Science Held in High Esteem Across the Globe—But There’s Ambivalence Too

Scientists and their research are widely viewed in a positive light in many places around the globe, and large majorities believe government investments in scientific research yield benefits for society, according to a Pew Research Center survey of people in 20 publics across Europe, Russia, the Americas, and the Asian-Pacific conducted from October 2019 to March 2020, just before the pandemic took hold in the world. Alongside the high trust for scientists, the survey also revealed ambivalence about some scientific developments such as artificial intelligence. Public concern about climate change and environmental degradation remain widespread.