We profess a strong interest in science, with a vast majority of Australians saying they seek out information about developments in science and technology. While levels of interest have stayed consistent over time, interest in science varies quite substantially across the population.
Australians were very interested in new medical discoveries (51.4 per cent), followed by health issues (51.1 per cent), new scientific discoveries (49.6 per cent) and new inventions and technologies (46.8 per cent).
Australians were least likely to say that they were very interested in sports news (14.4 per cent), followed by politics (22.9 per cent) and films (23.5 per cent).
Compared to 2010 (49.2 per cent), nearly the same proportion of Australians said they were very interested in new scientific discoveries today (49.6 percent).
The vast majority of Australians (90.8 per cent) say that they do look for information about developments in science and technology.
In 2023, Australians were most likely to say that they were very interested in new medical discoveries (51.4 per cent very interested) followed by health issues (51.1 per cent), new scientific discoveries (49.6 per cent) and new inventions and technologies (46.8 per cent). While this may capture stated rather than revealed interest, at the very least there is a potential latent interest in science and technology that is not always being met by the current media environment. Australians were least likely to say that they were very interested in sports news (14.4 per cent) followed by politics (22.9 per cent) and films (23.5 per cent).
The distribution and levels of interest have stayed quite consistent over time. In 2010, for example, 49.2 per cent of Australians said that they were very interested in new scientific discoveries, and 7.6 per cent said that they were not at all interested. This is remarkably similar to the 49.6 and 7.5 per cent respectively in 2023.
While levels have stayed consistent over time, interest in science varies quite substantially across the population at particular points in time. The research found females were significantly less interested than males. Without controlling for other factors, 41.1 per cent of females said they were very interested compared to 57.5 per cent of males.
Two additional demographic variables were found to be associated with interest in science. In the regression model older Australians (aged 45 years and over) were more likely to say they were interested than those in the middle age group (aged 35 to 44) and to a lesser extent younger Australians (aged 18 to 34). Those born overseas in a non-English speaking country were more interested than those born in Australia and in particular those born overseas in an English-speaking country.
Education background also had an association with self-reported interest in science. Those who had not completed Year 12 were less interested than those who had completed Year 12. Those who had post-school qualifications were more interested than those who had completed Year 12 but did not have post-school qualifications. Finally, those who lived outside a capital city were more interested than those who lived in a capital city.
Respondents were next asked ‘Of the following list of sources of information about developments in science and technology, please choose the two main sources that you use (watch, read or listen) the most?’ The vast majority of Australians (90.8 per cent) say that they do look for information about developments in science and technology.
Keeping in mind that respondents are able to choose up to two sources (and therefore the percentages add to more than 100), the most common source of information about science and technology is television (given by 44.9 per cent of Australians), followed by online sources (38.2 per cent). The least common sources of information are magazines (5.2 per cent) and books (8.3 per cent).