The American people, especially the younger generation, have become disenchanted with science and technology, right?Wrong. Science Indicators, the annual report by the National Science Board to the President and Congress, quotes the results of a specially commissioned and independent opinion survey: 70% feel that science and technology have changed life for the better, only 8% feel a change for the worse. The most common general reactions to science and technology are satisfaction or hope (49%), excitement or wonder (23%); only 6% feel fear or alarm, and an equally small fraction feel indifference or lack of interest. The most positive feelings about science were found among middleaged, high income, college educated persons.

Particularly interesting is the break doun by age. The young tend to be comparatively negative about past contributions of science and technology, but hold high hopes for the future. Older people tend to be negative about both future and past.

Generation gap? Yes; but the opposite from what the media would lead one to believe.

Vol. 1, No. 2 Newsletter: Access to Energy Newsletter Archive Volume: Volume 1 Issue/No.: Vol. 1, No. 2 Date: October 01, 1973 04:59 PM Title: Bottleneck or "bottom of the barrel"? Copyright © 2004 - Access to Energy Newsletter Archive All rights reserved.