Science and liberalism

Andrew discusses here and blames Republicanism.

I think that's part of it—"conservative" has come to mean "traditional", which offends the progress-oriented scientific mind.

And though "liberal" has come to mean leftist/progressive in low-brow political discourse, learned folks are acquainted with the classical liberalism product of the Enlightenment, back when reason prevailed, and consider themselves liberal in that sense. I know I do, but it can be misleading so I tend to stick with the new 'libertarian' construct.

Scientists are elites, and libertarianism is more popular in high-brow circles. I suspect a nontrivial number answering "neither" when asked to choose between conservative and liberal are actually libertarian. Others are probably generic moderates/centrists or "fiscally conservative, socially liberal".

Anyhow, it shouldn't surprise anyone that scientists have non-traditional, socially non-conservative views.