In Science We Trust: Poll Results on How You Feel about Science

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Our Web survey of readers suggests that the scientifically literate public still trusts its experts—with some important caveats

By The Editors, Scientific American

How Much Do People Trust What Scientists Say?

We asked respondents to rank how much they trusted various groups of people on a scale of 1 (strongly distrust) to 5 (strongly trust). Scientists came out on top by a healthy margin. When we asked how much people trust what scientists say on a topic-by-topic basis, only three topics (including, surprisingly, evolution) garnered a stronger vote of confidence than scientists did as a whole.

When Science Meets Politics: A Tale of Three Nations

Should scientists get involved in politics? Readers differ widely depending on where they are from. Germany, whose top politician has a doctorate in quantum chemistry, seems to approve of scientists playing a big role in politics. Not so in China. Even though most leaders are engineers, Chinese respondents were much less keen than their German or U.S. counterparts to see scientists in political life.

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Climate Denial on the Decline

Numerous polls show a decline in the percentage of Americans who believe humans affect climate, but our survey suggests the nation is not among the worst deniers. (Those are France, Japan and Australia.) Attitudes, however, may be shifting the other way. Among those respondents who have changed their opinions in the past year, three times more said they are more certain than less certain that humans are changing the climate.

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[trillium13 84]

I think that if a general section of the public was polled, as opposed to just Scientific American readers, the answers would be different. At least as far as the "who do we trust" part.