The comparable figure for Dems is 55%. Here's the data:
%who are Public% Scientists%
Democratic 35 55
Republican 23 6
Independent 34 32
Ideolog. self-rating
Liberal 20 52
Moderate 38 35
Conservative 37 9
This is from a Pew Research piece on science and scientists, Public Praises Science; Scientists Fault Public, Media
There is a lot more in this piece, but I want to focus on the partisan breakout in the chart above.
I am reminded of the idea that the truth has a liberal persuasion.
I understand the partisan split fairly easily. It has a great deal with how Republicans have tried to position themselves, to whom they have appealed for their base.
Too many Republicans are
deny global warming and/or its human causes
deny evolution
are young earth creationists
reject any science that might show liability for corporations on
water pollution
air pollution
health affects of dietary fat
health affects of tobacco
I am sure you can add to the items above.
As a teacher in a school with a science and technology program, I also note how many who self-identify as Republicans are hostile to public schools
they want to unfund public schools
they want to insert their non-scientific viewpoints into curricula
they want to limit/challenge teaching of evolution/cosmology/etc
they opposed distributing An Inconvenient Truth to schools
The more people are educated, especially but not exclusively about science, the less likely they are to support the current direction of many in the Republican party.
Perhaps this is also why some "conservatives" do not want us to teach critical thinking to our students, because students who can think critically can appropriately evaluate science and also deconstruct the lies often offered by conservatives.
There is much else in the survey report. It is worth reading for those.
But for a political site like this, that stunning differential of political persuasion is the key takeaway. So run with it.
Have a nice weekend.
And as always:
Peace