Australians still loving science, for all its pitfalls

Surveys show we talk about, use and value knowledge, says Jan Davis

A REPORT on the Australian Beliefs and Attitudes Towards Science Survey was released last week by the Australian National University.

It was commissioned by the Federal Government to gain greater insights into the Australian community’s engagement with science, and to measure people’s awareness of the benefits of science to our society.

The results provide many reasons to feel encouraged about Australians’ beliefs about, and attitudes towards science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Australians overwhelmingly believe that scientists contribute enormously to society (80.9 per cent). The other professions that most rate as contributing a lot to community wellbeing were doctors (80.5 per cent) and then farmers (78.5 per cent).

However, the survey also showed that our perceptions of the connection between the contribution professionals make and the prestige of their professions varies widely, most notably in the case of scientists. The top three professions that most Australians rated as very prestigious were doctors (72.9 per cent), followed by scientists (62.1 per cent) and then engineers (55.2 per cent).

The results show we are generally positive about science and are still interested in science or science-related topics above all others. The majority of Australians feel fairly well, or very well, informed about science, and this has increased since a study in 2010.

This reflects a strong theme in the survey results: the more informed people feel they are about science, the more likely they are to be broadly positive about it.

It is important to note this is how informed people believe or feel themselves to be, rather than an indicator of how much science they “know”. While the results suggest higher levels of education are somewhat associated with feeling more informed, the relationships do not simply suggest that “more education equals more positive attitudes to science”.

Ninety per cent of Australians feel science has made life easier. Almost all (86 per cent) say we have conversations about science at least once or twice a month; and nearly 70 per cent report these conversations are generally positive. About 80 per cent believe the benefits of science have been greater than harmful effects.

The survey found our relationship with sciencerelated matters is not simple. Many are at least wary of some past and potential activities done under the auspices of science, with nearly half feeling science has changed our way of life too fast.

About half of respondents said they were employed on a casual, part-time or full-time basis. These people were asked to indicate how often their day-to-day jobs required STEM skills. Technology was the most common skill regularly called upon, with more than 60 per cent saying they use it every day, and 90 per cent using it “regularly”. This eclipsed the next most frequently used skill, mathematics, with 40 per cent using this daily and 80 per cent relying on this regularly.

So our teachers were right when they said we’d need these things when we ventured into the real world.

The survey also explored attitudes to specific issues, including vaccinations, the use of animals in scientific research, genetically modified foods and climate change.

Australians overwhelmingly believe parents should be required to vaccinate their children (85 per cent, compared to 68 per cent of US adults). About half of us are opposed to using animals in scientific research, and a similar proportion oppose using nuclear energy. Seven out of 10 are opposed to fracking. Eighty per cent believe there is solid evidence the world has been warming the past few decades, with more than half saying this is because of human activity (the US equivalent is 46 per cent).

The survey provides a great deal of interesting data that tells us a great deal about the things concerning us. Perhaps more importantly, it provides useful insights into the things that will be occupying our attention in times to come. There is no doubt the results will keep many scientists and researchers busy for some time to come.