2022 Survey Summary
-
For the fifth year, 3M shared unique insights from our original research project, the State of Science Index. The State of Science Index is a third-party, independent research study commissioned by 3M that tracks and explores global attitudes toward science, taking the pulse on how people think and feel about the field and its impact on the world around us.
-
The world has altered their perceptions of science.
Fielded September 27, 2021 – December 17, 2021, the 2022 wave of data moved beyond COVID-19 to explore the future of science and captured sentiment related to 3M’s core brand priorities of STEM equity, health equity, upskilling and trade skills, sustainability, and future technology. It also gave us five years' worth of trends about how the perception of science has changed as the world continued to tackle challenges that impact our lives—and rely on scientific solutions. For the first time, insights were equally divided between the pre-pandemic and pandemic eras with data from 3 surveys conducted before the pandemic, and 3 surveys conducted since the pandemic.
Science matters to 3M. We want to create a better world through science, and we want to inspire others to join us in that effort. To do so, we needed to understand what the world thinks of science—and the role it plays in society—because it could impact the future. 3M’s State of Science Index presents original, independent and nationally representative (based on census demographics) research conducted among the general population around the world.
Since 2018, it has been one of the largest, most global studies to explore attitudes about science and enables 3M to track and benchmark shifts in attitudes about science over time, using the inaugural year as a baseline. We have enough historical data to call out trends from questions we have tracked over time. Data from this research can be viewed as a global average, or individually by country.
What we learned
-
Global trust in science is high and appreciation is stronger than pre-pandemic times
Trust in science and scientists has remained high, with 90% saying they trust science and 86% responding that they trust scientists. 52% identify science as important to the everyday lives. Trust is especially high among younger respondants.
-
But misinformation presents a threat to scientific credibility
People agree, misinformation is widespread across channels, with 85% identifying social media as a source of misinformation and 72% identifying traditional news as a source. 75% are more likely to trust traditional news.
Potential consequences identified include more public health crises, more division in society and more severe effects of climate change.
-
Through social impact, science can help combat these risks
Around the world, people are connecting the dots to how science can solve issues that resonate in their lives.
Among the top issues people want science to solve (beyond the COVID-19 pandemic), are climate change, with 58% identifying that as a primary issue, and equal access to quality healthcare, with 54% identifying it as a primary issue.
-
Barriers to pursuing STEM persist
84% believe that there are barriers to students pursuing a STEM education. Access and affordability are identified as top barriers. Access includes "Lack of STEM classes in school," "Not enough STEM educators/teachers" and "Lack of internet access"
-
When it comes to social justice and change, access to quality healthcare comes first
13 of 16 countries agree that their home country should prioritize improving access to quality healthcare.
*Question was not asked in UAE
-
Optimism for the future of science is strong
87% agree that in the future, the world will be more dependent on scientific knowledge than ever before.
1 out of 2 believe they will have a greater appreciation for science five years from now.
-
Silled tradespeople are needed, but most choose not to pursue
91% of people agree the workforce needs more skilled trade workers, however, 68% say that although they respect people who pursue skilled trades, they would not pursue one themselves.
-
Explore the 2022 survey findings
We invite you to explore insights country-by-country through our explorer tool. We hope you’ll share and discuss the research. What do you think they mean to science today and in the future? View the 2022 survey explorer. For an overview of the combined global results, download our 2022 pdf here (17.94 MB).
-
2022 Methodology
3M’s State of Science Index presents original, independent and nationally representative (based on census demographics) research in 2022.
The 2022 State of Science Index survey was conducted among a representative sample of 1,000 general population adults, 18 years and older, across the following 17 countries: US, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Poland, Italy, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, China, India, UAE, and Australia. At the 95% confidence level, the margin of error is +/- 0.8 percentage points at the 17-country level and +/- 3.1 percentage points for each individual country.
To compare results year over year, a 10-country tracking average was used which has a margin of error of +/- 1.0 percentage points.
-
3M State of Science Index Global 2022 Report -
Skilled: Shining a Light on the Trades.3M is raising awareness around the opportunities available in the trades through Skilled, a new docuseries created to dispel misperceptions and showcase diverse and meaningful trade careers.
