html5 - Who are the primary users of Internet Explorer <= 8? -

tl; dr: making website biological researchers. these guys apt use ie8?

i'm developing website act reference biology researchers. i'd implement loads of html5 , css3 if can. can't spend forever developing though, , fixing websites ie8 takes long, heavy reliance on svg elements have planned. such user base (researchers), safe drop support ie8 , below? i've heard it's banks , airline companies use ie <= 8, i've never come across actual statistic, other global usage of ie8 around 10%, bit high taste.

the short answer is, of course, "it depends", things might consider:

-who benefits people using site? if it's wants them use it, onus more on make lives easier supporting whatever browser use (most ecommerce sites fit category). if there's less value , you're genuinely trying helpful producing valuable tool particular research community, it'd more reasonable expect them update if care enough.

-how effort support be? if it's little effort, it, you've described sounds support difficult. if it's going take 5 times long support 10% more people, wouldn't bother.

-what sort of age they? not true, speaking younger people tend use more recent browsers.

in position, i'd try ask 10 or people you'd expect use site browser use. if 1 or 2 people affected, i'd ditch ie8 support, , make sure site falls gracefully page explaining why aren't able use , how update browser.