---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If people don’t have an understanding of…"
description: "\"If people don’t have an understanding of what science is and what scientists do, then they can tend to think that global warming, for example, is just ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/brian-cox-8883_example_if-people-don-t-have-an-understanding-of_1001461.jpg"
---

#  If people don’t have an understanding of what science is…

![“If people don’t have an understanding of what science is and what scientists do, then they can tend to think that global warming, for example, is just a matter of opinion.” quote by Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/brian-cox-8883_example_if-people-don-t-have-an-understanding-of_1001461.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/brian-cox-8883_example_if-people-don-t-have-an-understanding-of_1001461.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/brian-cox-8883_example_if-people-don-t-have-an-understanding-of_1001461.jpg)

> “If people don’t have an understanding of what science is and what scientists do, then they can tend to think that global warming, for example, is just a matter of opinion.”

[Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A lack of understanding about science leads people to view issues like global warming as mere opinion, underscoring the need for scientific literacy.

**In simple terms:** Science ignorance makes facts seem like opinions.

Key Takeaway

Promote scientific education.

Themes

science literacy public understanding climate change

Mood

concerned hopeful

Type

educational inspirational

When to use this quote

- school curricula
- public talks
- media campaigns
- community workshops

Key Concepts

education policy media literacy

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we make scientific concepts accessible?
- What role does media play in shaping opinions?

A Different Perspective

Complex science can be hard to convey.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Global warming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/global-warming/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Warming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warming/)

## Related quotes

> [Think of a single problem confronting the world today. Disease, poverty, global warming... If the problem is going to be solved, it is science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/think-of-a-single-problem-confronting-the-world-today-disease-poverty/)

[Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/)

> [Politicians and some of the scientists like to say that there's a consensus now on global warming or the science has been settled, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-spencer/politicians-and-some-of-the-scientists-like-to-say-that-there-s-a/)

[Roy Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-spencer/)

> [Contrary to popular accounts, very few scientists in the world - possibly none - have a sufficiently thorough, 'big picture' understanding of the climate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-spencer/contrary-to-popular-accounts-very-few-scientists-in-the-world/)

[Roy Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-spencer/)

> [“Sometimes it seems my identity’s a matter of opinion”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/sometimes-it-seems-my-identity-s-a-matter-of-opinion/)

[Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/)

> [You can get an audience no matter what your opinion is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-a-romero/you-can-get-an-audience-no-matter-what-your-opinion-is/)

[George A. Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-a-romero/)

> [I am unapologetically myself, no matter what anyone's opinion is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbie-ferreira/i-am-unapologetically-myself-no-matter-what-anyone-s-opinion-is/)

[Barbie Ferreira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbie-ferreira/)

> [There is no such thing as right or wrong, it is all just a matter of opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-such-thing-as-right-or-wrong-it-is-all-just-a-matter-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Truth in the world resides only in mathematical proofs and physics labs. Everywhere else, it’s really a matter of opinion, and if it manages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-garcia-martinez/truth-in-the-world-resides-only-in-mathematical-proofs-and-physics/)

[Antonio Garcia Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-garcia-martinez/)

> [ \[When asked if her husband was still living:\] It's a matter of opinion. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermione-gingold/when-asked-if-her-husband-was-still-living-it-s-a-matter-of-opinion/)

[Hermione Gingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermione-gingold/)

> [“Good and bad is only a matter of opinion, it rather be yours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haresh-sippy/good-and-bad-is-only-a-matter-of-opinion-it-rather-be-yours/)

[Haresh Sippy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haresh-sippy/)

> [Scientists tend to come in two stripes: those who have tremendous appetite and aptitude for the details, and those who illuminate the big picture.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-porco/scientists-tend-to-come-in-two-stripes-those-who-have-tremendous/)

[Carolyn Porco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-porco/)

> [Scientists tend to be skeptical, but the weakness of the community of science is that it tends to move into preformed establishment modes that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/scientists-tend-to-be-skeptical-but-the-weakness-of-the-community-of/)

[Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/)

> [Scientists tend to be unappreciated in the world at large, but you can hardly overstate the importance of the work they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/scientists-tend-to-be-unappreciated-in-the-world-at-large-but-you-can/)

[Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/)

> [There is the odd exception, like Albert Einstein, but as a breed, scientists tend not be very good at presenting themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/there-is-the-odd-exception-like-albert-einstein-but-as-a-breed/)

[Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/)

> [Those few people who do respond to the dire conditions of the future - journalists, environmentalists, behavioral scientists - tend not to be powerful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/those-few-people-who-do-respond-to-the-dire-conditions-of-the-future/)

[B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/)

## More by Brian Cox

> [You dig deeper and it gets more and more complicated, and you get confused, and it's tricky and it's hard, but... It is beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/you-dig-deeper-and-it-gets-more-and-more-complicated-and-you-get/)

[Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/)

> [I didn't have this feeling that I should be a leading actor in the cinema. And I wouldn't want the responsibility of the opening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-didn-t-have-this-feeling-that-i-should-be-a-leading-actor-in-the/)

[Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/)

> [The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/the-correct-statement-of-individual-rights-is-that-everyone-has-the/)

[Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/)

> [I was living in London and I thought, 'There's nothing here for me anymore.' I don't want to become this actor who's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-was-living-in-london-and-i-thought-there-s-nothing-here-for-me/)

[Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/)

> [I enjoy acting now more than I ever have. I've had lots of difficult times when I was younger, but that was all tied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-enjoy-acting-now-more-than-i-ever-have-i-ve-had-lots-of-difficult/)

[Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/)

> [The problem is that the U.K. in essence is a feudal society. It's everyone in their place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/the-problem-is-that-the-u-k-in-essence-is-a-feudal-society-it-s/)

[Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/)

> [Deeper understanding confers that most precious thing - wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/deeper-understanding-confers-that-most-precious-thing-wonder/)

[Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/)

> [“Later, we shall see that if it were possible to exceed the speed of light, we could construct time machines capable of transporting us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/later-we-shall-see-that-if-it-were-possible-to-exceed-the-speed-of/)

[Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/)

> [It would be wonderful if ideas could be the new rock 'n roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/it-would-be-wonderful-if-ideas-could-be-the-new-rock-n-roll/)

[Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/)

> [I've directed a couple of times in the theater, but I wouldn't make a habit of it because it's too consuming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-ve-directed-a-couple-of-times-in-the-theater-but-i-wouldn-t-make-a/)

[Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/)

> [“I'm comfortable with the unknown -- that's the point of science. There are places out there, billions of places out there, that we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-m-comfortable-with-the-unknown-that-s-the-point-of-science-there/)

[Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/)

> [The story of the universe finally comes to an end. For the first time in its life, the universe will be permanent and unchanging.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/the-story-of-the-universe-finally-comes-to-an-end-for-the-first-time/)

[Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/)

> [I did a film in which Andy Garcia and Michael Keaton both played the leads, 'Desperate Measures,' and interestingly enough it was their biggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-did-a-film-in-which-andy-garcia-and-michael-keaton-both-played-the/)

[Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/)

> [Science is too important not to be a part of popular culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/science-is-too-important-not-to-be-a-part-of-popular-culture/)

[Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/)

> [I always think I look like the Elephant Man - I can't get used to my own image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-always-think-i-look-like-the-elephant-man-i-can-t-get-used-to-my/)

[Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/)

[Explore all 77 Brian Cox quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/)

## More Climate quotes

> [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/)

[Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/)

> [In the current climate, things that are true, brave human stories become political.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/in-the-current-climate-things-that-are-true-brave-human-stories/)

[Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/)

> [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/)

[Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/)

> [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/)

[Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/)

> [There are many more traits that the climate deniers share with the creationists and Holocaust deniers and others who distort the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-r-prothero/there-are-many-more-traits-that-the-climate-deniers-share-with-the/)

[Donald R. Prothero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-r-prothero/)

> [Some would call me an environmentalist. I don't know why. I reuse the water that falls in my backyard in the winter. I reuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-begley-jr/some-would-call-me-an-environmentalist-i-don-t-know-why-i-reuse-the/)

[Ed Begley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-begley-jr/)

> [I talk to fashion designers and say I want some money to save the rainforest, and they say, 'Oh, I agree with you completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-westwood/i-talk-to-fashion-designers-and-say-i-want-some-money-to-save-the/)

[Vivienne Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-westwood/)

> [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/)

[Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/)

> [Climate change poses clear, catastrophic threats. We may not agree on the extent, but we certainly can't afford the risk of inaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/climate-change-poses-clear-catastrophic-threats-we-may-not-agree-on/)

[Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/)

> [Fossil fuels, including oil, are running out and supplies are getting harder to find. If we do nothing, prices will continue to rise and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-powell/fossil-fuels-including-oil-are-running-out-and-supplies-are-getting/)

[Lucy Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-powell/)

> [Local and state governments have outrun the federal government. The EPA has served notice that it will enact a rule requiring CO2 reductions by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/local-and-state-governments-have-outrun-the-federal-government-the/)

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

> [I am sympathetic to developing countries’ concerns: because of our emissions it’s their crops that will disappear; because of our inaction, it’s their fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-am-sympathetic-to-developing-countries-concerns-because-of-our/)

[John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/)

> [We live in a state with a wonderful climate and plenty of natural beauty, from the shores of Cumberland Island to the Chattahoochee River…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-barnes/we-live-in-a-state-with-a-wonderful-climate-and-plenty-of-natural/)

[Roy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-barnes/)

> [Right now, the government is spending billions of dollars supporting the problem-makers in the U.S. economy - the polluters, despoilers, incarcerators, and warmongers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/right-now-the-government-is-spending-billions-of-dollars-supporting/)

[Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/)

> [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/)

[Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/)

[Browse all 8,549 Climate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If people don’t have an understanding of what science is and what scientists do, then they can tend to think that global warming, for example, is just a matter of opinion.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Brian Cox"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/if-people-don-t-have-an-understanding-of-what-science-is-and-what/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Climate"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/if-people-don-t-have-an-understanding-of-what-science-is-and-what/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/brian-cox-8883_example_if-people-don-t-have-an-understanding-of_1001461.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/brian-cox-8883_example_if-people-don-t-have-an-understanding-of_1001461.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/brian-cox-8883_example_if-people-don-t-have-an-understanding-of_1001461.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If people don’t have an understanding of what science is and what scientists do, then they can tend to think…” — Brian Cox",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Brian Cox",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If people don’t have an understanding...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/if-people-don-t-have-an-understanding-of-what-science-is-and-what/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/if-people-don-t-have-an-understanding-of-what-science-is-and-what/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
