While it's presumed that politics steer opinions on science-related policies, gender, age, race, religion and education tend to move opinions on climate change, biochemical research and other science-related subjects.

According to a recent report published by the Pew Research Center, American's views on policies related to science aren't influenced by political beliefs. Nonpolitical factors such as age play a far more significant role when it comes to viewpoint, solidifying the understanding that party leanings have far less sway than an individual's ideological orientation when it comes to scientific subjects.

According to the report, climate and energy issue are highly politicized unless they're tied to food safety, space travel and biomedicine; in those cases, views are aligned with non-uniform, nonpolitical factors, such as race and generation.

Also, experimental drugs, the impact of population growth and global warming are science topics where race and ethnicity truly matter. On the subject of climate change, Hispanics truly stand out. Approximately 70 percent say that the earth is warming due to human activity, which is significantly higher than non-Hispanic whites (44 percent).

The report used statistical modeling to characterize factors most strongly associated with an individual's opinions on particular topics. With that technique, they were better able to understand how an individual's political party, age and race acted as a driver for opinions.

With that said, research stated democrats and liberals are more likely than conservatives and republicans to state that the earth is warming; human activity has triggered the change; the problem is quite serious; and it poses a threat to the planet.

Age revealed itself to be the most pronounced determining factor, as it seemed to draw the strongest opinions when came to the issues of climate/ energy, biomedicine and animal research.

Race and ethnicity also carry significance, proposing medium and strong opinions on climate change/energy, government funding and food safety. When it comes to race, African Americans oppose the idea of allowing access to experimental drug treatments determined to be safe or effective; whites and Hispanics favor it.

Also, Hispanics and whites are more likely than African Americans to say that the proper authorities will find ways to stretch natural resources to accommodate the growing world population. Whites express more support for more offshore drilling than do either blacks or Hispanics.

Hispanics are more likely to say that government funding for basic science pays off; it's appropriate to modifying genes to increase a baby's intelligence; the use of bioengineer organs for human transplants have taken advances too far; and they are more likely to say that childhood vaccines are safe when compared to whites.

Some additional takeaways: whites or Hispanics are more likely than African American to express support for increased use of genetically engineered plants as a fuel alternative to gasoline; Hispanics are a bit more likely than blacks to say genetic modifications are an appropriate use of medical advances; Whites are somewhat more likely than Hispanics to say that private investment would be enough to ensure progress; whites and Hispanics, by comparison, are more likely to see the growing world population as leading to a major problem; and Hispanics tend to express more support for government funding of science research than whites and blacks.

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