International Survey

Worldviews and Opinions

of Scientists
Jammu and Kashmir

Himachal Pradesh

Punjab

Uttaranchal

Haryana
Arunachal Pradesh
Delhi

Sikkim

Rajasthan Uttar Pradesh Assam Nagaland

Meghalaya

Bihar
Manipur

Tripura

Madhya Pradesh Mizoram

Jharkhand

West Bengal

India
Gujarat
Chhattisgarh

India
Daman and Diu

Orissa

Maharashtra

India
Andhra Pradesh

Goa

Karnataka

Pondicherry
2007-08
Kerala
Tamil Nadu

SUMMARY REPORT

Ariela Keysar and Barry A. Kosmin

June 2008
 International Survey

Worldviews and Opinions

of Scientists

India
2007-08
SUMMARY REPORT

Principal Investigators
Professor Ariela Keysar and Professor Barry A. Kosmin

In Cooperation with the Center for Inquiry India

Chairman, Dr. N. Innaiah

Scientific Advisory Board

Dr. Meera Nanda
Professor Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi
Dr. Frank L. Pasquale

Research Analyst
Steven Schmidt
Contents

Part I The Profile of the Scientists.......................................2

I-A. Gender................................................................... 2
I-B. Age Profile............................................................. 2
I-C. Year Doctorate Received......................................... 2
I-D. Current Position..................................................... 2
I-E. Scientific Disciplines............................................... 3
I-F. Scientific Publications............................................ 3 Institute for the Study of Secularism
in Society and Culture
I-G. Current Institutional Affiliations............................... 4
Program on Public Values
Trinity College
Part II Opinions on Political, Economic and Scientific Issues....5 300 Summit Street
II-A. Reasons for Becoming a Scientist........................... 5 Hartford, Connecticut 06106
USA
II-B. Status of Science and Scientists in India................. 5
II-C. Scientific Temper -- India’s Phone: (860) 297-2381
Constitutional Duty................................................. 6 E-mail: isssc@trincoll.edu
www.trincoll.edu/secularisminstitute
II-D. Funding Science..................................................... 6
II-E. Preferred Economic Model...................................... 7
II-F. Status of Women.................................................... 7 The establishment of ISSSC has been
made possible by a grant from the
II-G. Scientific Literacy in India....................................... 7 Posen Foundation of Lucerne, Switzerland.
II-H. Opinions Regarding Evolution.................................. 8
II-I. Animal Research..................................................... 8
II-J. Ethical Constraints on Science................................ 9
II-K. Efficacy of Traditional Therapies and
Technologies.......................................................... 9
II-L. Degrees in Vedic Astrology and
Ayurvedic Medicine.............................................. 10
II-M. The Meaning of Secularism................................... 10
II-N. Blessing of Rocket Launching............................... 11
II-O. Science versus Religion........................................ 11

Part III Worldviews and Beliefs............................................12

III-A. Current Religion................................................... 12
III-B. Vegetarianism....................................................... 12
III-C. Secular/Religious Outlook.................................... 12
III-D. Beliefs about God................................................. 13
III-E. Belief in Miracles.................................................. 13
III-F. Traditional Beliefs................................................. 13
III-G. Spirituality............................................................ 14
III-H. Meaning of the Term Spiritual................................ 14

© Copyright ISSSC 2008 Design by Jo Lynn Alcorn

 1

Introduction

T
he Worldviews and Opinions of Scientists in India Summary Report gives the highlights of an
international, academic web survey conducted by the nonpartisan Institute for the Study of Secularism
in Society and Culture (ISSSC) of Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. The survey was conducted
between August 2007 and January 2008 in cooperation with the Center for Inquiry India. The large national
sample of Indian scientists, the first of its kind, included 1,100 participants from 130 universities and research
institutes. The intent is to conduct a series of surveys in various countries with differing cultures, in order to
learn who today’s scientists are and what they think about contemporary moral and ethical issues.

The criteria for inclusion in the survey were possession of a personal e-mail address at a scientific institution that
was in the public domain and having a doctorate or equivalent qualification. The scientists were approached
individually to participate via an e-mail contact letter, which was followed up by an electronic web-based survey
questionnaire. The survey was administered directly from ISSSC in Connecticut and replies were transmitted
directly to a dedicated website. The Center for Inquiry India helped design the questionnaire. All the respondents
were assured that participation was completely voluntary. No incentives of any kind were offered and no
support or encouragement was sought from the scientists’ own institutions. The 130 institutions with which the
participants are affiliated are listed in Part I-G. The institutions with the largest number of respondents were the
Indian Institutes of Technology in Kanpur (58), Kharagpur (53), Madras (51) and Bombay, Powai (50). Other
institutions with large numbers of participating scientists were the Indian Institute of Science (41), the Indian
Statistical Institute (33), the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (24) and the National
Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Science (21).

The median average time spent online completing the questionnaire, including answering questions and adding
comments, was 21 minutes. The survey instrument invited the respondents to participate “in an international
research project designed to explore the beliefs and values of scientific professionals.” The self-identified “scientific
professionals” were assured in the instructions:

The information gathered in this study will be kept confidential, of course. The data will be reported only in the
aggregate and you will not be identified in any way in any reports. Many of the questions deal with personal beliefs
and worldviews. If you find any questions intrusive or insensitive, feel free to skip them. You have the right to change
your mind about participation in this study at any point. At the end of the questionnaire you can offer additional
comments and express your feelings.

In fact, many hundreds of respondents took the opportunity to offer a rich array of comments, explanations and
expansions upon their answers to the questionnaire. This rich material will be reported separately on the ISSSC
website, along with detailed multivariate analyses, a full description of the methodology and the text of the
questionnaire. In this report, the exact wording of the survey question appears in the heading of each figure.

This summary report contains three sections. The first is a profile of the respondents. The second describes their
opinions on political, economic and scientific issues. The third delves into their worldviews and religious beliefs
and attitudes.

1A pioneering study of 800 Indian scientists limited to five institutions (India Institute of Science, Bangalore; Delhi University; Indian
Institute of Technology, Delhi; American College, Madurai; and C.M.S. College, Kottayam) was carried out in the early 1970s (David
Gosling, Science and Religion in India, The Christian Literature Society, Madras, 1976).
2 Part I The Profile of the Scientists
Part I
The Profile of the Scientists
I-A. Gender
I-B. Age Profile
Most of the respondents were born in
the 1950s and 1960s. The participating
Indian scientists are primarily over 40 years
of age, yet the sample also captures the views
and opinions of young scientists.
I-C. Year Doctorate Received
Data on the year when their doctoral
qualification was obtained, combined
with the data on the age profile, shows
that most of the scientists received their
doctorates after the age of 30.
I-D. Current Position
The sample includes both junior and
senior scientists. The respondents are
overwhelmingly engaged at present in
scientific endeavors (93%), mainly at
a university (73%)­—for institutional
affiliations, see 1-G.
Total number of respondents 1,100 100%
Males 919 83%
Females 138 13%
Did not report their gender 43 4%
Less than 40 22%
40-54 46%
55+ 27%
Did not report age 5%
n = 1,100 100%
Before 1969 4%
1970-1979 13%
1980- 1989 27%
1990-1999 29%
2000+ 20%
Did not report year 7%
n = 1,100 100%
Researcher, Scientist 4%
Assistant Professor 21%
Lecturer or Reader 3%
Associate Professor 16%
Professor 44%
Emeritus Fellow/Professor 7%
Did not report their current position 5%
n = 1,100 100%
 Part I The Profile of the Scientists 3

I-E. Scientific Disciplines

The Indian scientists were asked in Engineering 34%

an open-ended question about their
scientific discipline or scholarly field.
These have been grouped into eight
fields. This analysis shows there is a
concentration in applied fields.
Life Sciences 12%
Behavioral/Social Sciences 11%
Mathematics 11%
Physics 10%
Chemistry 9%
Medicine/Veterinary/Health 8%
Earth Sciences 3%
Did not report their field 2%
n = 1,100 100%

I-F. Scientific Publications

The data on the professional Median number of publications in peer-reviewed

publications of the scientists show international journals by field
that this tends to be higher in the
natural sciences.
Chemistry 40

Physics 40

Life Science 34

Engineering 16

Earth Science 15

Medicine/Veterinary/ 15
Health

Mathematics 12.5

Behavioral/
4
Social Science

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Median number of publications

4 Part I The Profile of the Scientists

I-G. Current Institutional Affiliations

Acharya Nagarjuna University Indian National Science Academy

Alagappa University Indian Statistical Institute
Aligarh Muslim University Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research
All India Institute of Medical Sciences Indira Gandhi National University
Andhra University, Visakhapatnam Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai
Anna University International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
Banaras Hindu University International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai
Barathidasan University, Palkalai Perur International Institute of Information Technology - Hyderabad
Bengal Engineering and Science University Jadavpur University
Bharathiar University Jamia Millia Islamia
Bhavnagar University Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education &
Birla Institute of Technology and Science Research
Brugarh University Jawaharlal Nehru University
Central Drug Research Institute Jaypee Institute of Engineering and Technology
Centre for Advanced Technology Jaypee Institute of Information Technology
Centre for Advancement of Sustainable Agriculture Kakatiya University
Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics Kalasalingam University
Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Karnatak University
Bangalore Kasturba Medical College
Ch. Charan Singh University King George Medical University
Cochin University of Science & Technology Lucknow University
Dangoria Charitable Trust Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology
Deccan College of Engineering and Technology Maulana Azad Medical College
Delhi College of Engineering Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology
Department of Ocean Development Medical College Baroda
Department of Science and Technology Mohanlal Sukhadia University
Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya Motilal Nehru National Institute Of Technology - Allahabad
Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information & Communication National Academy of Agricultural Research Management
Technology National Geophysical Research Institute
Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya North-Eastern Hill University
Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India
Fakir Mohan University Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University
Fergusson College Panjab University
Forest Research Institute, Dehradun Physical Research Laboratory
Gandhi Institute of Technology And Management Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research
Gandhigram Rural University Punjab Agricultural University
Ganpat University Punjabi University
Garhwal University Raman Research Institute
Gulbarga University Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya
Guru Jambheshwar University Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics
Guru Nanak Dev University Sambalpur University
Hamdard University Saurashtra University
Indian Agricultural Research Institute Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology
Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science Sri Venkateswara University
Indian Institute of Information Technology - Allahabad St. Stephen’s College
Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad Tata Institute of Social Sciences
Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore Topiwala National Medical College
Indian Institute of Management, Indore University Institute of Chemical Technology
Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode University of Agricultural Sciences
Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow University of Calcutta
Indian Institute of Mines University of Calicut
Indian Institute of Rural Management University of Delhi
Indian Institute of Science University of Hyderabad
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai University of Madras
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi University of Mumbai
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati University of Mysore
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur University of Pune
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur University of Rajasthan
Indian Institute of Technology Madras Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee Women’s Christian College
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology
 Part II Opinions on Political, Economic and Scientific Issues 5

Part II
Opinions on Political, Economic
and Scientific Issues

II-A. Reasons for Becoming a Scientist

Most of the scientists chose this
career path because of personal
interest and curiosity. Some followed
a teacher or a role model and others
thought of doing good in the world.
Only a very small minority were
attracted to science for its financial
rewards or social status.
What was the main reason that led you to become
a scientist?
Personal interest, curiosity 55%
A teacher/role model 20%
Doing good in the world 11%
Job opportunities 6%
Vocation/calling 6%
Social status, international contact, financial reward 2%
n = 1,100 100%

II-B. Status of Science and Scientists in India

On the scale of 1 to 7, a majority In your opinion, how well respected are scientists
of respondents answered four or in India?
more, indicating that in their
opinion scientists are generally 100
well respected in India.
90

80

70

60
percent

50

40

30

20
27 29
10
14 16
1 5 8
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Very badly Very well
6 Part II Opinions on Political, Economic and Scientific Issues

II-C. Scientific Temper -- India’s Constitutional Duty

In Indian usage, “scientific To what extent do you think that India today is fulfilling its
temper” refers to free inquiry, constitutional duty “to develop the scientific temper,
the application of logic and human­ism and the spirit of inquiry and reform?” (Article 51Ah)
the avoidance of bias and
preconceived notions. (On a scale from 1 to 7)
100
Overall, the majority of
90
responses to this question
on the constitutional duty 80
to develop “scientific temper” 70
are negative and critical.
60
percent

50

40

30

20
29
10 24 23
14 4
6 1
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Not at all Very much

II-D. Funding Science

Most respondents believe that
public funding of science should
be based on its technological
benefits. Furthermore, most
approve of private-sector
involvement in basic science.
100
To what extent should government and public funding
of science be based on its technological benefits to
the nation?
To what extent do you approve of private sector
commercial involvement in basic science?

90

80

70

60
percent

50

40

30

20

10 25 21 21 24 21 22
2 16 14
6 6 10 9
0 5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Very little Very much
 Part II Opinions on Political, Economic and Scientific Issues 7

II-E. Preferred Economic Model

The preference for a mixed economy Which is your preferred economic model?
is consistent with the respondents’ support
for both government and private funding
of science. 56% Mixed economy

21% The free market

9% Socialism

6% Village based/autarchic

8% Unsure

II-F. Status of Women

Three out of four of the scientists believe
that the current under-representation of
women in the sciences (see Part I-A) is
due to nurture, that is, to culture influence
and learning, rather than nature, i.e.,
biological and genetic reasons.
In your opinion, is the under-representation
of women in the sciences due to nature
(biological, genetic, inheritance) or nurture
(learning, cultural influence)?

75% Nurture

9% Nature

6% Unsure
1

II-G. Scientific Literacy in India

Overall the Indian scientists think that How would you rate the scientific literacy today
scientific literacy in the country is low. of the following groups in India?
They rank school teachers as having the (Mean scores)
highest rate of scientific literacy while School teachers 3.6
ranking politicians lowest. Interestingly,
the media score the third highest, just Young men 3.4
below young men and above young women. Media people 3.1
Government officials and busi­ness people
Young women 3.1
are also perceived as more scientifically
literate than the Indian population as Government officials 2.7
a whole. Business people 2.6
The population as a whole 2.3

Politicians 1.9
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Very low Very high
8 Part II Opinions on Political, Economic and Scientific Issues

II-H. Opinions Regarding Evolution

The vast majority of the Do you think that the process of biological evolution
scientists endorse the theory is a fact?
of evolution (88% “definitely”
or “probably”) but there is a Do you think that human beings, as we know them,
slight tendency towards “human developed from earlier species of animals?
exceptionalism” with a lower
degree of definite commitment 100
to the concept that “human 90
beings developed from earlier
80
species of animals.”
70

60
percent

50

40

30 66
54
20
30
10 22
3 2 3 8 9
0 5
Definitely not Probably not Unsure Probably Definitely

II-I. Animal Research

Scientists’ responses on using In your opinion, should researchers in the life

animals in research offer no sciences refrain from doing research on cows?
differentiation between the two
species, cows or pigs. Two-thirds In your opinion, should researchers in the life
of scientists have no problem sciences refrain from using pigs in research projects?
with this issue.

12
Yes
10

22
Unsure
26

66
No
64

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
percent
 Part II Opinions on Political, Economic and Scientific Issues 9

II-J. Ethical Constraints on Science

The levels of opposition to Would you refuse to work on any of the following because
personal engagement in of your moral or religious beliefs?
po­tentially controversial areas
of scientific research range widely Designing Biological Weapons 64
by issue. Of course, depending
Designing Nuclear Weapons 54
on the scientific discipline of the
respondent, the individual ethical Chemical Pollution 34
issue can be either “theoretical” Human Cloning 29
or “practical.” Detailed findings
Animal Vivisection 21
according to scientific fields can
be viewed on the survey website. Voluntary Euthanasia 16
Population Control 11
Genetic Engineering 8
Stem Cell Research 8

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Percent responding “Yes”

II-K. Efficacy of Traditional Therapies and Technologies

Among traditional or alternative Do you think that there is any efficacy in the following?
curative and diagnostic tech­niques,
two clearly stand out. About half Homeopathy 50
of these scientists think homeopathy 49
Prayer
(50%) and prayer (49%) are efficacious.
Less than 20% endorse faith healing, Faith Healing 16
Vaastu and astrology. The least favored Vaastu 14
therapies, endorsed by only a few 14
Astrology
scientists, are amulets and dowsing.
Magnetic Therapy 13

Pranic Therapy 13

Predictions Based on Horoscopes 12

Electrotherapy 10

Reflexology 10

Palmistry 10

Predictions Based on Panchangam 8

Reiki 8

Urine Therapy 7

Gem and Stone Therapy 7

Numerology 6
Power of Amulets 3

Dowsing 2
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Percent responding “Yes” to each item
10 Part II Opinions on Political, Economic and Scientific Issues

II-L. Degrees in Vedic Astrology and Ayurvedic Medicine

The scientists are by far more
likely to approve of university
degree courses in Ayurvedic
medicine (90% “strongly”
or “somewhat”) than degree
courses in Vedic Astrology
(44%).
Do you approve or disapprove of degree courses in
Vedic Astrology?
Do you approve or disapprove of university degree
courses in Ayurvedic medicine?
100

90

80

70

60
percent

50

40

30 58
20
31 27 32
10 17
3 13 12 3
0 5

Disapprove Disapprove Unsure Approve Approve

strongly somewhat somewhat strongly

II-M. The Meaning of Secularism

Secularism has a unique meaning What does “secularism” mean to you?

in India. We can classify the
first two responses as describing
“public secularism.” The vast Tolerance for various
93
majority of the scientists perceives religions and philosophies
this term as tolerance and a large
majority recognizes it as it appears Separation of religion
from state/government 83
in the Indian constitution as
religion-government separation.
When it comes to “private No identification or affiliation 53
secularism” or secularity, a with any religious tradition
majority regards it as meaning
the absence of religious affiliation. Absence of supernatural 40
Only a minority of scientists or religious beliefs
conceives of secularity as
meaning atheism.
Atheism 20

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Percent responding “Yes” to each item
 Part II Opinions on Political, Economic and Scientific Issues 11

II-N. Blessing of Rocket Launching

The Indian scientific community is In 2005 space scientists went to Tirupati to seek
split on the issue of seeking a religious the blessing of Lord Venkateswara before launching
endorsement of a space research project, the rocket and satellite.
which occurred in 2005. Approval of
this ritual has the support of 41% of Do you approve or disapprove of the action?
the scientists while 46% disapprove.
However, the level of disapproval is
more intense with a plurality (33%)
“disapproving strongly.” 14% Approve strongly

27% Approve somewhat

nsure
13% U

13% Disapprove somewhat

33% Disapprove strongly

II-O. Science versus Religion

A plurality of the scientists (44%) Do you think that scientific organizations should
is willing to criticize and confront confront religious practices if they contradict
religions where they think they accepted scientific theories?
contradict accepted scientific
theories but a sizeable minority
(23%) is opposed.
44% Yes

33% Sometimes

23% No

12
Part III
Worldviews and Beliefs
III-A. Current Religion
The majority of the Indian scientists
are Hindus and 10% self-identify
as atheists or having no religion.
Small minorities of the scientists are
Christians or Muslims or profess
other religions.
III-B. Vegetarianism
A majority of the scientists
surveyed is not vegetarian.
The vegetarian population
(43%) is motivated by both
health and religious reasons.
57% No
43% Yes
III-C. Secular/Religious Outlook
The scientists are most likely to regard
their personal outlook as “secular” or
“somewhat secular” (75%). Note that
in India, secularism means tolerance
(see II-M).
Part III Worldviews and Beliefs
What is your current religion, if any?
Hindu 66%
Christian 3%
Muslim 3%
Sikh, Buddhist & Other 4%
Atheist/ No religion/ Secular 10%
Did not report their religion 14%
n = 1,100 100%
Are you a vegetarian?
8% Health reasons
3% Religious reasons
20% Health and religious
reasons
12% Other reasons
When it comes to your outlook, do you regard
yourself as...?
59% Secular
16% Somewhat secular
15% Somewhat religious
7% Religious
3% Don’t know
 Part III Worldviews and Beliefs 13

III-D. Beliefs about God

One-fourth of the scientists take What do you believe about God?

an atheist or agnostic position
about belief in the divine
while another fourth are firm
believers.
I don’t believe in God 12%
I don’t know whether there is a God and I don’t
believe there is any way to find out 13%
I don’t believe in a personal God
but I do believe in a higher power 30%
I find myself believing in God some of the time
but not at others 6%
While I have doubts, I feel that I do believe in God 9%
I know God really exists and I have no doubts about it 26%
No answer 4%
n = 1,100 100%

III-E. Belief in Miracles

Most of the scientists reject Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
the idea of divine or human
ability to perform miracles.
However the level of support God performs
38
for “supernatural” human miracles
agency (24%) is noteworthy.
Holy people 24
perform miracles

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Percent responding “Agree strongly” or “Agree somewhat”

III-F. Traditional Beliefs

Overall, the majority of scientists Do you believe in...?

rejects all these traditional beliefs.
However, the level of rejection Karma (sins and 29
deeds of past life)
varies over a considerable range.
More than a quarter believe in Life after death 26
the doctrine of Karma but only
a very small minority endorses
Reincarnation 20
the caste system.
A relationship between 7
comets and human events

Ghosts/Spirits 7

Caste system 6

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Percent responding “Yes” to each item
14 Part III Worldviews and Beliefs

III-G. Spirituality

The majority of scientists

To what extent do you think of yourself as “spiritual?”
think of themselves as “spiritual.”
On a scale of 1 to 7, only 11% 100
are “not at all” spiritual (1)
90
while 14% think of themselves
as “very much” spiritual (7). 80

70

60

percent
50

40

30

20

10 24
17 19
11 14
7 9
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Not at all Very much

III-H. Meaning of the Term Spiritual

What do they mean by

the term “spiritual”? Among
five different conceptions of
spirituality, two-thirds opted
for either “commitment to
higher human ideals, such
as peace, harmony, or well-
being” (34%), or “a higher
level of human consciousness
or awareness” (31%).
What does “spiritual” mean?
Commitment to higher human ideals, such as peace,
harmony, or well-being 34%
A higher level of human consciousness or awareness 31%
Sensitivity to a force that connects all (living) things 16%
Contact with forces or entities that exist beyond nature 10%
A purely emotional or psychological sense of connection
with others and/or nature 9%
n = 1,100 100%
 The Authors
Dr. Ariela Keysar, a demographer, is
Associate Research Professor of Public Policy
and Law and the Associate Director of the
Institute for the Study of Secularism in
Society and Culture (ISSSC) at Trinity
College in Hartford, Connecticut. She is
a principal investigator of the ISSSC web
survey of Indian scientists, which is the
first in a series of studies of worldviews and
opinions of scientists around the world.
She is also a principal investigator of the
American Religious Identification Survey
2008, a representative national survey of
religion in the U.S., covering over 50,000
respondents. Dr. Keysar is the co-editor of
Secularism and Science in the 21st Century
and Secularism & Secularity: Contemporary
International Perspectives as well as co-author
of Religion in a Free Market.
Dr. Barry A. Kosmin is the Founding
Director of the Institute for the Study of
Secularism in Society and Culture and
Research Professor, Public Policy & Law
Program at Trinity College. A sociologist,
Dr. Kosmin has been a principal investigator
of many large national social surveys and
opinion polls in Europe, Africa, Asia and
the U.S. including the CUNY 1990 National
Survey of Religious Identification and the
American Religious Identification Surveys of
2001 and 2008. A former joint editor of the
journal Patterns of Prejudice, he is co-author
of One Nation under God: Religion in
Contemporary American Society, Religion in
a Free Market and co-editor of the following
volumes in the ISSSC series: Secularism and
Science in the 21st Century and Secularism &
Secularity: Contemporary International
Perspectives.

The ISSSC research team would like to express their appreciation to all the
Indian scientists who agreed to participate in the survey and share their
worldviews and opinions. The Indian project is the first in a series of
international surveys of scientists in various countries representing a variety
of cultures.

We would also like to acknowledge David Tatem and the IT Department of

Trinity College for their assistance with the administration of the web survey.

This project is a work in progress. Further findings and additional statistics are available and
will be updated periodically at www.trincoll.edu/secularisminstitute.