New ASTC survey shows gaps between public support for science and understanding of how science is impacted by federal actions

New data from the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) reveal that while adults in the United States value science in their daily lives, it is unclear the extent to which they associate federal investment and scientific infrastructure with the information they depend on for making crucial decisions. The findings highlight an urgent need for new approaches to public engagement in science and point to opportunities for ASTC members, and the broader science engagement field, to deepen the connections between science and their community.

These new data come from a nationally representative survey of 1,017 U.S. adults administered by Edge Research from April 4–6, 2025, designed to gauge current attitudes toward scientific institutions and understanding of ongoing changes in federal science policy.

Our findings reveal an urgent need to deepen and clarify the connections between people’s everyday lives and interests and public investments in scientific institutions and infrastructure. Members of the public continue to value and rely on science: 72% of respondents agree or strongly agree that “science benefits people like me” and 89% say that federal government investment in STEM education is “important” or “very important” for future economic prosperity. However, the data also expose a disconnect between this continued strong public support for science and recognition of how science is impacted by federal actions. Nearly half (47%) of respondents believe that private entities would adequately fill gaps created by federal science funding cuts, reflecting a fundamental misunderstanding of the unique nature of federal government investments in scientific research and the challenges associated with replacing public support.

The findings suggest several opportunities to clarify the connections between science, science policy, and people’s priorities and experiences:

• Increase public awareness of the impact of recent federal actions on their interests (including their current everyday lives and their economic future)
• Close gaps in public understanding of how science and technology are impacted by federal policy
• Strengthen and expand the opportunity for the public to engage with the scientific community

This survey represents the latest in a series of studies tracking evolving public sentiment toward science engagement. Insights from this study will help our member institutions, and the broader science and technology ecosystem, more effectively serve their communities and inform how we collectively communicate about science and science policy in the current landscape.