The British Science Association (BSA) has collated and analysed all of its data on youth perspectives, to provide a valuable collection of insights into what young people think about science.
In this section of our Youth Insights Data, the BSA reveals how effectively science has served young people and our society, and highlights some of the key challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Key highlights:
When it comes to personal connection and representation, the results highlight a significant disconnect between young people and scientists
Only 8% of young people can think of a scientist who looks like them, further highlighting the need for greater diversity and inclusivity in the field
A significant portion of young people (45%) admit to feeling more worried as their scientific knowledge expands
Young people have extremely low trust in politicians
Girls may feel less entitled or confident in engaging with and connecting to the field of science
Only 16% of young individuals consider scientists approachable, with an even smaller portion (12%) believing that scientists genuinely represent their views and values. This lack of relatability and representation within the scientific community underscores the importance of fostering inclusivity and ensuring diverse representation, enabling young individuals to see themselves as part of the scientific narrative.
Young peope's views on science
Source: Science and young people , UK 14-to-18-year-olds, 2022 (n = 2,000)
Additionally, only 34% of young people find scientists inspirational or consider science relevant to their lives. This percentage decreases as individuals grow older, suggesting a growing disconnect between science, its perceived place in young peoples’ lives and society as a whole.
In order to address this concerning trend, the British Science Association has been running the Smashing Stereotypes campaign, which aims to challenge long-standing stereotypes and encourage more young people, from all backgrounds, to see themselves as scientists.
Young People's views on science, by age
Source: Science and young people , UK 14-to-18-year-olds, 2022 (n = 2,000)
37% of young people believe that scientists should communicate with the public more frequently. However, this figure drops to as low as 25% among 18 year olds.
This finding raises the question of whether the declining interest in science among young people as they get older contributes to a reduced desire for contact with scientists.
It also underscores the importance of continuous engagement efforts from the scientific community to maintain young people's curiosity and interest in science.
Scientists should communicate with the public more frequently, by age
Source: Science and Kids, UK 14-to-18-year-olds, 2022 (n = 2,000)
The majority of young people recognise the efforts of scientists to effectively communicating their goals, particularly in fulfilling their duty to society (71%) and presenting the positive benefits of science (72%).
Young individuals believe that scientists excel in using a friendly and relatable tone (66%) and language that facilitates connection with diverse audiences (62%).
How successful do you think scientists are in achieving their goals communicating with the public?
Source: Science and Kids, UK 14-to-18-year-olds, 2022 (n = 2,000)
However, it is essential to note that while scientists are perceived to be relatively successful in their communication, young people who said they were "very successful" were in the minority. This indicates that there is room for improvement in how scientists engage with and reach out to the younger generation.
Furthermore, less than half of young people believe that scientists have contributed to the cultural valuation of science (47%) and less than half feel that scientists have effectively helped communities through their scientific knowledge and expertise. These findings indicate a gap in scientific progress and societal impact from a community perspective.
This finding suggests that increased awareness of scientific concepts may also expose young individuals to complex challenges and potential threats, leading to heightened concerns. These results emphasise the importance of addressing both the engagement and emotional well-being of young people as they explore the world of science. It also reinforces the need to offer a balanced and solutions-based approach when teaching about topics that have the potential to provoke anxiety, such as climate change.
The more I know about science the more worried I am
Source: Multiple Surveys, UK 14 18-year-olds, 2020-2022 (n = 2,000)
When asked about whether they have trust in the government more now than before the start of the pandemic, only 7% of young people agreed with this statement. While trust increases slightly as young people grow older, the faith that young people have in their government is worryingly low.
There is a notable gender disparity in how girls perceive their connection to science. According to the data, boys are slightly more likely to feel connected to science, with 37% expressing this sentiment, compared to 29% of girls. Furthermore, the data reveals that girls are slightly more likely to feel that “science is not for me” compared to boys, with 19% of girls expressing this sentiment, as opposed to 12% of boys.
Young people's interest and connection to science, by gender
Source: Multiple Surveys, UK 14-to-18-year-olds, 2020-2023 (n = 6,045)
Despite this, girls are just as likely to agree that science is important and relevant to them as boys are. There is very little difference between girls and boys wanting to know more science. This indicates a significant gap in how young girls and boys perceive science as something they can access and connect with.
Young people’s views on science, by gender
Source: Science and Kids, UK 14-to-18-year-olds, 2022 (n = 2,000)
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