JAN. 30, 2015Scientists and the Public Disagree on Key Issues |
AUDIO FILE: http://www.sciencefriday.com/segment/01/30/2015/scientists-and-the-public-disagree-on-key-issues.html
Are genetically modified foods safe to eat? Are humans mostly to blame for climate change? Should vaccines be required? Scientists overwhelmingly answer “yes” to all questions. But the American people don't agree, according to a survey of thousands of scientists and adults in the United States. Lee Rainie of the Pew Research Center unpacks the results, while Tim O'Brien of the University of Evansville talks about how religious adults view science.
Given the large divide between scientists and the public, is it possible to shift public opinion on controversial scientific issues? Michael LaCour of UCLA discusses his work on changing voters' minds about LGBT issues, and whether a similar tactic might work for scientific issues.
This debate isn't new. For example, in this archival clip from SciFri in 2008, infectious disease specialist Paul Offit talks to a caller about whether or not vaccines can harm children.
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Produced by Christopher Intagliata, Senior Producer
GUESTS
- Lee Rainie
Director Internet, Science, and Technology Research
Pew Research Center
Washington, D.C. - Michael LaCour
Doctoral Candidate
Department of Political Science and Statistics
Affiliate, California Center for Population Research
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California - Tim O'Brien
Assistant Professor, Sociology
University of Evansville
Evansville, Indiana - Brendan Nyhan
Assistant Professor, Government
Dartmouth College
Hanover, New Hampshire
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