I kinda agree with you. I suspect that people on average tend to be pessismistic and only see thenegative effects of STEM progress (pollution, thalidomide, large and impersonal technology).
I tend to be optimistic and suspect that things are slowly getting better.
In high income countries GMO is a massive boogiemonster, which I find a real shame as has such potential for the feeding the rest of the world. Would be silly if these belief got in the way of that.