Lee Rainie, director of internet, science and technology, presented findings about Americans’ trust in scientists at the Aspen Ideas Festival, on June 27. He was part of a section of the Festival called, “The Genetic Revolution, Unintended Consequences, and the Public Trust.”

1. U.S. Public Trust in Science and
Scientists
Lee Rainie
Aspen Ideas Festival, June 27, 2017
Director, Internet, Science and Technology Research, Pew Research Center
lrainie@pewresearch.org
@lrainie

2. June 27, 2017
Majority of Americans say science has had
a mostly positive effect on society
2%
4%
27%
No
answe
r
Equal
positive and
negative Mostly
positive
Mostly
negative
Science has had a ___ effect on society
Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults March 2-28, 2016
67
%

3. June 27, 2017
Nearly half or more expect these changes will come to pass
within 50 years
Each of the following ___ in the next 50 years
66
54
48
47
18
33
45
51
52
Won't happenWill happen
Routinely transplant artificially-made
organs for humans
Cures for most forms of cancer
Computer chips routinely embedded in our
bodies
Routinely use implanted sensors to
monitor/adjust all food/medications
Eliminate almost all birth defects by manipulating
genes of embryos
81
%
Note: “Definitely” will/will not and “probably” will/will not responses combined. Pew Research Center survey conducted March 2-28, 2016.

4. June 27, 2017
Nearly half or more expect these changes will come to pass
within 50 years
Each of the following ___ in the next 50 years
51
39
33
19
15
45
56
64
77
Won't happenWill happen
Lab-grown custom organs for
Computers that create art as well as humans do
Scientists will have solved teleportation
Humans will have long-term space
colonies
Humans will control the weather
81
%
Note: “Definitely” will/will not and “probably” will/will not responses combined. Pew Research Center survey conducted Feb. 13-18, 2014, with Smithsonian
Magazine.

5. Confidence in the leaders of the scientific community
has been stable since the 1970s
Have a great deal of confidence in the people running these institutions
36
40
0
20
40
60
80
100%
Scientific community
Medicine
'16'73 '75 '80 '85 '90 '95 '00 '05 '10
June 27, 2017
General Social Surveys, NORC.

6. Gaps between AAAS members and the public
on a range of science topics
June 27, 2017
89
68
87
98
65
86
47
28
50
65
45
68
0 20 40 60 80 100
Safe to eat genetically modified foods
Climate change is mostly due to human activity
Favor use of animals in research
Safe to eat foods grown with pesticides
Humans have evolved over time
Favor building more nuclear power plants
Childhood vaccines such as MMR should be required
51-POINT GAP
42
37
40
33
20
18
U.S.
AAAS
members
Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults Aug. 15-25, 2014; AAAS survey Sept. 11-Oct 13, 2014.
88%37%

7. June 27, 2017
Wide mix of factors influencing public views
on science-related issues
Note: Chart shows relative strength and statistical significance of each factor or set of factors in statistical modeling
Pew Research Center survey conducted Aug. 15-25, 2014.

8. June 27, 2017
Different factors influence public views on modifying a baby’s
genes to reduce risk of disease or to increase intelligence
Note: Chart shows relative strength and statistical significance of each factor or set of factors in statistical modeling
Pew Research Center survey conducted Aug. 15-25, 2014.
Relative strength and statistical significance of each factor or set of factors

9. June 27, 2017
Trust in climate scientists is low among conservative
Republicans; considerably higher among liberal Democrats
11
16
15
54
55
70
Conservative Republicans Liberal Democrats
Mod/Lib Republicans Cons/Mod Democrats
Climate scientists understand the
causes of climate change very well
Almost all climate scientists agree climate
change is mostly due to human activity
Trust climate scientists a lot for full and accurate
information on the causes of climate change
U.S.
adults
27
28
39
Note: Republicans and Democrats include independents and others who “lean” toward the parties.
Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults May 10-June 6, 2016.

10. June 27, 2017
Half or fewer Americans see science research as influenced
by best available evidence most of the time
The best available scientific evidence influences research findings of each of these groups …
32
30
48
51
18
17
Most of
the time
Not too
often/
Never
Medical scientists on health
effects of MMR vaccine
Climate scientists on climate
change causes
Scientists on GM food
Some
of the
time
Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults May 10-June 6, 2016.
52
%
36
%
9%

11. June 27, 2017
Americans are more likely to trust scientists than other groups for
information about the MMR vaccine, climate change
Trust each of these groups a lot to give full and accurate information on…
THE HEALTH RISKSAND
BENEFITSOFTHE MMRVACCINE
THE CAUSESOF CLIMATE
CHANGE
THE HEALTH RISKSAND
BENEFITSOF EATING GM FOODS
13
9
8
6
Medical scientists
Pharmaceutical
industry leaders
Holistic/alternative
health groups
The news media
Elected officials
29
10
9
4
Scientists
Small farmers
Food industry
leaders
The news media
Elected officials
7
7
4
Climate scientists
Energy industry
leaders
The news media
Elected officials
Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults May 10-June 6, 2016.
55% 39% 35%

12. June 27, 2017
Public expresses more worry than enthusiasm about each of
these potential human enhancements
Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults March 2-28, 2016
They are ___ about each of these enhancements
Gene editing

13. Public closely divided over whether they would want gene editing
to reduce their baby’s risk of disease
“Definitely” would/would not want and “probably” would/would not want responses combined.
Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults March 2-28, 2016
June 27, 2017
Gene editing to give healthy babies a much reduced risk of serious diseases and conditions
is something they would/would not want for their baby
50
59
45
48
39
53
Would not want for their baby Would want for their baby
U.S. adults
PARENT STATUS
Parent of child
under 18
No child under 18

14. Wide differences by religious commitment
on whether gene editing is morally acceptable
June 27, 2017
Gene editing to give healthy babies a much reduced risk of serious diseases and conditions is …
40
43
41
37
Not sure
28
15
25
45
30
41
32
17
U.S. adults
High
Medium
Low
Morally
unacceptable
Morally
acceptable
Among those ___ on the religious commitment index
Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults March 2-28, 2016

15. Most highly religious Americans would not want gene editing
for their baby
June 27, 2017
Among those ___ on
the religious
commitment index
64
50
36
34
48
63
Would not want for their baby Would want for their baby
High
Medium
Low
Gene editing to give healthy babies a much reduced risk of serious diseases and conditions
is something they would/would not want for their baby
“Definitely” would/would not want and “probably” would/would not want responses combined.
Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults March 2-28, 2016

16. Most Americans have heard at least a little about gene editing
June 27, 2017
Heard or read ___ about gene editing before taking the survey
9 48 42
A lot A little Not at all
57
37
A lot/a little
Not at all
Among those who
have heard or read ___
about gene editing
before
Would want gene editing giving their baby a much reduced risk of serious diseases
Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults March 2-28, 2016

17. Americans expect more negative than positive effects
from use of gene editing to reduce disease risk
June 27, 2017
Each of the following is likely to happen if gene editing to give healthy babies
a much reduced risk of serious diseases and conditions becomes available
70
53
52
45
32
This option will be used before we fully
understand the effects
Inequality will increase; will only be available
for wealthy
People who have this will feel superior to those
who do not
Possible POSITIVE outcomes
Possible NEGATIVE outcomes
People who have this will feel more confident
about themselves
Widespread use will lead to new innovation and
problem-solving
People who have had this will be more
productive at their jobs
Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults March 2-28, 2016
73%

18. Public especially concerned about germline editing
June 27, 2017
Gene editing to give healthy babies a much reduced risk of serious diseases and conditions
would be more acceptable, less acceptable or make no difference …
34
17
23
49
40
31
More acceptable Less acceptable No difference
If effects were limited to that
person and could not be passed on
If it changed the genetic makeup of
the whole population
Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults March 2-28, 2016

19. U.S. Public Trust in Science and
Scientists
Lee Rainie
Aspen Ideas Festival, June 27, 2017
Director, Internet, Science and Technology Research, Pew Research Center
lrainie@pewresearch.org
@lrainie