Via Eurekalert a poll of American attitudes toward science confirms that people are a little confused about the whole science thing. I think the most concise desription of the problem is in the second sentence:
Most (87%) rate being a scientist as one of the most prestigious careers, yet 75% can’t name a living scientist.
Yep. That’s your problem, right there.
(As an aside, am I the only one who sees the name of the group that conducted the study, Research!America, and thinks:
Research!America = (Reasearch)(Research-1)(Research-2)…(2)(1)(America) ?
(I am? Oh, good.)