26% of people think scientists are secretive
- 9% think scientists are narrowminded
- 25% say scientists do not represent the UK population
These views don’t reflect the reality of today’s research workforce, which is diverse, international and increasingly collaborative. But perception matters. If people can’t “see themselves” in science, or feel scientists have different views and values from them, support for research becomes fragile. What the public wants is not just more science, but more science from a wider range of voices, telling humancentred stories.
Myth 5: “The UK’s scientific strength is obvious to everyone.”
Reality: Only a third of the public recognises that the UK punches above its weight.
The PAS 2025 data confirms that the public values science—eight in ten say scientists contribute positively to society.
Yet only around onethird realise that the UK is a global science leader, despite the country’s exceptional scientific output and highly international research workforce.
At the same time, 75% of respondents say strengthening science and technology is essential to the UK’s future competitiveness – a powerful public mandate for continued investment. But this support is fragile if people don’t see the full picture of the UK’s impact and achievements.
What emerges from PAS 2025 is not a cynical public, but a curious one – engaged, supportive and eager for meaningful connection with science. The biggest risk we face is not apathy, but failing to meet this appetite.
We need:
- More storytelling from real, relatable scientists
- More high quality science content online
- More support for young people, both in school and on digital platforms
- More transparency from regulators and policymakers
- More recognition of the public appetite for science
Opportunities for people to engage with science, including ours here at the Ri, are more important than ever before. While more people may be talking about science than before the pandemic, and access to science has expanded through new media, these factors have not necessarily increased people’s connectedness to science on a deeper level. As science and technology continue to shape our world, this survey highlights a golden opportunity to safeguard the UK’s future as a global leader and ensure nobody feels left behind by progress. And we can do it by bringing scientists and the public together to share their interest and passion for science.