Major global survey asks people about their attitudes toward science

A new Wellcome Trust survey asked more than 140,000 people across 140 countries about their attitudes towards science and health, and found that nearly 75% of people say they trust a doctor or a nurse more than friends, family, or other sources of health advice. Here’s more:

• Vaccines: Some 80% of people worldwide agree that vaccines are safe. One in three people in France — the highest percentage anywhere in the world — disagree that vaccines are safe.
• Understanding of science: Men are more likely to claim an understanding than women, as are those aged 29 and younger. Almost two-thirds of people around the world expressed an interest in learning more science.
• Science and society: About a third of people in Africa and Central and South America don’t feel like they benefit from science.