Global perception of science and the need for STEM advocacy

Global perception of science and the need for STEM advocacy

Jayshree Seth, 3MAug 18th 2020Texas Aviation Virtual Conference


The role of science is more important now than ever

5. All Rights Reserved.15 August 2020© 3M

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The importance of science?

At 3M we recognize the importance of science and use it every day to improve the lives of people around the world.

But what do others around the world think about science? Do they see, feel and appreciate the impact of science the same way we do?

© 3M 2018. All Rights Reserved. 6


Emerging ■

Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Poland, Saudi Arabia, South Africa

Where we surveyed

Developed ■

Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, UK, US

*Based on the MSCI Market Classification 2017: https://www.msci.com/market-classification

• ~1000 participants per country

• At the 95% confidence level

– 14-country total: +/- 0.83 percentage points

– Each individual country: +/- 3.10 percentage points


Unaided people see science as the study of understanding the world, nature and life

Science is…

Q3: Please fill in what you think science is in no more than two to three sentences. Science is… Base=Total (14,036*English responses shown only. Roughly n=4,000

WorkStudy

Nature

MakeWorldLive Physic

Discovery

Life

Understand

ObservePhenomena

SpaceSolve

Attempt

GainNecessary

DoctorsSkills

RaceMagic

ToolApply

StructureIdeaThink

PredictReactTermDetailHigh Reason

BasisArtOrigin

SetKeyProgress Full

EvidenceDiseaseSociety

EnergyBugsTrialShowMathHardLogic

Properties

LawBehaviorUnknown

Laboratory ProductAffectBroadHereShape

Que

FigureCombine

Mind

LeadProvenAnalysisKnownContinue

Describe

FunctionStars Scientist

EnjoyAdvanceBig

Flora

Possible Activity

ProveIndividual

Concept

Body

HelpConclusion

Encompasses

Soil Complex

PathSimple

BiologyComplications

Problem ForceExplore

UniverseEarth

Amazes Phone

Modern

ExplainSmall

Medicine

Social

Change

HealthBecome

Breath

Phenomenon

Mechanics

Vast

LearnExperimental

Forward Aid

TestableDescribeDepthDeep

Deep

Gang

FunResearch

Exact SubstanceConcern

CollectOrganicBehavior

Outside

PresentExamine EnvironmentReveal

BothAbilityOrderTakeProduce

ResourceLack

Ourselves

Creative

Clue

AwesomeNow School

Compose

ManReal Evolve

Discipline

SystemBasicFood

General

Draw

Old

KnowGrowAnimal

SenseObjectItems World

Reach Biological Progress

Career Ocean Solar

NeedWithout

ZoologyAlways Cover Fiction

Mineral Simply View Find

EasierTheoryMathematics

Move Capable Mystery

ChemistryAccess Method

BestSmart

LookCurrent

Religion

Found

NewFollow

Beyond AnswerHope Pretty

Design

Certain Evolution Pursuit Support

Fair Particle

Require

Universe Effort

Further Society Self

KnowledgeTruth

TreatApplication

Provide WonderSolution

Educate

InventBad

Vital Easy Break Heal Obtain See

Determine

Result Limits Service

Quality

Tree Operate

Build

PlanetUnseen

Associated Chemical

DiscoverMatter

ParticularCells

Occur

Particle

Relate Form Test

Life’s Verified

Reality Material Human Cool

Past God

God’s Today Search

Principles

Allow Made Good Exist

Precise

Fix Relationship

Atom Mankind

Technology Drive Believe

Connect Inhabit

Factors

Improve Field

Include Kids

Interest Design

TimeSourceDailyAir

Intrigue Factors

Verified

Different

Plant EverythingExpand Global

InvestigateSpecies

MoleculeInnovateCreation

ImportantBetween

HistoryBranch Variety

Modify

EnhanceElementMedicalTheoretical

WaterPolitics

Already

Thought

Question

ProcessPerson Hypothesis

Tangible

IntellectualExplaining

SystematicSeeksActualUncover

Climate Reaction Cure Essential

ActAssistCritical

ComponentControlLoveBringServe

Eye GiveTrueWide

EngineReally Effect Pressure Data

Action Cars Open Impact

Makeup

Fit

Inform

Base Beauty

Develop Hypothesis

Fact Surround

TogetherSame

Land

Edge

Aim

Right

Project

ExperimentInteract

Scientific SometimesIllness

RulesExcitesSpecific

Tick

CareMicro

DifficultSeen

Beyond

Beyond

Obtain Describe

Fix

Species

Bugs

Actual

Serve

Bring

Act Math

Rules

Deep

Tick

PhoneProject

Deep

Hope

View

View

View

Follow Vital

ShapeUnseen

Lab

Lab

Energy

Eye

Forward

View

Obtain

Lab

Project

General

Occur



Nearly 40% of people say that if science didn’t exist, their everyday lives wouldn’t be that different…

The image of science is complicated


And about one-third are science skeptics…

32%are science skeptics


56%

36%

How much do you agree with the following statements?

(completely or somewhat agree)

I felt more excited about science when I was a kid

than I do now

Only geniuses can have a career in science

Excitement for science is stronger in kids than adults;notable portion say only geniuses can have a science career.Also, women trail in the positive sentiment for science

Q9: How much do you agree with the following statements? Base=Total (14,036)



Millennials are more likely to see the impact of science

20%

14%

Say they know more about science

(20% vs. global avg. 14%)

Millennials Global Average

47%

42%

Understand that without science there is no

technology



51%

46%

Think science is very important to their

everyday lives



51%

58%

Flying cars (58% vs. global avg 51%)

Are more likely to believe that science can achieve the

following in their lifetime:

41%

48%

Undersea living(48% vs. global avg 41%)

26%

32%

Teleportation(32% vs. global avg 26%)


Pressure is on the next generation to push science forward

Q9. How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? Base=Total [14,036] and Base=Parents only (n=4,774)Very important: Q11. Thinking about the present-day, how important do you feel science is… [Very Important for all four], n=4,149Future impact positive: Q19. In the future, what kind of impact do you believe science will have on each of the following? [Positive (net) all four], n=8,870; KBDI n=345

of parents want their kids to know more about science

92%

of adults would encourage kids to pursue a career in science

82%



State of Science: global themes

By making the data accessible to everyone, 3M wants

to provoke a conversation about science—how it is

viewed and the role it plays in society and everyday life.

3M.com/scienceindex

Image of science

Around the world, people are fascinated with science, but a clear and powerful skepticism exists.

Impact of science

People appreciate science from a distance, but it is taken for granted in everyday life

Expectations of science

People have high hopes for what science can achieve, but there are barriers to overcome.



Science needs advocates

• We need to provoke a global conversation about science

• If people don’t appreciate science it can have some serious consequences

And• We need to connect the dots

between science and the impact it has on people’s everyday life

• Inspire people to be more conscious of the science around them 14© 3M 2018. All Rights Reserved.


Science Advocacy: Themes

AAwareness & Appreciation for science and the role it plays –in our daily lives

BBreaking down Barriers – not just for geniuses or a gender, also, one can have satisfying science careers

CContext, Communication & Championing –what scientists do, and how science solves problems


Jayshree Seth @jseth2 SethJayshree

3M State of Science Index:3M.com/scienceindex

Follow me. Appreciate your feedback.


State of Science Index (Year 2)

17All Rights Reserved.2019.© 3M

We are optimistic about the future of science and its potential to solve global problems

Q5_1. When you think about the role of science over the next 20 years does it make you feel more… Optimistic OR Pessimistic.; Q29. How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? Base=Total (14,025)

87%

We need science to solve the world’s biggest problems

Only 20% stand up for science when debating its merit with others.


Consequence of [un]conscious bias: a third of parents may impact their kids’ interest in science, intentionally or not

Q24. Which, if any, of the following have you ever said to your kids? Base=Parents (4,649)

“I am not a science or math person”

(15%)

“Science/math won’t be

important for your career in the long

run” (13%)

1 in 3 (34%)

parents admit to having shared at least one of the following discouraging ideas about science to their kids:

“You don’t need to be good in science

or math” (11%)

Nearly one in three (28%) think they don’t need to understand science as an adult.


Communication is critical to making science more relatable(Those who say they know more about science view it more positively)

Q28. How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? Base=Total Respondents (14,025)

Over 8 in 10…88%

feel that scientists should be sharing results in easy to understand language

85% feel that scientists should be sharing results more often

84%feel that scientists should be working to make science more relatable to people’s everyday life

More likely to believe information that comes from a scientist than be skeptical of it. But over half (58%) believe that scientists are elitists.

2020 All Rights Reserved.© 3M

• 3M scientists performing simple, at

home experiments with everyday

materials

• Reach 1 million school kids

• New content each week

• Aligned to Next Generation Science

Standards

• Partnership with Discovery Education

and the Bakken Museum in MN

3M.com/scienceathome


LinkedIn Articles


• Clearly highlight the connections to everyday life and make science relatable

• Put the spotlight on the humans behind everyday innovations

• Keep STEM initiatives in the limelight to encourage exposure and education

S hattering of stereotypes

T elling the whole(some) story

E xposure and environment

A llies and advocates

M etrics and measures

Jayshree Seth, 08/208


STEM^

Belief in science is conditional.

45% will only believe

science that aligns with

their personal beliefs.

Volatility

Uncertain

Complex

Ambiguous

Vulnerability

Contentious

Amplified

VUCA 3.0

Unprecedented

Thank you!Questions?

Global perception of science and the need for STEM advocacy

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