Revealed: What the UK public really thinks about the future of science

THE UK public is well-informed and positive about science and technology, but its hopes and fears are largely being ignored by politicians. That is the key finding of an exclusive New Scientist survey of public attitudes to science, technology, medicine and the environment. The 2018 New Scientist Asks the Public survey reveals that the issues uppermost in people's minds are genetic engineering, artificial intelligence, cancer and climate change. They believe these things are "most likely to have an impact on society and human life". But people are not expecting a sci-fi apocalypse – public opinion is surprisingly upbeat.