Making Science Make Sense

Bayer Facts of Science Education Survey

• Almost half (46 %) of Americans say they take "a great deal" of pride and another 37 % say they take some pride in the nation being the world leader in science and technology (S&T).

• Almost all agree that S&T has been important in establishing the U.S.'s influence in the world (93 %) and contributing to its economic success in the 20th century (93 %), with six in ten calling S&T "very important" to both achievements.

• Almost all (93 %) say it is important for the U.S. to maintain its current global leadership position in S&T with 65 % calling it "very important" and 28 % "important."

• Some 70 % say they support the recent budget proposals that would significantly increase federal spending for scientific research and development, with almost one-fifth (18 %) saying they "strongly support" the budget proposals.

II. Speed & Impact of New Scientific Discoveries

• Roughly eight in ten (79%) believe that the speed of new scientific discoveries and their applications in the next 100 years will be greater than in the last 100 years (14 % say the speed will remain the same and 6 % say it will be less).

• Again, 78 % believe that the impact these new discoveries have on the way we live and work will be greater in the next 100 years (15 % say the same and 5 % say less).

• Most (89%) Americans say that S&T has changed life over the last 100 years for the better (6 % say for the worse and 4 % say the changes have been neither better or worse).

• 84 % believe it is likely that new NSF-funded research will lead to other new industries and business opportunities in the future (41 % say very likely and 43 % say likely).

III. Science Literacy and Science Education

• 83 % say it is likely that most entry-level jobs in the next decade will require a basic level of science literacy (48 % very likely and 31% likely).

• More than half (52 %) are "very concerned" about U.S. 12th graders poor performance on TIMSS and another 33 % are concerned.

• Some 75% agree that the poor showing may be an early warning sign that U.S. S&T related jobs may shift to other countries who citizens have stronger science literacy skills (29 % strongly agree and 46 % agree).

• More than half (57 %) believe that this year's presidential candidates should be "very concerned" about the issues of science education, science literacy and student performance in science and another 37 % say they should be concerned.

• However, while Americans register concern over TIMSS, only 7 % were actually aware of just how poorly U.S. 12th graders ranked compared to their counterparts from other countries.

IV. Hands-On Science Education

• Nearly three-quarters (74 %) of Americans say they are familiar with the difference between the inquiry-based, hands-on method of teaching science and the traditional textbook, rote memorization method.

• An overwhelming 86 % familiar with the two methods of teaching science feel that the hands-on method will best prepare students for the future. Only 5 % voted for the more traditional science teaching method. And, another 9 % favor a combination of both methods.

• Almost two-thirds (64 %) believe that science should be given the same priority as reading, writing and math, making science the fourth "R." More than one-quarter (27 %) say it should be given greater priority. Only 9 % believe it should be given less priority.

V. Presidential Candidates and S&T

• In general, 72 % of Americans are more likely to vote for a candidate who places a high priority on strengthening science and technology, with 14 % saying "much more likely."

• Roughly 90 % say it is important for the U.S. presidential candidates to address federal, state and local efforts to improve science and math education for U.S. students. Of these, half (52 %) called these efforts "very important."

• In fact, 87 % say they are more likely to vote for a presidential candidate who supports state and local efforts to strengthen science education with 82 % saying they are more likely to vote for the candidate who supports federal efforts in this area. Of these, one in five say they are "much more likely" to cast a vote for candidates who support these two areas.

• Also high on Americans' priority list are candidates who address federal support of scientific research to stimulate America's technological competitiveness (80 %) and federal efforts to encourage scientific and technological innovation among U.S. business (78 %).

• Three-quarters (75 %) are more likely to vote for a candidate who supports federal efforts to stimulate the country's competitiveness (14 % much more likely), while 73 % are more likely to vote for a person who supports federal support of U.S. business innovation (13 % much more likely).

• Less of a priority, although still ranking high, is the Internet. Some 62 % believe it is important for the presidential candidates to address federal efforts to make the Internet available to all Americans, regardless of income (26 % very important). And, it seems those most concerned about this are the Gen-Xers and the senior citizens.

• More than half (58 %) say they are more likely to vote for a presidential candidate who supports federal efforts to make the Internet available to everyone, with 13 % saying they are "much more likely." Younger Americans (18-34) and senior citizens (65+) are the two groups who feel the most strongly about this.

VI. A Message To The Nation's Governors

• Almost all (93 %) say students in their state need a stronger education in science to be prepared for the new inventions, discoveries, and technologies that the increases in investment in R&D will likely bring, with 41% strongly agreeing (2 % disagree).

• In fact, more than eight in ten (85 %) believe that improving pre-college science education in their state should be one their governor's top priorities, with 31 % strongly agreeing and 54 % agreeing (5 % disagree).

• Almost nine in ten (88 %) say their governors should support science education reforms for K-12 students that emphasize critical thinking, hands-on experiments and discussing and defending conclusions with others, rather than traditional science teaching where students read a textbook, listen to lectures and memorize scientific information (45 % strongly agree and 6 % disagreed).

• Some 82 % say they are more likely to vote for a gubernatorial candidate who places a high priority on science and technology (roughly 19 % say much more likely, 10 % say less likely).

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