Perceptions <strong>of</strong> Science and Scientists: Adults OOverall, ll adult d lt participants ti i t hhad d positive iti perceptions ti <strong>of</strong> f science, i believing b li i th that t it contributed t ib t d significantly i ifi tl to society. Adult participants in this study had positive overall perceptions <strong>of</strong> science. They saw science as involving elements <strong>of</strong> research, discovery, y and invention. They <strong>of</strong>ten talked about science as advancing knowledge, particularly in the area <strong>of</strong> medical research. In fact, medical research emerged as a primary association with science across all focus groups with adult respondents. These adults viewed scientific research as critical in finding cures for diseases. Participants, however, did associate science more broadly with a range <strong>of</strong> scientific disciplines; respondents named a wide range <strong>of</strong> fields including archeology, oceanography, and geology. Th Their i understanding d t di <strong>of</strong> f the th specifics ifi <strong>of</strong> f scientific research in these fields, however, was understandably less concrete. Technological advances and inventions in the fields <strong>of</strong> medical research and consumer products were also strongly associated with science; respondents <strong>of</strong>ten discussed innovation and invention as parts <strong>of</strong> this process. Few respondents had negative associations with science, although a few commented that they worried about science pushing boundaries too far and, potentially potentially, scientists not making ethical considerations when conducting experiments on humans or in dealing with harmful viruses. Adult participants’ perceptions <strong>of</strong> scientists were generally positive, if somewhat mixed. Typically, respondents saw a scientist as highly educated and devoting most <strong>of</strong> his/her life to schooling and research. They saw scientists as focused, intelligent individuals who care deeply about the subject <strong>of</strong> their research and are dedicated to their work. These very yq qualities, , however, , were sometimes a potential drawback to respondents. Because adult participants saw scientists as highly devoted to their work, they also thought <strong>of</strong> them as “geeky,” isolated from friends and family by their work and also removed from the real world. The stereotypical image <strong>of</strong> a person in a white lab coat working alone in a laboratory was a common mental image <strong>of</strong> a scientist. As one respondent put it, “They are a bit unkempt—if they are doing their research they probably spend a llot <strong>of</strong> f time just doing d that h maybe b locked up in their <strong>of</strong>fice or lab. Kind <strong>of</strong> like a hermit.” Despite these associations, however, adult participants felt that scientists advanced our knowledge. Overall, participants ti i t clearly l l valued l d th the contributions <strong>of</strong> science to society. Science—I think <strong>of</strong> studying health issues. Finding a cure for cancer, for AIDS. Science can help improve the world, health for example. Science is about the future. Discoveries. Science comes up with new things all the time. I’m I m amazed at what science discovers about the past. Like other civilizations—It’s like, how did they figure that out? [Science] can be good if it helps find cures or help, but sometimes you wonder. It can be worrisome. You don’t want science playing God. Science is about getting it perfect. So you can imagine that scientists spend all their time doing or thinking about their research. It’s a person p who is really y very y educated. Who studied a lot. They are highly trained. A scientist needs a lot <strong>of</strong> time to study—it’s a lot <strong>of</strong> time in school. A scientist must be really intelligent because they are the ones that come up with cures, inventions, discoveries. Garibay Group │ <strong>Urban</strong> <strong>Bird</strong> <strong>Gardens</strong> Front-end Evaluation │ Summer 2009 15
Perceptions <strong>of</strong> Science and Scientists: Adults, cont’d. The tag cloud graphic below provides a snapshot <strong>of</strong> the range <strong>of</strong> associations adults made with science and scientists. Health (e.g., medical research and cures), invention, and discovery, were strongly associated with science. Education was also strongly associated with scientists. Garibay Group │ <strong>Urban</strong> <strong>Bird</strong> <strong>Gardens</strong> Front-end Evaluation │ Summer 2009 16
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