Well, speaking as a science researcher...
Do you feel people have lost faith in scientific research information and why?
I don't feel comfortable making generalizations. However, I would say that given the state of scientific ignorance particularly in America, people don't fully
understand what science is or what it is about, or depth and breadth of what it has contributed to society. If you don't have "faith" in science (faith is really the wrong word, I think), then you probably have misconceptions about what it is and what it does. If you lost "faith" in it, you placed it on a pedestal that it didn't belong on in the first place. Science is a method; it's a tool. It is not the only way to understand the world, it is not a panacea for the world's problems, and it's not without flaws and limits. It is, however, one of the best tools humanity has available for understanding the physical world around us. For those who don't have "faith" in science, I'd ask you to consider the other side of the coin: technology. This computer you're using right now is a product of science.
Do you feel science plays the greater role and can't do any wrong?
I don't really understand what is meant by the first part, but for the second? Not even remotely. Well, let's be clear on something here, though. The method itself isn't what is doing the wrong, it is the application of the results of science by human beings that has a stronger ethical dimension to it. You could consider blaming science for wrongs analogous to blaming a gun for a murder. Science is a tool. It in of itself doesn't do the wrong, the people wielding it or implementing its results can do the wrong. I feel this is an important distinction to make.
Are you happy in observing the balance between science & spiritual?
Yes, quite. I understand that the scientific method has limits and can only answer certain types of questions. For others, I use more intuitive methods of understanding that you could call "spiritual." I directly incorporate science into my religion, actually, though it isn't my sole source of inspiration.
Do you think scientists could toss aside their white coats more and mingle with society better?
YES (though for the record, most of us don't actually wear white lab coats). There are a lot of problems with doing this, though. Science is highly technical and arcane. As mentioned earlier, the general public's understanding of science is poor. The vast majority of the science literature is completely impenetrable to laypeople (and sometimes impenetrable between scientific experts operating in different disciplines). Because of the complexity, I'm not sure what the solution is. To get the general public to understand it, you almost have to water it down; watering it down oversimplifies and leads to misconceptions. And we scientists hate it when that happens. *laughs*
There is a very cute comic from Ph.D. that is an example of this that I'd like to share with you:
I personally try to act as a representative for science when I can, but it's hard. I'm no Bill Nye, but I'd like to think I can at least answer some basic questions and clarify things for people in a way they can understand.
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