How informed do the public feel about science?

The proportion of people who feel informed has fallen by eight percentage points since 2004 and now stands at 31 per cent.

The research, published on 4 September, finds that people with a university degree make up about half of those who feel informed about science, as did people who read broadsheet newspapers.

About a third of those who feel informed are white and male. A quarter of those who feel “not at all” informed are aged over 65, according to the report entitled Attitudes to Animal Research: A Long-term Survey of Public Views 1999-2014.

The poll of 1,000 adults, on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, mainly focused on animal research, but included more general questions on the perception of science.

holly.else@tesglobal.com