For the third year, 3M has shared unique insights from its original research project, the State of Science Index, an independent survey that tracks and explores global attitudes toward science, taking the pulse of how people think and feel about the field and its impact on the world around us.

This year, though, we have faced a very different world. As such, 3M has released two waves of data at once: one from the typical 14-country global survey fielded a few months before the pandemic hit in August–October 2019 (called 2020 Pre-Pandemic Survey), and a second full dataset from a pulse survey conducted during the pandemic in July–August 2020 (called 2020 Pandemic Pulse).

This pulse survey helps us understand the immediate impact the pandemic and other major economic and social justice milestones have had on global views of science and top scientific issues.

During a live presentation, 3M’s Chief Science Advocate Dr. Jayshree Seth offers these insights about the “state of science” in 2020:

• Science skepticism declined for the first time in three years.
• The world is united in following science to solve our biggest challenges.
• Global priorities include healthcare, followed by social issues, sustainability, and the economy.
• To address these ongoing issues, we must inspire the next generation to pursue STEM.

“All of us who value the importance of science must seize this opportunity when virtually all of humanity faces the same existential threat and confronts the same fears.” She adds, “The world is aligned on so many things that science can be seen as a great unifier around the globe.”

Read more of Dr. Seth’s insights from the 3M 2020 State of Science Index Survey and view her presentation to the ARCS community in this recent webinar hosted by the ARCS Minnesota Chapter.