Science Progress and Priorities

About the Survey

We asked scientists to prioritize 22 science and technology topics for the U.S. over the next 12 months and to rate the progress made on these topics over the past year. The following graphs show the top 10 topics overall, as well as the top-ranked issues grouped into three topic areas: science practice, science communication, and science policy.

Survey Sections

Survey Section 01

Top US Science Priorities for 2021

Section Overview We asked scientists to prioritize 22 science and technology topics for attention by the U.S. over the next 12 months. The following graphs show the top 10 topics overall, followed by the top-ranked issues grouped into three topic areas: science practice, science communication, and science policy. Question Top 10 science priorities for the […]

Survey Section 02

Reflecting on 2020 US Science Progress

Section Overview We asked scientists to rate the amount of progress made by the U.S. on 22 science and technology topics over the past 12 months. The following graphs show the top 10 topics overall, followed by the top-ranked issues grouped into three topic areas: science practice, science communication, and science policy. Question Top 10 […]

Survey Description

This national survey on science, technology and society 2020 events and priorities was conducted by the Center for Science, Technology and Environmental Policy Studies at Arizona State University. The population for the survey represents a random sample of academic scientists (tenured, tenure-track and non-tenure-track) who work in three departments three subfields (biology, civil and environmental engineering, and geography) at 60 randomly selected universities classified as Carnegie designated research extensive (R1) universities in the United States. The online survey was administered in English using Sawtooth Software®. A total of 2,436 individuals were invited to participate in the survey via email invitations with a series of personalized email follow-up reminders.  Survey invitations were sent on October 21, 22 and 23. The survey was closed on November 23rd.

A total of 451 usable responses were obtained, representing an AAPOR response rate (RR4) of 18.8%. A total of 44 questions were included in the final survey questionnaire. The questionnaire included sections asking about (1) progress that has been made within the U.S. in addressing 22 science and technology topics over the past 12 months; and (2) science and technology topics which should be a priority for the U.S. in 2021. The survey was approved by Institutional Review Boards at Arizona State University and at the University of Illinois at Chicago.