Former Director, Science and Society Research
Cary Funk is director of science and society research at Pew Research Center, where she leads the Center’s efforts to understand the implications of science for society. Center studies look at the social, ethical and policy implications of scientific developments in areas such as climate and energy, emerging issues in genetic engineering, and food and space science. She has authored or co-authored a number of reports focused on public trust in science, scientific experts and science news and information.
Funk has broad expertise in public opinion research and has specialized in public understanding of science topics for nearly two decades. Prior to joining Pew Research Center, she directed the Virginia Commonwealth University Life Sciences Surveys, national surveys on science and biotechnology. Funk began her career at CBS News in New York working on preelection polling and analysis of exit polls. She earned a doctorate and a master’s in social psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Americans are increasingly critical of the response to COVID-19 from elected officeholders and public health officials. Positive ratings of public health officials, such as those at the CDC, have fallen 10 points since August. And 60% of U.S. adults say they’ve felt confused as a result of changes to recommendations on how to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Public confidence in scientists has increased during the pandemic, though not among all Americans. We discuss the impact of trust on views of COVID-19 vaccines.
46% of U.S. adults say the area where they live has had an extreme weather event over the past 12 months.
As the drive to inoculate more people continues, here are 10 facts about Americans and COVID-19 vaccines.
73% say they are vaccinated, but at least half express confusion, concern over vaccine information and health impacts.
Majorities of Americans support an array of measures to address climate change but stop short of a full break with fossil fuels.
Majorities of Americans say the federal government, businesses and other actors are doing too little to reduce the effects of climate change.
Black and Hispanic workers remain underrepresented in STEM jobs compared with their share of the U.S. workforce.
The higher education pipeline suggests a long path is ahead for increasing diversity, especially in fields like computing and engineering.
81% of Black Americans consider the outbreak a major threat to public health and about half see it as a major threat to their personal health.
© 2024 Pew Research Center
