Study Highlights Gap Between Views of Scientists and the Public

ZeroSerenity was one of many to write with news of a survey from the Pew Research Center which sought to find out how Americans feel about science and contrast that with the opinions of actual scientists. The study showed that "nearly 9 in 10 scientists accept the idea of evolution by natural selection, but just a third of the public does. And while 84% of scientists say the Earth is getting warmer because of human activity, less than half of the public agrees with that." 27% of the respondents said that the advances of the US in science are its greatest achievement, down from 44% ten years ago. The study is lengthy, and it contains many more interesting tidbits. For example: scientists decry the level of media coverage given to science, and they also think research funding has too much influence on study results. 32% of scientists identify themselves as Independent, while 55% say they're Democrats and 6% say they're Republicans.

Only 9 in 10 accept evolution?

[PieSquared]

Hrm... I'd like to see exactly how they arrived at *that* number...

They're not counting engineers as scientists, are they?

Re:55% say they are Democrats

[Anonymous Coward]

40% do, 58% don't 15% don't know ;)

Re:55% say they are Democrats

[bunratty]

If the world has been cooling for the last ten years, someone should tell all that Arctic ice [nytimes.com] to stop melting. Hey, get with the program Arctic ice! Cooling, I tell you! Cooling!1!

Re:Only 9 in 10 accept evolution?

[Gadzeus]

As far as I understand it that's, like, the difference between a gorilla penis and a human penis. No? Come ON... there has to be some evolution... so you blame women. It isn't God's fault! That'd be gross!

Re:Why in the flying fuck is that a troll

[Informative]

Sorry, bud. You've been censored by the inquisition of the church of global warming.

Your comment is actually insightful or informative, or something, but politically incorrect.

Re:55% say they are Democrats

[Antique Geekmeister]

Well, yes. The average maried couple has sex 98 times a year, and 48% of women admit to faking orgasms.

Re:55% say they are Democrats

[Anonymous Coward]

Where did you get the idea that it was ONLY a correlation?

I keep reading on Slashdot that correlation is not causation.

Re:reality is librul

[Attila Dimedici]

Right. The fact that you classify 55% as 'more than half' shows exactly what a stupid moron you are.

Mart

I read your post three times, what is your point?
Let's do some math. One half of something is 50% of that something. 55 is greater than 50. So 55% is more than half of something.