Public to scientists: tell us what you are doing

New research shows a full 58 per cent of people feel they are not well-informed about the outputs of publicly-funded science, a finding that presents an obstacle to the success of the €70 billion Horizon 2020 R&D programme in areas such as climate change, healthy ageing, waste management and sustainable energy supplies that will rely on public cooperation to reach their objectives.

However, there’s better news for the Commission in the fact that 77 per cent of respondents to a Eurobarometer poll published today think that science and technology has a positive influence on society.

These results are similar to previous Eurobarometer surveys, highlighting an ongoing failure to address the issue of public understanding of science. Only 40 per cent of 27,563 respondents across the EU said they feel very well-informed or well-informed, at a time when the need for scientific literacy has never been greater.

In recognition of this, Horizon 2020 has a specific budget for ‘Science with and for Society’, which will focus on making science more accessible and attract more women into scientific careers.

An example of the work already in hand to engage people directly is Voices (Views, Opinions and Ideas of Citizens in Europe on Science) a 12 month consultation with the public considering the use of waste as a resource. The results are being used to shape Horizon 2020 research priorities in urban waste management.

The Eurobarometer survey points to academics as the group that could do most to bridge the gap in public understanding. For a start, a full 82 per cent of respondents see academics as trying to behave responsibly to society, while 66 per cent of those surveyed think scientists working at universities or in government laboratories are best qualified to explain the impact of scientific and technological developments on society.

The results show Europeans support the role of science and technology in society, believes R&D Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn. But at the same time citizens, “Expect scientists and politicians to ensure that their values and concerns are taken into account,” Geoghegan-Quinn said.

Just 47 per cent of the respondents have ever studied science or technology, either at school or in higher education, a particularly alarming statistic in light of soaring unemployment and the two million job vacancies in fields such as health, engineering and ICT in Europe.

“We must get more young people interested in science and innovation careers,” said Geoghegan-Quinn, and 65 per cent of the respondents agree with her. 

While a majority of Europeans feel a need to know more about science and technology, a number of socio-demographic factors skew this result. Unsurprisingly, those most likely to feel sufficiently informed are males, those between the ages of 15-24, and those who stayed in education beyond the age of 20.

Most Europeans get their information about developments in science and technology from television, at 65 per cent; followed by newspapers, 33 per cent; websites, 32 per cent; and magazines, 26 per cent.

Regional disparity was very apparent in the survey. For example, 77 per cent of Swedes surveyed said they were interested in science and technology, compared with only 34 per cent of people from the Czech Republic. While 65 per cent of people from Denmark and 58 per cent from Luxembourg felt sufficiently informed about science, only a quarter of those from Hungary and Romania said they were. The majority of respondents felt that greater public dialogue is needed, but those in Slovenia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Latvia and Hungary disagreed.