Public communication about science in 68 countries: Global evidence on how people encounter information about science and engage with it
Authors: Mede Niels G. , Cologna Viktoria , Berger Sebastian , Besley John C. , Brick Cameron , Joubert Marina , Maibach Edward , Mihelj Sabina , Oreskes Naomi , Schäfer Mike S. , Linden Sander van der , Abdul Aziz N. Izzatina , Abdulsalam Suleiman Abiodun , Abu Shamsi Nurulaini , Aczel Balazs , Adinugroho Indro , Alabrese Eleonora , Aldoh Alaa , Alfano Mark , Ali Innocent Mbulli , Alsobay Mohammed Abdulrahman M , Altenmüller Marlene Sophie , Alvarez Ramon , Ansah Patrick Owusu Owusu , Apriliawati Denisa , Azevedo Flavio , Bajrami Ani , Bardhan Ronita , Bati Keagile , Bertsou Eri , Bhui Rahul , Bialobrzeska Olga , Bilewicz Michał , Bouguettaya Ayoub , Breeden Katherine , Bret Amélie , Buchel Ondrej , Alvarez Pablo Cabrera , Cagnoli Federica , Valdez André Calero , Callaghan Timothy , Cases Rizza Kaye , Czarnek Gabriela , Debnath Ramit , Delouvée Sylvain , Di Stefano Lucia , Díaz-Catalán Celia , Doell Kimberly C , Dohle Simone , Douglas Karen , Dries Charlotte , Dubrov Dmitrii , Dzimińska Małgorzata , Ecker Ullrich K. H. , Elbaek Christian T. , Elsherif Mahmoud Medhat , Enke Benjamin , Facciani Matthew , Fage-Butler Antoinette , Faisal Zaki , Fan Xiaoli , Farhart Christina E. , Feldhaus Christoph , Ferreira Marinus , Feuerriegel Stefan , Fischer Helen , Freundt Jana , Friese Malte , Gallyamova Albina , Garrido Mauricio , Garrido-Vásquez Patricia , Genschow Oliver , Ghasemi Omid , Gkinopoulos Theofilos , Gloor Jamie L. , Goddard Ellen , Gonzalez-Brambila Claudia N. , Gordon Hazel , Grigoryev Dmitry , Guenther Lars , Harari Dana , Hensel Przemysław , Hernández-Mondragón Alma Cristal , Herziger Atar , Huang Guanxiong , Huff Markus , Hurley Mairéad , Ibadildin Nygmet , Islam Mohammad Tarikul , JEDDI Younes , Jin Tao , Jones Charlotte A. , Jungkunz Sebastian , Jurgiel Dominika , Kavassalis Sarah , Kerr John R , Kitsa Mariana , Rábová Tereza Klabíková , Klein Olivier , Koh Hoyoun , Koivula Aki , Kojan Lilian , Komyaginskaya Elizaveta , König Laura M , Koppel Lina , Koren Kochav , Kosachenko Alexandra I. , Kotcher John , Kranz Laura , Krishnan Pradeep , Kristiansen Silje , Krouwel André , Kuppens Toon , Lamm Claus , Lantian Anthony , Lazić Aleksandra , Légal Jean-Baptiste , Leviston Zoe , Levy Neil , Lindkvist Amanda M. , Ortega Alberto López , Lopez-Villavicencio Carlos , Löschel Andreas , Lou Nigel Mantou , Lucas Chloe H. , Lunz-Trujillo Kristin , Marques Mathew daCosta , Mayer Sabrina J. , McKay Ryan , Metag Julia , Milfont Taciano L , Miller Joanne M. , Mitkidis Panagiotis , Monge Rodríguez Fredy S. , Motta Matthew , Mursic Zarja , Namutebi Jennifer , Newman Eryn , Nitschke Jonas P. , Ntui Ntui-Njock Vincent , Nwogwugwu Daniel , Ostermann Thomas , Otterbring Tobias , Palmer-Hague Jaime , Pantazi Myrto , Pärnamets Philip , Saiani Paolo Parra , Paruzel-Czachura Mariola , Parzuchowski Michal , Pavlov Yuri G. , Pearson Adam R , Penner Myron A. , Pennington Charlotte , Petkanopoulou Katerina , Petrović Marija B. , Pisareva Dinara , Ploszaj Adam , Pronizius Ekaterina , Pštross Karolína , Pypno-Blajda Katarzyna , Quiñones Diwa Malaya Aldana , Räsänen Pekka , Rauchfleisch Adrian , Rebitschek Felix G. , Seronero Cintia Refojo , Rêgo Gabriel Gaudencio do , Reynolds James , Roche Joseph , Röer Jan Philipp , Ross Robert M , Ruin Isabelle , Santos Osvaldo , Santos Ricardo R. , Schulreich Stefan , Scoggins Bermond , Shuckburgh Emily , Six Johan , Solak Nevin , Späth Leonhard , Spruyt Bram , Standaert Olivier , Stanley Samantha , Strahm Noel , Syropoulos Stylianos , Szaszi Barnabas , Szumowska Ewa , Tanaka Mikihito , Teran-Escobar Claudia , Todorova Boryana , TOKO KOUTOGUI Abdoul kafid Chabi , Tokrri Renata , Toribio-Flórez Daniel , Tsakiris Manos , Tyrala Michael , Uluğ Özden Melis , Uzoma Ijeoma Chinwe , van Noord Jochem , Verheyen Steven , Vilares Iris , Vlasceanu Madalina , von Bubnoff Andreas , Warwas Izabela , Walker Iain , Weber Marcel , Weninger Tim , Westfal Mareike , Wojcik Adrian Dominik , Xia Ziqian , Xie Jinliang , Zegler-Poleska Ewa , Zwaan Rolf Antonius 
Published: February 2025

This 68-country survey (n = 71,922) examines how people encounter information about science and communicate about it with others, identifies cross-country differences, and tests the extent to which economic and sociopolitical conditions predict such differences. We find that social media are the most used sources of science information in most countries, except those with democratic-corporatist media systems where news media tend to be used more widely. People in collectivist societies are less outspoken about science in daily life, whereas low education is associated with higher outspokenness. Limited access to digital media is correlated with participation in public protests on science matters.