UKRI, Ipsos, and the BSA announce launch of 2025 public attitudes to science survey

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Ipsos, and the British Science Association (BSA) are delighted to announce the launch of a new wave of a long-running national survey of public attitudes to science. The survey will share findings later this year.

Known as the Public Attitudes to Science (PAS), it is the only survey of its kind in the UK to give insights on the public’s relationship with science. The 2025 survey is the first PAS since the COVID-19 pandemic, and will explore how the pandemic reshaped our relationship with science.  

PAS produces detailed, representative evidence of public opinion that policymakers and the science community use to support decisions about science - from AI to health to climate - and ensure more voices are listened to. 

PAS asks over 30 questions in total, covering areas such as where and how people find out about science; who people think funds science; and which traits people associate with scientists. Some questions included in PAS go back as far as 1988, showing how peoples’ attitudes to science have changed over decades. 

New additions to PAS include questions on the trustworthiness of science, a refreshed section on science in media and social media, and a set of questions broadening the scope of PAS to include UK public opinion towards research and innovation.  

The survey will also explore how science and research can help deliver on national policy priorities such as the Government’s five ‘Missions’. New PAS questions ask about the importance of science and research for economic growth, cleaner energy, improved education, reduced crime, and a more innovative NHS.  

Read our blog post – ‘Where next for attitudes to science?’ 

The 2025 PAS survey is funded by UKRI and delivered by Ipsos and the British Science Association. It is supported by an Advisory Group of experts in science policy and engagement, co-chaired by Professor Chris Johnson, Chief Scientific Adviser in the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT), and Catherine Day, Deputy Director in the Cabinet Office.  

PAS is delivered by Ipsos using a survey method called push-to-web, known as the ‘gold standard’ of survey research. Several thousand UK adults, including a nationally representative sample of young people, are expected to complete the survey during Spring 2025.

The BSA are supporting on the analysis and communication of PAS results.  

Chris Johnson, Chief Scientific Adviser in the Department for Science, Research, and Innovation says:

As Chief Scientific Advisor in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology I have a personal care to both understand and support public attitudes to science. We rely on their support to inform and guide the work that we do in creating an evidence base to support the future social and economic prosperity of this country. 

Catherine Day, Deputy Director in the Cabinet Office says:

Science shapes every aspect of our lives, from the technologies we use to the policies that guide our future. But for science to drive real progress for us all, it needs all of us engage with it, use it - and above all trust it. This study is a vital opportunity to understand public attitudes to science, explore where and why they are shifting and figure out how to build the trust and engagement we need. I'm honoured to co-chair this initiative and excited to see how these insights can help us to empower our society to harness the full potential of our fantastic science for the public good. 

Tom Saunders, Head of Public Engagement at UKRI says:

Creating an R&D system that delivers genuine benefits for citizens and our economy requires us to build public understanding, involvement, and trust in research. We must develop a system that responds effectively to broader influences and needs. The Public Attitudes to Science survey offers vital insights into the concerns, attitudes, and aspirations of people across society. By truly listening to these diverse perspectives, we can ensure science and innovation serve society's best interests, shaping a future where everyone shares in the transformative power of research and innovation. 

Trinh Tu, Managing Director of Public Affairs at Ipsos UK says:

Ipsos is delighted to be working again on such an important study, having worked on the earlier Public Attitudes to Science studies in 2014, 2011 and 2005. These studies are hugely influential in several areas of government policy, in an era where science, research and innovation interact with so much of our lives. We are incredibly grateful to all those members of the public who have volunteered to take part and encourage those who are currently receiving letters to participate in the study and have their voice heard. 

Hannah Russell, Chief Executive of the British Science Association, says:

Science, research, and innovation impact on all our lives, but we know that not everyone feels included. Our mission at the BSA, through our programmes and campaigns, is to change that. It’s so important that decisions about UK science reflect the views not only of those who work in the research and innovation sector, but also of wider society, especially those from communities who are often overlooked.