Transcript
Comparing the Opinions of the Science Community and the General
Public in Ireland An Amárach Briefing to Science Foundation Ireland
November 2017
➢ Background & Methodology
➢ SECTION 1: The Impact of Science
➢ SECTION 2: Climate Change & Natural Resources
➢ SECTION 3: Medicine & Food
➢ SECTION 4: Evolution & The Big Bang
➢ SECTION 5: The Role of Science
➢ SECTION 6: Scientists & Scientific Achievements
Awareness
➢ SECTION 7: Comparing Ireland Internationally
Presentation Structure
➢ In advance of Science Week 2017, Science Foundation Ireland sought to conduct
research to measure and compare the opinions of the general public and the science
community in Ireland. Questions were asked across a range of subject including the
impact of science on everyday life, climate change and evolution, amongst others.
➢ The research format was based on the Pew Research Centre, a non-partisan think
tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world.
➢ The objective of the research was to uncover any differences and/ or similarities in the
views and perceptions of the general public and Irish scientists on issues relating to
science and everyday life.
➢ A national online survey of 1,000 adults* was conducted between 13th – 17th October,
while 238 members of the science community were surveyed online, via an email link
sent to researchers working in academia and industry by Science Foundation Ireland.
*referred to as general public throughout
Background & Methodology
The Impact of Science
3% 5%
28%
41%
23%
8%
0%3%
22%
67%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science Community
Q.1 Science has had a positive impact on people’s lives in Ireland.
Public – 1,001
Scientists - 239
56%65%
Transport
Public Vs. Science Community % who believe science has had a positive impact on…
Public – 1,001
Scientists - 239
65%
85%
Food
61%
79%
The Environment
62%
83%
Quality of Life
67%
87%
Education
71%
96%
Healthcare
47%51%
Family Life
Climate Change & Natural Resources
Q.3 Climate change is mostly due to human activity...
5%8%
19%
36%32%
1% 1%6%
33%
59%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.3 The earth is getting warmer due as a result of climate change…
3% 5%
23%
38%
31%
0% 1%
7%
28%
64%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.3 There is broad agreement within the science community about the causes of climate change…
3%
10%
31%36%
20%
1%5% 5%
36%
53%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.3 The growing world population will put a strain on natural resources…
3% 5%
16%
39% 37%
1% 3% 4%
23%
69%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.3 The planet’s resources will sufficiently be able to deal with a growing population…
14%
34%
28%
19%
5%
26%
39%
18%14%
3%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.3 Wind turbine farms are an acceptable form of energy…
4% 4%
20%
40%
32%
0%3%
6%
36%
55%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Medicine & Food
Q.4 It is safe to eat genetically modified foods…
19%24%
35%
17%
5%4%
10%
24%
34%
28%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.4 It is safe to eat foods with pesticides…
23%
31%28%
15%
3%
12%
22%
32%28%
6%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.4 Vaccinations are an acceptable form of preventative medical treatment…
5% 7%
24%
40%
24%
0% 1%4%
18%
77%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.4 I would support the bioengineering of artificial organs for use in transplants…
6% 7%
31%
38%
18%
1% 1%
8%
30%
60%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Evolution & The Big Bang
Q.5 The universe was created by a big explosion almost 14 billion years ago…
8% 9%
39%
26%
18%
1% 2%
9%
33%
55%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.5 How the universe was created can be sufficiently explained by science…
6%
15%
33% 33%
13%
5%10%
17%
41%
27%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.5 There is agreement amongst scientists that the universe was created by a big explosion…
5%10%
38%33%
14%
1%5%
14%
44%
36%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.5 Humans evolved over time guided by a supreme being…
18%15%
38%
21%
8%
56%
17% 15%
8%4%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.5 Life on earth, including humans, evolved through a process of natural selection…
5% 7%
31%35%
22%
1% 1%6%
26%
66%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.5 Humans have existed in present form since the beginning…
21%26%
31%
15%
7%
77%
16%
4% 2% 1%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
The Role of Science
Q.6 It is important for scientific findings to inform government policy...
3% 4%
25%
45%
23%
0% 0%3%
18%
79%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.6 Scientific findings regularly inform government policy…
3%
12%
46%
33%
6%4%
28%
38%
25%
5%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.7 The general public does not know much about science...
3%
9%
26%
50%
12%
0%
20%
26%
47%
7%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.7 The general public finds it hard to distinguish which scientific findings are well-founded…
2%6%
21%
53%
18%
0%4% 3%
56%
37%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.7 There is not enough science education in schools…
2%
9%
27%
42%
20%
0%
6%
20%
37% 37%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.7 The general public expects science to find solutions to problems too quickly…
2%7%
27%
47%
17%
0%
7%
19%
49%
25%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.8 I am interested in science news…
3%
9%
28%
43%
17%
0% 1% 3%
41%
55%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.8 There is a lack of public interest in science news…
2%
8%
34%
48%
10%
1%
25%
33% 32%
9%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.8 The Irish media lacks coverage of science news…
1%
9%
32%
44%
14%
0%
17%
33%37%
13%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.8 Scientists in Ireland are communicating science news sufficiently…
3%
23%
49%
21%
4%4%
36%
43%
17%
0%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.8 The news media over-simplifies science news…
2%
12%
49%
29%
8%
0%
15%19%
43%
23%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Awareness of Scientists & Scientific Achievements
Q.9 Please name any Irish scientists, past or present, that you are aware of?
69% of the public do not know of any Irish scientists,
past of present.
2%
2%
2%
2%
4%
13%
W.R.Hamilton
George Boole
Einstein
Francis Beaufort
Ernest Walton
Robert Boyle
Public – Top Mentions
10%
10%
11%
15%
18%
21%
24%
34%
48%
Luke O' Neill
George Stokes
University scientists or colleagues
Jocelyn Bell Burnell
George Boole
John Tyndall
W.R. Hamilton
Ernest Walton
Robert Boyle
Science Community – Top Mentions
All other mentions 5%
or less
All other mentions 1%
or less
Q.10 Please name any Irish scientific achievements, past or present, that you are aware of?
1%
2%
2%
2%
3%
5%
Hypodermic Needle
Ernest Walton helped split the atom
Beaufort scale
First submarine
Birr Telescope
Boyle's Law
Public – Top Mentions
72% of the public do not know of any Irish scientific
achievements, past of present.
7%
8%
8%
10%
14%
15%
21%
27%
Beaufort scale
Tyndall effect
Pulsars
Hamilton's equations or mechanics
Contribution to medicine (generic)
Boolean Logic
Ernest Walton helped split the atom
Boyle's Law
Science Community – Top Mentions
All other mentions 6%
or less
All other mentions
less than 1%
Q.11 In your opinion, what do you believe to be the single greatest scientific achievement ever made?
3%
5%
5%
9%
10%
12%
The Wheel
Space Exploration
Communication technology(internet/phone)
Medical advances/ vaccinations
Electricity
Penicillin/ antibiotics
Public – Top Mentions
6%
6%
7%
7%
8%
9%
10%
15%
Atom theory
Newton's Laws
Electricity
Theory of relativity
DNA
Natural evolution
Medical advances/ vaccinations
Penicillin/ antibiotics
Science Community – Top Mentions
35% of the public could not name what they believed to be the
single greatest scientific achievement ever made
All other mentions 5%
or less
All other mentions 2%
or less
Comparing Ireland Internationally
Ireland performs well internationally in…
38%
64%
Scientific Achievements
44%41%
Medical Treatment
38%
53%
Economic Development
51%
81%
Artistic Achievements
27%
36%
STEM Education
58%53%
Sporting Achievements
Public – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.12 Ireland performs well internationally versus other industrialised nations in the following areas:
Scientific achievements
4%
11%
47%
33%
5%1%
11%
24%
56%
8%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.12 Ireland performs well internationally versus other industrialised nations in the following areas:
Medical treatment
6%
16%
34%37%
7%4%
20%
35% 36%
5%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.12 Ireland performs well internationally versus other industrialised nations in the following areas:
Economic development
4%
17%
41%
33%
5%4%
15%
28%
49%
4%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.12 Ireland performs well internationally versus other industrialised nations in the following areas:
STEM education
4%
14%
55%
23%
4%2%
21%
41%
31%
5%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.12 Ireland performs well internationally versus other industrialised nations in the following areas:
Sporting achievements
3%
9%
30%
44%
14%
3%
10%
34%
43%
10%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.12 Ireland performs well internationally versus other industrialised nations in the following areas:
Artistic achievements
3%
9%
37% 39%
12%
1%5%
13%
51%
30%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Appendix – Detailed Analysis of Question 2
Q.2 Science has had a positive impact on the following areas of everyday life: Healthcare
5% 5%
19%
35% 36%
0% 0%4%
14%
82%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.2 Science has had a positive impact on the following areas of everyday life: Food
3%8%
24%
44%
21%
1% 3%
11%
39%
46%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.2 Science has had a positive impact on the following areas of everyday life: The Environment
4%
10%
25%
41%
20%
1%5%
15%
35%
44%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
3%
9%
32%
39%
17%
1%
10%
24%
39%
26%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.2 Science has had a positive impact on the following areas of everyday life: Transport
Q.2 Science has had a positive impact on the following areas of everyday life: Quality of Life
3%7%
28%
42%
20%
0% 2%
15%
42% 41%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.2 Science has had a positive impact on the following areas of everyday life: Family Life
4%
12%
37%34%
13%
3%6%
40%36%
15%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
Q.2 Science has had a positive impact on the following areas of everyday life: Education
2%6%
25%
44%
23%
0%3%
10%
39%
48%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Public Science CommunityPublic – 1,001
Scientists - 239
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