Brian Kennedy is a senior researcher at the Pew Research Center, where he focuses on science and society research. He is an expert on public opinion on a number of science-related topics and frequently writes about public views on climate and energy issues and public trust in science. His work on climate, energy and environmental attitudes includes Majorities of Americans Prioritize Renewable Energy, Back Steps to Address Climate Change and Americans Divided Over Direction of Biden’s Climate Policies. And his publications on public trust in scientists include Americans Trust in Scientists, Positive Views of Science Continue to Decline and Americans Value U.S. Role as Scientific Leader, but 38% Say Country Is Losing Ground Globally.
Kennedy frequently discusses research on public opinion on climate, energy and environmental issues and public trust in science with the media and presents research on these topics to outside groups.
Kennedy is also an expert in methodological topics, including scale development. He has developed survey questions and scales to measure science knowledge and awareness of artificial intelligence in daily activities.
He received his Ph.D. in political science at Michigan State University, where his work focused on cross-national attitudes about climate change. Kennedy received his bachelor’s degree at Davidson College.
Technology is changing the ways people seek and get knowledge, communicate and work. But Americans still tend to embrace familiarity over newness when it comes to their choices of new products
When it comes to potential trade-offs between the environment and the economy, most Americans say stricter environmental regulations are worth the cost, while fewer say stricter environmental regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy.
Fully 32% of online adults say science and technology is among the topics they find most interesting; 37% say health and medicine.
If all went according to plan, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft swept past Pluto this morning just before 8 a.m. Eastern time, offering scientists and the public a glimpse at the previously unexplored edge of the solar universe.
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