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1 Special Eurobarometer issue November 2005 ISSN

2 2 RTD info Special Eurobarometer issue November 2005 A mixture of confidence and rejection This special issue of RTD info presents the results of the latest Eurobarometer survey on science and technology, carried out for the first time in 32 countries simultaneously. The picture that emerges is globally positive, which is to be welcomed. We find, for example, that Europeans still believe in scientific progress. 88% of them consider that science and technology have brought improvements to the quality of life of people of their generation, while 76% believe they will improve the lives of future generations too. Another result is both positive and surprising: the increase in scientific knowledge in nearly all the EU Member States, in contrast to what many scientists and politicians would have us believe. It seems we are scientifically more cultured than we think! But there are nevertheless some less positive findings. In particular, the resistance of Europeans to certain areas of progress such as genetically modified foods, cloning and even certain information technologies, accused of destroying more jobs than they create. The situation is admittedly complex, given the many national peculiarities, genuine contradictions and apparent paradoxes revealed by this new Eurobarometer that is already generating a great deal of interest all over the world. It is a complexity effectively summed up by one senior US official when he learned of the results: People understand science and technology better than we think, it s just that they don t want what we are giving them. Science and technology 3 What do Europeans think? Two surveys with overlapping themes were published by the European Commission in June: The Europeans, Science and Technology and Social Values, Science and Technology. This new double Eurobarometer survey covers 32 countries and 570 million inhabitants. Interview 4 Public opinion in the science equation RTD info meets George Gaskell, professor at the London School of Economics. A sociologist, he has been involved in preparing the European Commission s Eurobarometer surveys since The opinion of an independent expert. SCIENCE AND SCIENTISTS 8 A mixture of confidence and scepticism Europeans are not naïve and certainly have questions about the exponential progress of science. Yet they generally express confidence in the progress of research. Of all the disciplines, it is medicine that they consider to be the most scientific. And the scientists themselves? They enjoy their overwhelming trust and esteem. FROM INTEREST TO KNOWLEDGE 15 A slight erosion of interest Opinions on science and technology constitute a mosaic that highlights the singularly contrasting cultures of the different countries. 17 Scientists could do better Must try harder at communication. Europeans would generally like to be better informed of the results and possible consequences of the work of researchers. 19 A test of knowledge A science and technology quiz, first conducted in 1992, shows a steady increase in the number of correct answers. Why not test your knowledge? EUROPEAN VALUES 21 Freedom and its limits Involvement in taking the decisions that determine society s future, defence of privacy and freedom of expression, attitude to developing countries and minorities, environmental issues, protecting the embryo were all investigated for the first time by the Social Values, Science and Technology Eurobarometers. 24 Rights and duties Nature and the environment: the need to respect and protect it as well as the rules for exploiting it. 26 The gender balance In theory at least, equality between the sexes seems to be widely accepted. But in practice the picture is less clear, with implications for opinions. CHOICES AND DECISIONS 28 Risks, benefits and ethics Half of Europeans believe that technological choices must only be made after a careful weighing of the risks and benefits. A third of respondents also believe that the ethical consequences of these options must also be carefully considered. But the relative importance of the precautionary principle and moral values varies significantly from country to country. 30 What do we expect from European research? We expect a great deal Transnational scientific co-operation is viewed positively and the current organisation of European research is deemed to be useful. A majority of respondents would give S&T a bigger budget. 32 Having your say The desire to be involved in S&T decisionmaking varies according to social group, country, age and other factors. But, overall, 87% of citizens would like to have the right to be consulted on important research policy decisions. Notice Neither the European Commission, nor any person acting on its behalf, may be held responsible for the use to which information contained in this publication may be put, or for any errors which, despite careful preparation and checking, may appear. European Communities, 2005 Non-commercial reproduction authorised, subject to acknowledgement of source. A magazine providing information on European research, RTD info is published in English, French and German by the Information and Communication Unit of the European Commission s Research DG. Editor in chief: Michel Claessens Tel.: Fax: research@cec.eu.int copies of this issue were published. All issues of RTD info can be consulted on-line at the Research DG s website: europa.eu.int/comm/research

3 RTD info Special Eurobarometer issue November What do Europeans think? In June 2005, the European Commission published two surveys with overlapping themes: Europeans, Science and Technology (S&T) and Social values, Science and Technology (S&V). While this was the first ever S&V survey, for S&T it was the third in a series and followed similar surveys carried out in 1992 and The Eurobarometer is something of the Rolls-Royce among opinion surveys in Europe. It is, in fact, the world s biggest survey in terms of geographical coverage and frequency we go out into the field every month, declares Leendert de Voogd, managing director of EOS Gallup Europe, the coordination centre that organises the Eurobarometer surveys. This new double Eurobarometer which makes it a first includes no fewer than 32 countries in the 25 EU Member States, the candidate countries (Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and Turkey) and the three EFTA countries (Iceland, Norway and Switzerland). The combined population is 570 million. Samples of around people per country were interviewed, (1) representative of the population aged 15 and over. Interviews were conducted face to face and lasted approximately one hour. They were conducted by specialists from a network of survey institutes covering the whole of Europe. The rule of one institute per country working in its own language is very important, explains the EOS Gallup Europe director. Imagine a Dutchman interviewing a Fleming. It may be the same written language, but not the same spoken language. The symbols and references that filter through in the language could introduce a bias in the replies. In preparing these two surveys, the Directorate-General for Research drew on the expertise of some 30 social scientists of different nationalities who are familiar both with the issue of science and society and with survey methods. This task force widened the perspectives and made it possible to gauge a greater number of sensitivities. While the 2005 S&T survey incorporates a majority of the questions included in the two previous Eurobarometers thereby making it possible to detect shifts in opinions the survey on social values benefited from the absolute freedom of starting from scratch with a questionnaire based on the present state of expertise in this field. Similar themes are found in both surveys. As to the replies, they both show many points of convergence as well as some subtle and also more marked differences. What is clear is that the majority of those interviewed would like more information on science and technology and seem rather dissatisfied at the way in which they are currently informed about research aims and progress, especially by scientists. Yet research is a field that wins their approval and support. In particular, respondents believe in European research projects carried out by teams from different countries and would like to see them receive more funding. Europeans are committed to ethical and social values and fear the effects of too rapid changes in science and technological development that could destabilise some of their living conditions and aspects of their social life. They regard technosciences with a mixture of trust and suspicion. On one hand, scientific research and technological development are seen as firmly rooted in society and Europeans feel indebted to science for improvements in their quality of life, explains Michel Claessens, manager of these two surveys at the Research DG. But on the other hand, they reject the idea of progress decided and acted upon outside of society itself. Almost half of them believe that scientists share responsibility for the negative applications of research. (1) 500 for the small Member States such as Luxembourg, Cyprus and Malta. To find out more To download the documents 0 The percentages cited in this issue refer to the opinions of the Europeans interviewed for the purposes of the two Eurobarometer surveys. The Europeans, Science and Technology survey is referred to as the S&T survey for short, and the Social values, Science and Technology survey as S&V. Given the absence of decimal place figures, the total percentages for some questions do not equal 100%.

4 4 RTD info Special Eurobarometer issue November 2005 I N T E R V I E W Leading-edge science and technology is increasingly becoming the focus of public debate. Those involved need to be sensitive to society s opinion to ensure a supportive climate for their activities. Survey research provides indicators of this climate to inform both science policy and the direction of technological innovation. Since 1993, George Gaskell, from The London School of Economics, has been one of the European social researchers involved in the design and interpretation of the successive Eurobarometers, launched by the Commission, on citizens perception of science and technology. Here are his thoughts on a number of subjects put to him. S&T Eurobarometers in context Public opinion in the science equation George Gaskell Research DG has commissioned a number of Eurobarometer surveys to provide a systematic and impartial picture of the climate of opinion about science and technology. A Eurobarometer survey is not a referendum; it is not a vote for or against particular issues, and it is not, in itself, a form of participation or dialogue with the public. Yet it can become a means of interaction with the public, if the views expressed by citizens are noted and used to inform discussions and decisions on the future of science and technology. The perils of ignoring public opinion From its birth, biotechnology has been viewed as having far-reaching implications. In 1974, concerns about health and safety issues led the scientific community to implement a moratorium on research. But this was short-lived and by the end of 70s an EC report on Biosociety identified biotechnology as one of the keys to economic competitiveness. Yet, around that time, a Eurobarometer found that a sizeable minority of the European public saw genetic research as an unacceptable risk and had concerns about gene technology and synthetic food. sections of the public did a Eurobarometer in 1996 again showed considerable public resistance, particularly in northern European countries. Public concerns mainly focused on agri-food applications, and less so on pharmaceutical and medical developments. Their worries went beyond traditional health and safety criteria they saw no apparent benefits and had doubts about the moral and ethical implications of gene technology. My point is that the results of the Eurobarometer in 1996 anticipated the subsequent trouble over agri-food biotechnologies the years of controversy which culminated in a de facto European moratorium on the commercialisation Over the last decade, the European Commission has stressed the need for societal scrutiny and dialogue on the governance of science, and has made a commitment to public consultation as part of the process of building EU legislative and funding frameworks that carry public confidence. Since the early 1990s, the However, the promoters of biotechnology government and industry were united in the belief that the applications of new life sciences in the domains of health and agriculture were progress writ large. How could anyone think otherwise? Well,

5 I N T E R V I E W RTD info Special Eurobarometer issue November of GM agricultural products. Had the survey findings been taken a little more seriously, we might have seen a very different history. It is notable that those developing nanotechnology and the so-called converging technologies are now keen to learn the lessons of this period and to avoid the mistakes of the introduction of agri-food biotechnologies. Challenging stereotypes Some attributed the resistance to biotechnology to either a symptom of generalised technophobia or to people demanding (unrealistically) a risk-free world. However, the surveys consistently show that Europeans are not neo- Luddites. There is overwhelming optimism about the contribution to society of telecommunications, computers and information technology, solar energy and the internet. Equally, we do not find that people s views about technology are driven by generalised risk aversion. The possible health and environmental risks of mobile phones have been widely discussed, yet across Europe in 2002 for every pessimist about mobile phones there were about seven optimists. Another claim that is often made is that the public are ignorant of the underlying scientific principles and that if they knew more about science, they would be more supportive. However, in reality the correlation between scientific knowledge and support for science is very low. Without wishing to downplay the value of education in science, the emphasis on knowledge in the context of support for science misses the point. For the public, science is a means to certain ends and one does not need to understand the details of the means (scientific concepts and methods) in order to have a view on the desirability of the ends (the outcome for society). So what the public is concerned about are questions such as is this new development going to be good for me, my family and society or not? or is there a slippery slope here, if we have X today, where will science be in ten years time?. Science and values The Industrial Revolution harnessing science and technology turned the Enlightenment project into action. Science and technology became the route to progress, to the good life and to the betterment of health. Yet, some questioned the equation that linked science and technology to progress. Who was benefiting? With what risks? Is nature and inexhaustible resource to be exploited at will? And if it is scientifically possible is it necessarily desirable? held beliefs about human identity, society and man's relations with the physical and natural environment. The new Social Values Survey shows that large sections of the public want their voices to be heard in matters of scientific policy making and decision taking, and also that moral and ethical issues should be given more weight. People are not confident that the sound science approach a scientific assessment of risks and benefits with decisions made solely by the experts is necessarily a guarantee of the best choice for society. Of course, some developments in science engage with positive values better health and improving the quality of life. Others, like human cloning, raise fundamental values regarding human dignity and are currently widely rejected. And in between are certain developments about which there is no consensus in part because they engage with different values in different social groups. As with other contested issues in democratic societies, surely these should be the subject of public deliberation? From the values survey we will map value isobars across Europe, a term we have borrowed from meteorology. Among all the Member States, there are likely to be some common values linked to similar cultural, historical and social reference points. But on account of differing backgrounds economic, religious, educational, political, philosophical outlook and historic experience with technology and science important variations in values across nations, and also across various sub-groups, are to be expected. With a systematic mapping of the value climate of Europe, we will explore the links between the value isobars and people s views about science and technology and its regulation. The shock of the new One issue that concerns people is the pace of development of contemporary science and technology. From discovery to a new product seems to take no time at all. When pasteurisation of milk was first introduced it was many years before it became accepted; the same is true for vaccinations. These days, with the pressures of patents, profits and international competitiveness, there is no time to pave the way. We have lost the opportunity to allow society to work through the process of turning the unfamiliar and sometimes threatening innovation into something unexceptional and normal and in this process to be sensitive to public opinion and, if necessary, respond by adjusting the course of the innovation. With the advent of recombinant DNA technologies and the mapping of the human genome, the ethical dimensions of the science came quickly and publicly to the fore. Such questions arise in the context of deeply The pace of science and technological development is viewed with mixed feelings sometimes with awe and sometimes with foreboding. On the one hand, people are in admiration of science for its capacity to

6 6 RTD info Special Eurobarometer issue November 2005 I N T E R V I E W deliver wonderful improvements to their quality of life. But on the other hand, there is a sense that it is almost out of control. What unintended consequences may appear in the years to come? Are there uncertainties and risks beyond current knowledge? One might almost capture these concerns in the image of a runaway TGV going at great speed fuelled by industry and government; no one knows its destination; it is passing the orange and red lights of public concerns without acknowledgement and it is beyond the control of current safety mechanisms. In this context the public s trust in scientists, industry and regulators comes to the fore. Over the last decade of the Eurobarometers, we find it is the voices independent of science and technology that tend to be trusted most. This raises important issues for scientists, industry and governments. While one assumes they want to be trusted, trust has to be earned. So they must ask themselves: Have we demonstrated by our competence, transparency and accountability that we are trustworthy?. Science is not an island The surveys show that science and technology does not attract the interest of a narrow group of people who are particularly trained in this single issue. Rather, those who are most engaged with science and technology tend to be generalists people with interests in a wider range of public affairs, including politics. We are living in turbulent times in politics with pressing issues such as the future of Europe, employment, globalisation and immigration. Science is not insulated from the way these problems are managed. In this way, public opinion on science and technology is likely to derive in part from views about the credibility of wider political and societal institutions. European significance What is the European meaning of the Eurobarometer findings based on 25 countries? First of all, there is the national implications of the surveys. In many countries, they provide a unique assessment of public opinion and of changes in opinion over time of interest to many audiences. Public opinion across the Member States varies for example, we saw a marked north/south divide in attitudes to biotechnology. Looking across the EU, we find a relationship between the level of economic development and attitudes to science and technology. In less economically advanced countries, people know less about science and technology but they are supportive as it is seen as the road to progress. Enthusiasm for science is matched by enthusiasm for modernity. Science is a token of better quality of life, better employment prospects and of becoming more like the wealthy members of the European club. Conversely, in countries that have reached a certain level of prosperity, we find not so much a declining interest in science, but increasingly critical discussions and ambivalent attitudes. On the one hand, people recognise the benefits, but at the same time they become concerned about environmental issues, ethics and the governance of science. When we summarise views across all the Member States into what might be called European public opinion, this is, of course, a heroic generalisation across countries at different stages of economic development, populations with different values and different experiences, expectations and opinions about science and technology. However, just as European Institutions and regulations are developing over time, so it may be assumed the same will hold true for public opinion. And when we make comparisons between Europe, the US and Canada, we find consistent differences that suggest there is an emerging reality to European public opinion.

7 and scientists

8 8 RTD info Special Eurobarometer issue November 2005 SCIENCE AND SCIENTISTS A mixture of confidence SCEPTICISM What do we mean by the word science? What disciplines can legitimately claim to be scientific? What are the limits to the knowledge and progress science generates? Is science always beneficial and does it not also have negative effects? These and other equally complex questions elicited some subtle and sometimes contradictory replies. What is science? Is the term limited to the exact sciences or do the social sciences qualify too? And which subjects can be considered to be the most scientific? In reply to the latter, Europeans consider medicine, physics and biology to be most deserving of the description, more so than fundamental research or maths and astronomy, for example. The social sciences generally rank much lower down the list Graph What is regarded as scientific? Average view of the Europeans (EU-25) on a five-point scale, including both astrology and horoscopes. The latter is alone in failing to obtain 50%. Anything that exceeds four points is considered to be highly scientific. Source: S&T Eurobarometer than the exact sciences. Psychology ranks significantly above economics and far above history (see graph 1). Furthermore, there has been little change in what is perceived as scientific since the 1992 Eurobarometer survey (EU-15): just a slightly higher ranking for history (up from 2.6 to 3 on a five-point scale), while the only exact science to lose ground is physics (down from 4.5 to 4.4). As to astrology, an esoteric subject that lies outside the field of science, the S&T Eurobarometer used two terms in its questions when placing it on the scale of values: sometimes astrology and sometimes horoscopes, (1) the latter having fewer scientific connotations. A notable difference resulted. Astrology was shown to have a certain scientific aura, scoring higher than history and homeopathy, while horoscopes came out bottom of the list. This suggests that there is a degree at least of semantic confusion between astrology and astronomy. From a socio-cultural 3 point of view, it is managers, those who studied beyond the age of 20 and women with a higher education diploma, who are least likely to award the science label 1.9 to these practices. 0.0 Medicine Physics Biology Astronomy Mathematics Psychology Economics Astrology Homeopathy History Horoscopes (1) The interviewers sometimes test the same question in a number of very similar forms. In which case, they divide their respondents into two groups and speak of split samples.

9 SCIENCE AND SCIENTISTS RTD info Special Eurobarometer issue November Graph 2 Optimism regarding science Scientific and technological progress will help to cure illnesses such as AIDS, cancer, etc. Science and technology make our lives healthier, easier and more comfortable Thanks to science and technology, there will be more opportunities for future generations 78% 77% 88% 4% 7% 6% 14% 8% 12% The benefits of science are greater than any harmful effects it may have 52% 14% 29% Science and technology will help eliminate poverty and hunger around the world 39% 37% 21% Thanks to scientific and technological advances, the Earth s natural resources will be inexhaustible 23% 54% 18% Science and technology can sort out any problem 21% 58% 18% Source: S&T Eurobarometer Agree Disagree Neither agree Don t know nor disagree Science and its effects Science and technology are playing an everincreasing role in our day-to-day lives. But is this for better or for worse? And is it a highway to progress or more a matter of exploring uncharted and decidedly risky territory? Seven statements were put to Europeans to try and assess their degree of confidence in science (see graph 2). An overwhelming majority of Europeans are convinced of the benefits of S&T in the field of health, standards of living (in terms of comfort) and more generally in terms of opportunities for future generations. 77% of respondents believe S&T will bring more opportunities for future generations, a significant increase (14 percentage points) compared with the 1992 survey. When we come to the fourth statement ( science s benefits are greater than any harmful effects it may have ) the tone changes and the notion meets with the approval of just 52% of respondents. However, there are not so very many who reject it outright (14%), the relatively large number (nearly 29%) of respondents who neither agree nor disagree making up the balance. These figures are, of course, averages and behind them there are significant regional variations. Four countries show a pronounced scepticism, with almost 30% of respondents in Finland and the Netherlands and 25% in Slovenia and Luxembourg rejecting the idea. Opinions can also differ widely between countries that are relatively close in geographical terms. In Northern Europe, for example, we find that 74% of Norwegians have confidence in the benefits of science, in contrast to their Finnish neighbours (see graph 3). We then see a sharp falling off of confidence when it comes to the statements with admittedly more utopian connotations the hypothesis that science can help eliminate poverty and hunger, for example. Just 39% of respondents agree that this is the case and 37% do not agree, with France and Finland being particularly sceptical (almost 65% disagreeing). When it is suggested that S&T could make it possible to render the Earth s resources inexhaustible, this scepticism becomes more categorical: 54% reject the notion. The people of France, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg are all in the 70% zone in their rejection of the potential of S&T on this score. The rejection is even more outright when Europeans are presented with the idea that science and technology can sort out any problem. Just 21% of respondents are ready to accept this idea while If told that the new 58% reject it. The incredulity is highest in technologies will be able Sweden (84%), the Netherlands (81%), to positively outweigh the and Norway and Switzerland (80%). negative effects of scientific and Science and the economy 67% of Europeans take issue with the statement that science and technology do not play an important role in industrial development, while 64% (compared with 67% in 1992) believe that only the most advanced technologies can make our economy more competitive (see graph 4). The Germans and the citizens of the new Member States are most ready to accept this view while a certain scepticism is apparent in several of the EU-25 technological development, 48% of Europeans accept this optimistic view. But this average conceals some clear differences between countries. The Poles, Dutch and Maltese are most optimistic about this (76%, 69% and 69%) while the Slovenians (16%), the Danes (20%), the British (22%), the Finnish and the Irish (26%) are the most sceptical.

10 10 RTD info Special Eurobarometer issue November 2005 SCIENCE AND SCIENTISTS Graph 3 The benefits of science are greater than any harmful effects it may have countries, such as France (29% of respondents take issue with the statement), Finland (26%), Sweden and the Netherlands (24%). EU 25 PL HU LT PT EE ES IT CY BE MT DK SE FR IE FI LU UK EL AT SK DE CZ LV SI NL 52% 14% 29% 5% 65% 13% 19% 4% 63% 10% 21% 6% 63% 8% 19% 10% 60% 6% 21% 13% 58% 10% 21% 11% 57% 8% 28% 7% 57% 9% 27% 7% 55% 14% 23% 7% 53% 20% 25% 53% 11% 18% 17% 52% 16% 29% 51% 19% 27% 50% 17% 27% 6% 50% 13% 25% 12% 50% 30% 19% 49% 24% 21% 6% 49% 16% 30% 5% 48% 14% 30% 7% 48% 10% 34% 7% 47% 10% 37% 6% 46% 12% 38% 44% 18% 35% 42% 18% 27% 13% 40% 25% 33% 39% 29% 29% Half of those interviewed in the EU-25 also accept the statement that many high-tech products are just gadgets. In Sweden, 73% believe this to be so. Another question asked is whether computers and factory automation will create more jobs than they eliminate. Most respondents (55%, compared with 65% in 1992) are not convinced that such developments will bring new jobs, with just 21% holding a positive view on this. The undecided make up the balance. The Turks are the sole exception to the rule, with 43% believing that information technologies will have a positive impact on jobs. The most negative are the Germans (71%) and the French (68%) two countries much affected by unemployment followed by the citizens of the Netherlands, Belgium, Cyprus and Luxembourg (around 65%). Support for research and its social value Even if they are critical and sceptical about certain developments, the Europeans sense the importance of and need for science (S&T survey). 76% consider that it is the duty of those who govern them to aid research that leads to the acquisition of new knowledge, even if the immediate benefits are unclear. In France, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Norway, 86% or 85% of respondents take this view, while the Austrians are less convinced (54%). Half of those interviewed (EU-25) also believe that fundamental research is essential for technological progress. Another statement: My government should spend more money on scientific research and less on other things, is approved by 57% of respondents, with the highest approval ratings in Italy (69%), Spain and France (68%) and also Turkey (66%). But there is no unanimity on this, the Netherlands (47% in disagreement) and Finland (44% in disagreement) being notable examples. The Social Values surveyors also sought to assess European perceptions of the consequences for society of the work of both university and industrial researchers and how they view the development of new products. The answers show that the general feeling is very positive towards RO HR TR BG NW IS CH Agree Disagree Neither agree Don t know nor disagree Source: S&T Eurobarometer 61% 4% 23% 12% 61% 5% 29% 5% 58% 13% 15% 14% 53% 7% 19% 21% 74% 7% 16% 51% 15% 30% 5% 43% 18% 31% 8% THE FUNNEL METHOD The order in which the questions are asked is a very delicate matter and can have an effect on the results. One question can influence another and vice versa. It is all a matter of finding the right balance. Is it best, for example, to first ask general questions and then go into more detail? Is it best to group questions by theme? These are all subjects that we discuss with those who commission our surveys. We ourselves favour the funnel method of starting with the general and then moving to the more precise in order to first gain the respondent s confidence. Leendert de Voogd, EOS Gallup Europe

11 SCIENCE AND SCIENTISTS RTD info Special Eurobarometer issue November Graph 4 The implication of science in the economy The application of science and new technologies will make peoples work more interesting Only by applying the most advanced technologies can our economy become more competitive 69% 10% 18% 64% 14% 17% 5% Many high-tech products are just gadgets 50% 22% 20% 9% New inventions will always be found to counteract any harmful effects of scientific and technological developments 48% 21% 23% 8% Taking everything into account, computers and factory automation will create more jobs than they will eliminate Science and technology do not play an important role in industrial development 21% 55% 18% 17% 67% 12% 5% 5% Source: S&T Eurobarometer Agree Disagree Neither agree Don t know nor disagree the useful services rendered by both public and private research and by technologically innovative industries. In the EU as a whole (EU-25), 88% of respondents have esteem for the work of university scientists and 85% for the work of industrial researchers (coupled with 81% approval for innovative products). More precisely, in half of the Member States, as well as in Croatia and Norway, nine in ten respondents believe that university research is of benefit to society. Who to trust? Who is best qualified to explain the impact that S&T can have on society? European citizens are prudent in this respect (see graph 5). While there is a clear preference for scientists working in the public sector universities The Europeans who most appreciate new industrial products are the Swedes and Danes (90%) while, for the broader 32-country questionnaire, the Turks are the least convinced (69%). Men respond less positively than women to this precise question (84% and 79% EU-25). Graph 5 Best qualified to explain science and technology impacts on society Scientists working at a university or government laboratory 52% Television journalists 32% Scientists working in an industrial laboratory 28% Newspaper journalists 25% Medical doctors 23% Environmental protection associations 21% Consumer organisations Writers and intellectuals The industry The government Politicians The military Religious leaders or representatives 2% 2% 6% 6% 5% 10% 16% While public-sector researchers come out top, the high ranking of television journalists (above newspaper journalists) is notable. It is the over- 55s, less educated, unemployed, retired, and people living in rural areas (EU-25) who are most supportive of television journalists. Source: S&T Eurobarometer None (spontaneous) 2% Others (spontaneous) 1% Don t know 4%

12 12 RTD info Special Eurobarometer issue November 2005 SCIENCE AND SCIENTISTS Graph 6 Quality of life For most people today, their quality of life is better than it was for their parents generation 85% 14% The next generation will enjoy a better quality of life than we do now Developments in science and technology have improved the quality of life for your generation Science and technology will improve the quality of life of future generations 58% 34% 8% 87% 10% 77% 15% 7% UNLIMITED KNOWLEDGE? Nobody denies that science opens the door to knowledge. But what is the limit to the world s intelligence? Will it one day be able to explain everything? The statement made is the following: one day science will be able to give a complete picture of how nature and the universe work. One in two Europeans believes that will be the case. The most optimistic are citizens in Southern Europe the Maltese (73%) and the Greeks (70%) while the people of Northern Europe are the most sceptical: the Finnish (58%), the Swedes and the Dutch (54%). 69% of Europeans (EU-25) believe that the applications of science and new technologies will make work more interesting. This statement met with very broad acceptance in all the countries. Source: S&V Eurobarometer and research centres that are deemed to be working for the benefit of the population as a whole the trust placed in them averages out at 52% (EU-25 S&T survey). This is a relative preference compared with researchers working in industry (28%) who, no doubt, are regarded as working to the dictates of their bosses. Two geographically close countries show very different results in this area: 67% of Norwegians place more Agree Disagree Don t know trust in scientists of the public sector to explain the impact of scientific and technological developments on society, compared with just 39% who express this preference in Denmark. Confidence in television and the written press to explain science stands at 32% and 25% respectively, while environmental and consumer organisations achieve a 21% and 16% confidence rating. Among those who report on the impact of S&T on society, it is industry and government (6%), politicians (5%), the military and religious leaders or representatives (2%) who come out worst. Science and technology will improve the quality of life of future generations Approval rates MEMBER STATES Estonia 92% Poland 91% Lithuania 90% Latvia 87% Malta 83% Slovakia 83% United Kingdom 82% Hungary 82% Finland 80% Spain 79% Czech Rep. 79% Ireland 78% Italy 78% Portugal 78% Cyprus 78% EU 25 77% Germany 75% Belgium 74% Sweden 74% Netherlands 72% Denmark 69% France 69% Luxembourg 68% Greece 67% Slovenia 66% Austria 62% 91% - 100% 81% - 90% 71% - 80% 0% - 70% OTHER COUNTRIES Iceland 89% Romania 83% Turkey 81% Bulgaria 78% Croatia 76% Norway 74% Switzerland 55% Source: S&T Eurobarometer

13 SCIENCE AND SCIENTISTS RTD info Special Eurobarometer issue November THE RANDOM METHOD Science and the future Respondents have an essentially positive view of their quality of life. In the S&V survey, 85% of them consider that it is better than it was for their parents generation, and that science and technology have helped achieve this progress (see graph 6). But when asked about the future, the vision is somewhat different. Just 58% of respondents believe that the next generation will enjoy a better quality of life than they do (thus a significant 27% drop in positive views of the future compared with the present). This perception of the future varies a great deal between countries and it is notable that it is in the technologically most advanced countries that doubts are most prevalent (55% of doubters in France, 54% in the Netherlands, 53% in Sweden and Luxembourg), while those still expecting technological development (Lithuania, Estonia and Turkey, for example) are most optimistic about the future (over 80%). Optimism is also greater among the age groups most concerned by the future (67% among students and the age group) and greater Science has a too negative image confidence is also expressed by in society. The British are the those with religious beliefs. most numerous in supporting this statement (49%), followed by the On the other hand, when this French and the Irish (45% and question about the future is put 40%). It is the Cypriots who are in regard to the expected beneficial role of scientific and techno- most opposed to this idea (65%). On average for the EU-25, those who agree (34%) and those who logical developments, there is a disagree (37%) with the statement major leap in optimism, up to balance out. There is a relatively 77% (see map). The regional high number of undecided: 24%. differences are also less marked in Men, managers and those with the this respect. The positive view in highest level of education are most France and Luxembourg, for numerous in considering this to be example, increases to 69% and a misconception, thus believing 68% respectively and in Sweden that science has a positive image. to 74%. Six of the new Member States lead the field, three showing record levels: Estonia (92%), Poland (91%) and Lithuania (90%). The sampling method used for the Eurobarometer surveys is not the quota method (X people per sociooccupational category, age, gender, etc.) but the more particular random method. This eliminates all risk of cheating as it makes it impossible for the interviewer to choose his respondents. Having determined the drop-off points or departure addresses on the basis of a geographical strategy, the interviewer is told to follow a random route (1st street on the left, 2nd right, 3rd building, 2nd floor, etc.). He rings at the door and asks to speak to the person (aged over 15 years) living there whose birthday is closest to the date of the interview. If he or she is not at home the interviewer will make up to three visits in an attempt to conduct the interview. Interviewers are generally well received. They find that respondents often feel flattered by the fact that somebody is interested in asking them questions and pleased at the opportunity to give their opinion. The acceptance rate varies from country to country. Citizens from the new Member States are generally more interested in participating in surveys of this kind than those from countries such as France and the Netherlands where they may feel they are swamped with opinion polls and surveys that receive extensive media coverage. Leendert de Voogd believes that the random method enables a representative sample of a country s social and demographic structures. The initial geographical distribution is based on the demography of local neighbourhoods. The law of numbers does its work. Fifty interviews already gives you an idea of the reality and here we have an average of interviews per country. If you were to interview the whole of the national population, a 50% result per survey would in reality lie between 53% and 47%, with a margin of error of around three percentage points. In our surveys, these people must provide a representative sample at regional and municipal level as well as in terms of gender, age and socio-occupational category. If differences occur, for example if you have just 20% white-collar workers and you need 25%, a weighting coefficient is introduced and the results are adjusted.

14 to From interest

15 I N T E R E S T RTD info Special Eurobarometer issue November A slight erosion of interest Science and technology have a good audience. People who are very interested (35%) or moderately interested (49%) in these subjects together make up 84% of the population. By contrast, just 16% of European citizens say they are not at all interested in science and technology. Nevertheless, compared with the first S&T Eurobarometer survey carried out in 1992 in the then 12 Member States, this 2005 survey which now concerns 25 Member States shows a 10% decrease in respondents claiming to be very interested in science. This slight erosion of interest is no doubt partly due to the survey s widened geographical base to include the new EU members and the candidate countries with their more tenuous links between science and society. But could it not also indicate that science and technology s image has lost something of its shine, especially among younger generations? At the time of each Eurobarometer S&T survey, level of interest is the first question put to the thousands of persons interviewed. Figures on this are included in the databanks of the 1992 (12 Member States), 2001 (15 Member States), 2002 (candidate countries) and 2005 (25 Member States) surveys. Respondents are asked to express the extent of their interest in six new subjects covered by the media. Four of these relate to science and technology (environmental pollution, new medical discoveries, new inventions and technologies, new scientific discoveries) while the two others sport and politics serve as references because of their constant presence in the news. Interviewers note, however, that respondents tend to provide socially acceptable answers, thus either exaggerating or playing down their possible interest or lack of interest in the subjects mentioned. This inflates the results for the most positive or neutral categories (see graph 1). S&T: down but still in the lead In 2005, approximately one half of all respondents expressed a moderate interest in the subjects mentioned. The number of respondents who say they are very interested in matters of science and technology clearly outweighs those who say the same of sports and politics. On the other hand, the proportion of people saying they are very interested in developments in S&T is down on the 1992 survey in percentage terms. This decline is particularly apparent for two fields that usually record the highest level of positive responses: medical discoveries and environmental pollution. They both register a significant fall, of 12% and 18% respectively. Although this is partly a question of simply switching to the moderately interested category, which recorded an increase, there is also an increase in those expressing a clear lack of interest (see graph 2). Precaution is needed when interpreting the raw results for this first question, given the very different socio-geographical context of the two bases for comparison (the EU-12 of 1992 and the EU-25 of 2005). Nevertheless, they do indicate an erosion of interest that raises questions Graph 1 For each of these issues, please tell me if you are Very interested Moderately interested Not at all interested Don t know Environmental pollution New medical discoveries New inventions and technologies New scientific discoveries Sports news Politics 38% 49% 12% 33% 50% 16% 30% 48% 21% 30% 48% 20% 26% 42% 32% 22% 49% 29% Source: S&T Eurobarometer

16 16 RTD info Special Eurobarometer issue November 2005 I N T E R E S T Graph 2 Interest in science and technology developments Medicine The environment The internet Economics and social sciences Astronomy and space Genetics Nanotechnologies 4% 8% 9% 24% 25% 22% 23% 23% 17% 23% 25% 22% 29% 30% 28% EU 25 (2005) EU 15 (2005) EU 15 (2001) A comparison of the EU-15 results alone shows a slightly increased interest in most fields between 2001 and 2005, with a particular surge in astronomy and space the only field where the results for the EU-25 and EU-15 are on a par. Source: Eurobarometer about the way in which science and technology are currently communicated. At a time when the global model of the future is being imposed in the various forms of the knowledge society, the key issue raised is that of the need for new approaches to avoid the danger of a digital divide that leaves a large section of Europe s population standing by the wayside of the information highway. 47% 49% 52% 61% 65% 60% Declared lack of interest The advance of nanotechnologies: although a mystery for most people, nanotechnologies arouse a certain curiosity among Europe s citizens, with 9% declaring an interest in them. This represents a doubling of interest in just a few years, from a 4% interest rating in Apart from interest in S&T showing different national patterns, gender (21% women, 40% men), age (predominantly young people), level of education (studies beyond the age of 20), occupation, and place of residence (large towns rather than rural areas) are all factors that impact on the level of interest. Finally, although just one-fifth of respondents declare a lack of interest in the subjects presented to them, this figure is nevertheless up on previous surveys and is not only apparent for S&T but is also particularly notable when it comes to politics. The importance of age and gender A closer look at the high level of interest expressed in medical discoveries shows and this is traditionally the case that it is predominantly (73%) women, the less educated and people aged over 55 who account for the high ranking. As to the environment regarded as an important subject by about half of respondents who express high or moderate interest in this field of S&T (47% for EU-25 49% for EU-15) this gets the vote of older people and managers. Among younger generations, and students in particular, just 35% express an interest in a subject that is nevertheless going to affect primarily their future. The reduced level of interest in the environment surprised me, even if it can be explained in terms of public concern for subjects whose effects are more immediately evident in their day-to-day lives, such as the economy, unemployment and insecurity, explains Fabienne Crettaz von Rotten, of the Observatory for Science, Politics and Society at Lausanne University. (1) This reduced motivation is coupled with an ambivalent attitude towards values linked to the environment, as revealed by the S&V survey: nature and animals must be protected, but at the same time their exploitation is seen as necessary for humanity s well-being. (2) When the interviewers try and pin down the reasons for this disinterest, two reasons are given. In a third of cases, respondents attribute their attitude to an inability to understand scientific and technological questions (principally people with the lowest level of education and in a relatively older age group). Almost another third simply declare that they do not care. The worrying point here is that almost 40% of these are young people aged and students. A Europe of contrasts Beneath the surface of the EU-25 averages lies a mosaic of different national attitudes to science and technology that highlights the contrasting cultures of each country. The high level of interest in new inventions and technologies and in scientific discoveries is more marked in ten countries of the former EU-15 and less marked in five of them (especially Italy and Portugal) where the very interested category drops below 20%. For the new Member States, three countries exceed the average level (Hungary and also Cyprus and Malta where respondents who say they are very interested in S&T set a new record). Logically enough, the not at all interested are present in virtually inverse proportions here. (1) Member of the group of experts involved in preparing these two Eurobarometer surveys. (2) See also page 24.

17 I N F O R M A T I O N RTD info Special Eurobarometer issue November When it comes to information, it seems that the notion of scientists locked away in their ivory towers is still widely held. Research aims and results, the direction taken by science and technology, the reliability of the media in keeping us informed, and the balance between risks and precautions are all subjects of concern. While most Europeans hold scientists in esteem, they would also like to know more about the results and possible consequences of their work. Scientists could do better Scientists could do better at least when it comes to keeping the general public informed about their research and explaining their aims and hopes as well as the results achieved. That is the view of a large majority of respondents and quite unanimously across the 32 countries included in the S&T survey. In the 25 EU Member States, almost 60% of respondents approve of the statement that scientists put too little effort into informing the public about their work. Interest and information Another exercise proposed by the interviewers consisted of presenting Europeans with the same list as when rating level of interest but this time asking them to rate what they believe to be their level of information about the various subjects (see graph 3). We find that respondents have more interest than they do knowledge, especially when it comes to scientific themes. Just 15% say they are very well informed Graph 3 Information on developments in science and technology Sport news Politics Environmental pollution New medical discoveries New technological inventions New scientific discoveries The level of interest is not necessarily reflected in the level of knowledge as sports and politics clearly show. (see graph page 15). Source: S&T Eurobarometer 28% 41% 29% 20% 55% 24% 15% 61% 23% 11% 59% 28% 11% 53% 35% 10% 51% 37% Very well informed Moderately well Poorly Don t informed informed know about environmental pollution, while only 11% feel the same about medical discoveries (compared with 28% for sports and 20% for politics). This low proportion is rather surprising given the growing volume of information available in the media on these two scientific subjects. As was the case when asked about level of interest, once again we find that it is women, the over-55s, the less educated, housepersons, the unemployed, the retired and people living in rural areas who are least well informed. The experts also stress the extent of the professed lack of information about scientific and technological innovations. Knowledge and self-confidence But the rating at times excessively low or, on the contrary, exaggerated of one s own level of information may also reflect certain national psychological factors (see map). Specific surveys have shown that knowledge and interest levels among citizens on the subject of science and technology are high in Denmark compared with the rest of Europe, points out Niels Mejlgaard of the Danish Centre for Studies in Research and Research Policy, in Aarhus. Yet the Eurobarometer survey shows that 39% of people believe they are poorly informed about new inventions and technologies and 44% poorly informed about new scientific discoveries. This is higher than the average in the EU- 25, for which it is 35% and 37% respectively. This discrepancy can be explained by cultural differences in terms of what constitutes being well informed. In any event, it shows that the Danes suffer from a certain lack of self-confidence in S&T which is a factor that should be taken into account by those involved in communicating science and by sociologists.

18 18 RTD info Special Eurobarometer issue November 2005 I N F O R M A T I O N We find a similar sense among citizens of being poorly informed in other Northern European countries, namely Sweden and Finland, which are, nevertheless, countries classed as having a very dynamic research policy. Also notable is that these countries rank among the highest in the knowledge tests carried out by the surveys (see below). MEMBER STATES Lithuania 54% Estonia 49% Spain 47% Slovakia 46% Austria 42% Finland 42% Latvia 41% Portugal 40% Poland 40% Denmark 39% Ireland 39% Sweden 38% OTHER COUNTRIES Hungary 38% Germany 36% Italy 36% EU 25 35% Slovenia 35% Malta 34% The Netherlands 31% Czech Rep. 31% United Kingdom 30% Belgium 29% Greece 24% Cyprus 24% Luxembourg 20% France 19% The level of information varies greatly from one country to another. This map shows the percentages per country of respondents who say they are poorly informed about new inventions and technologies. The European average on this question is 35%. The percentages for a perceived poor knowledge of new scientific discoveries produces a similar map and a similar average (37%). Source: S&T Eurobarometer Bulgaria 49% Romania 49% Turkey 45% Iceland 33% Croatia 32% Norway 30% Switzerland 27% 51% - 100% 41% - 50% 31% - 40% 21% - 30% 0% - 20% AN ATTENTIVE EAR Science and technology are not simple subjects and can be offputting to some people when suddenly asked to give their views on them. Yet they are receiving growing media attention and certain terms are becoming familiar to the layman as a result. For certain of the newer or more complex subjects, such as nanotechnologies, the interviewers were given strict instructions to introduce the concept in just a few words before asking the question. This provides for more reliable replies. An excellent indicator of the level of understanding of questions is the no answer rate or refusals to participate. If this exceeds 10-15%, the interviewers start to wonder about the pertinence of the questions or the extent to which they are understood. An interviewer very quickly senses if a respondent is really uncomfortable with the questions. When he hears comments such as this is not for me, ask someone else, he stops right away, explains Leendert de Voogd. This is what we mean by attentive listening. The interviewer is not simply someone who implements the questionnaire but also someone who listens. If he meets with a series of no answers, he stops. This is essential to the quality of the survey and we always check this no answer rate. The media effect The Social Values interviewers wanted to learn how European citizens (EU-25) perceive the impact on society of the various groups involved in one way or another in science and technology (universities, consumer organisations, public authorities, etc.). Included among them were the media, which clearly play a vital role in informing the public. The question was whether or not, in the field of S&T, these different individuals and groups had a positive or negative effect on society. The response was predominantly very affirmative, with 86% of respondents considering that television and radio had a positive effect and 83% believing that newspapers and magazines did also. Some countries, such as Finland, Sweden, Slovenia and Cyprus showed a more than 90% satisfaction rating for the role of the media in this respect. With more than a five-point difference in regard to the community average, the countries with the most critical opinion on this are Spain, France, Hungary and Austria.

19 K N O W L E D G E RTD info Special Eurobarometer issue November A test of knowledge Is there a contradiction here? While interest among Europeans in science and technology is declining and they believe themselves to be poorly informed on the subject, their answers to a basic scientific knowledge test showed improved results! Evaluations carried out by various S&T Eurobarometers is traditionally based on a quiz comprising 13 questions to which respondents answer true or false (see box). The first statement no doubt included to give the respondents a degree of confidence suggests that the Sun rotates around the Earth Nobody was trying to measure intelligence in 13 questions, remarks Georges Gaskell. Even if we asked 100 questions, random replies would lead us to expect a score of 50 correct answers. But the fact remains that this exercise does test knowledge. Tested four times since 1992, the scientific knowledge of Europeans shows a quite significant increase in many countries. While the Nordics are still top of the class, the average level rose by 15% in Luxembourg, Belgium, Greece, the Netherlands and Germany. In the Czech Republic and Slovenia, it also shows a 10% increase in just three years, the Eastern European countries in general achieving good scores. The overall level of correct answers is 66% in the EU-25 (with 21% wrong answers and 13% no answers). The Swedes come out on top, with 79%, followed by the Danes, Dutch, Finnish and Czechs with 74%. Close behind are the citizens of Slovenia and Luxembourg (72% and 71% respectively). Outside the Union, the Norwegians do credit to Northern Europe (74%) while the Swiss record a respectable 71%. Graph 4 Level of scientific knowledge (% EU-25) Very good scientific knowledge (10 to 13 correct answers) Fairly good scientific knowledge (6 to 9 correct answers) Fairly poor scientific knowledge (3 to 5 correct answers) Very poor scientific knowledge (0 to 2 correct answers) Source: S&T Eurobarometer Regional variations 42% 3% 12% 43% 1 The Sun goes around the Earth. True or false? 2 The centre of the Earth is very hot. 3 The oxygen we breathe comes from plants. 4 Radioactive milk can be made safe by boiling it. 5 Electrons are smaller than atoms. 6 The continents on which we live have been moving for millions of years and will continue to move in the future. 7 It is the mother s genes that decide whether the baby is a boy or a girl. 8 The earliest humans lived at the same time as the dinosaurs. 9 Antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria. 10 Lasers work by focusing sound waves. 11 All radioactivity is man-made. 12 Human beings, as we know them today, developed from earlier species of man. 13 It takes one month for the Earth to go around the Sun. Answers: True: False: Three of these questions seem more difficult to answer than the rest. - Electrons are smaller than atoms: 46% of respondents answered correctly, 29% got it wrong and 25% said they did not know or refused to answer. - Antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria: 46% correct answers, but 43% wrong answers, which is a lot. - Lasers work by focusing sound waves: the answers are similar to those for the electron question (47% correct with a 12% increase in the EU-15 26% wrong and 28% no answers). A slight difference in the level of correct replies can be observed between the old and new EU Member States, each group recording comparatively better scores on different questions. Thus 74% of respondents in the ten countries that have just joined the Union reject the idea that the Sun goes around the Earth, compared with just 65% in the EU-15. But on the question of antibiotics, it is the old Member States that fare better than the newcomers, with 49% correct replies compared to 30%. An analysis of the quiz results in terms of socio-demographic data shows that men scored slightly better than women (70% and 62% correct replies respectively) and that the young performed better than older age groups (70% correct replies from the age group compared with 59% for the over-55s). Those who have been in education longer or have intellectual occupations also scored better results (74% for students and 78% for managers). The criterion of religious practice was also introduced. Does faith cloud scientific knowledge? Those who attend a religious service more than once a week recorded 54% correct answers and those who never attend recorded 70%. Whether or not a subject is currently in the news and the subject of media coverage also influences knowledge. After the recent tsunami, the percentage of people who understand the movement of continents and tectonic plates seems to have risen by 20%, believes Georges Gaskell. Education comes from school while for those who have left school newspapers and magazines are an important source.

20 values

21 S C I E N C E A N D E T H I C S RTD info Special Eurobarometer issue November Freedom and its limits Both the Social Values and Science & Technology Eurobarometers are concerned for the first time with the inevitable link between research and ethics. While the perception of this link changes over time and varies depending on cultures and sensibilities, the questions posed by science and its applications remain of vital importance. This is because they impinge upon so many other fields such as politics, education, the economy and society in which moral concerns should, in principle, underlie choices for the future. As science and technology develop with increasing speed, so they raise new questions to which societies must respond quickly and effectively. The problems are often complex and their implications unclear, while certain guiding principles such as the principle of precaution can permit a prudent pause. The S&V surveyors sought to understand better how Europeans judge the benefits and the risks of scientific and technological progress in terms of the cultural and moral values to which they are committed. An initial glance at the interaction between ethics and science shows a European society that appears to give priority to objectivity as far as the science and technology decision-making process is concerned: a majority of citizens favours a risks-benefits analysis (53%) over the moral and ethical issues (33%), explains EOS Gallup Europe in the survey conclusions. Such a view is also linked closely in the public sphere to a strong perception of the authority of scientists and experts. When asked with whom decision-makers should consult in the field of S&T, two in three respondents favour the opinion of experts over the views of the general public (23%). To identify the values to which Europeans attach importance, the surveyors first broached a number of themes with proposals that, as they explained each time, concerned our society in ten years time. The principal fields covered were democracy (participation in decision-making process), freedom (protection of privacy and freedom of information), equality and social integration, the environment and respect for unborn life. Respondents were asked to evaluate the importance (very important, fairly important, not very important, not at all important, don t know) of various changes possibly able to improve citizens lives. Here is a summary of the findings. 1. Participation in the decision-making process Having more say about how things are done both at work and where they live 46% of Europeans (EU-25) express this wish. The most demanding on this subject are the Greeks (70%), the Swedes and the Maltese (64%), the Slovenians (63%) and the Luxembourgers (62%). In the candidate countries it is the Turks (74%) and the Croats (69%) who top the list. Having more say in important government decisions Most respondents would like to have more say in political decisions. 45% of Europeans (EU-25) consider this to be very important and 42% fairly important. Two countries with democratic institutions (one with a long-standing tradition and the other a more recent one), namely Denmark and Finland, provide a somewhat hesitant response to this question, with scores of 26% and 27% respectively (47% of the Danes and 51% of the Finns do not consider it very important). Hungary (28%), Sweden (32%) and the Netherlands (34%) are also decidedly lukewarm. But, given the way the question is formulated, is it not the case that they are quite simply satisfied with the present method of government that, especially in Northern Europe, already provides ample opportunity for participation? By contrast, Turkey and Croatia (68% and 63% respectively) certainly would like more say in government decisions. Leendert de Voogd also points out that Poland, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the Czech Republic, which show a marked interest in politics, are also countries that will most probably be holding referendums on the European Constitution. Switzerland, a country with a strong tradition of referendums, lies among the European average at 42%. Other questions on the same subject show that 75% of Europeans believe that people should nevertheless be more personally involved in political issues. Yet at the same time there is a certain defeatism apparent among the respondents, four in five persons saying they felt they had too little influence on government action. One in three also does not know how to make their voice heard in the political arena. (1) 2. Privacy and freedom of expression Protecting information about our private life from misuse and exploitation Protecting freedom of speech and information A very large majority of Europeans are concerned about the need for this dual protection. Almost 70% regard it as very important and over a quarter as fairly important. The protection of private life, in particular with the increasing traffic in virtual information, is thus a matter of concern to citizens, reflecting their interest in a subject that is laid down in Article 8 of the Charter of European Fundamental Rights. The application of this right constitutes a very clear (1) See also page 32

22 22 RTD info Special Eurobarometer issue November 2005 S C I E N C E A N D E T H I C S FREEDOM Freedom of expression is a fundamental right, as is protection of privacy. While people appreciate the Internet as a major source of information, and like to use it, they fear the growing volume of information that is stored such as bank details or social security card data that could provide information on health. Growing demands to fill out questionnaires on their views and hobbies, etc. also give people the sense of being monitored in a way. We can sense this in our own surveys and one of the first instructions given to our Eurobarometer surveyors is to point out that it is all completely anonymous. Respondents are told clearly that it is the total results that are analysed and not the results of any one individual. At the end of the interview the respondent is asked to give a telephone number, which can cause some surprise after being told that it is all anonymous. It is then necessary to explain that this is simply so as to be able to check that the surveyor actually conducted an interview. Leendert de Voogd challenge in a society where information obtained by those engaged in electronic commerce, insurance, health care and many other private spheres of activity is stored in databanks. Not only are these insufficiently protected against possible piracy but their very use by the operators in question can raise ethical questions due to the growing intrusion into an individual s private life. The Czechs (81%), the Greeks (78%) and the British (77%) prioritise the importance of protecting personal data as do the Icelandics (83%) and the Norwegians (81%) outside the EU. A similar unanimity is found for freedom of speech and information, also laid down in the Charter of European Fundamental Rights: 95% of Europeans attach importance to this (including the 68% who regard it as very important ). A similar degree of unanimity is found throughout the various socio-cultural strata. However, in the new EU states there is a tendency maybe to view the importance of the application of these rights in more relative terms. 3. Attitude to others Making sure the populations of developing countries benefit from science and technology 53% of Europeans believe that ensuring developing countries (described as Third World countries in the survey) benefit from science and technology will be very important for our society in ten years time. The Icelanders (74%), Norwegians and Irish (72%), Dutch (70%) and Turks (64%) are most clear about this. Reducing economic inequalities among people living in the European Union One in two respondents is of the opinion that reducing economic inequalities among people living in the enlarged EU will be very important for society in the future. The Greeks are significantly above the average in their support for this view (63%). The least concerned appear to be the Danes (29%), the Germans (37%) and the Swedes (39%). Logically enough, the candidate countries (Turkey, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria) are all staunch supporters of this view (all between 60% and 70%). Integrating minorities and other cultures into our society The Europeans seem to be much more reticent when it comes to sharing their culture in general rather than just their economy by integrating minorities. 37% (EU-25) attach importance to this principle of integrating minorities. Turkey (63%) and Spain (55%) are the only countries where this is true of a majority of the population. Next comes Ireland with 48%. The most welcoming of European citizens are those who studied beyond the age of 20 and those born outside of Europe. Those who profess religious beliefs and who say they reflect on the meaning of life are also slightly above the average in the importance they attach to this issue. 4. The environment Passing on a sound environment to the next generation 79% of Europeans interviewed (EU-25) believe it is important to bequeath a healthy planet to the next generation. The highest levels are found in the Netherlands (91%) and the lowest in Italy (64%). This broad consensus somewhat offsets the loss of interest shown in ecological questions (pollution specifically) in the S&T survey (see page 15). Socio-cultural differences are not reflected strongly in the pattern of replies, although those who studied beyond the age of 20 and managers are the most concerned. Animal rights In the Social Values survey, 82% of Europeans believe there is a duty to protect animal rights whatever the cost. The most positive responses on this come from the Greeks (91%) and the Slovenians (90%), while the most indifferent are the Bulgarians (58%). 35% would accept animal cloning only if it is highly regulated and controlled and 20% only in exceptional circumstances. The S&T Eurobarometer surveyors also asked Europeans if they were prepared to accept experiments on animals, such as dogs and monkeys, in cases where this can help resolve human health problems. 45% of respondents agreed to this principle, compared with a 29% acceptance rate in the 1992 survey. However, the question was put somewhat differently at that time when mention was made of research causing suffering and injury. The opinions of the new Member States also influence the result: Lithuania (67%), Bulgaria (63%), Cyprus (62%) and Estonia (61%) show the highest acceptance rates for this idea. The older age categories are also most favourable. There is also a marked gender difference (52% of men compared with 39% of women favourable).

23 S C I E N C E A N D E T H I C S RTD info Special Eurobarometer issue November In the environmental field, and by comparing these results with others pertaining to the same field, the survey rapporteurs conclude that respect for the environment has become an increasingly important social value in this post-materialist age. These results nevertheless show contradictions between the sense of having a duty to protect nature even if this is at the expense of progress (a feeling shared by 89% of Europeans EU-25) and the right to exploit nature for humanity s well-being (43%). (see page 24) 5. Unborn life Protecting the dignity of any unborn human life 53% of Europeans want to see respect for unborn life. Within the EU, Malta is the only state where abortion is still illegal in all circumstances. In Ireland, it is accepted if the mother s life is at risk and in Greece it is permitted within a very strictly limited period following conception. The survey shows that it is in these three countries thus Malta, Greece and Ireland that greatest importance is attached to the protection of unborn life (regarded as very important by 73% or 74% of their citizens). This view is shared by 60% of the population in Austria, Cyprus, Luxembourg and Turkey. Countries below the 40% mark are Denmark, Hungary, Lithuania and Bulgaria. Unsurprisingly perhaps, women are more inclined to protect unborn life than men (55% compared with 50%), as are those who believe in God or who reflect on the meaning of life. The same is true of those who have received a strict upbringing and those who believe that decisions on S&T should be based on ethical or moral considerations (59%) rather than on an analysis of the risks and benefits (51%) (see graph 1). RELIGIOUS BELIEFS Religious beliefs in Europe have remained quite stable in the various surveys carried out over the years. The vast majority of people believe in God or in a spiritual force. The most atheist country is France where secularism is a value with its origins in the 1789 revolution. What is changing, however, is media coverage of religion. There is much more coverage today than there was ten or 20 years ago. There is a kind of discrepancy here between the fact that it is a subject being discussed more while actual beliefs remain stable. Leendert de Voogd A series of questions was also asked on the subject of human cloning and stem cells produced from embryos. 41% of respondents accept such practices only if highly regulated and controlled and 20% only in exceptional circumstances. 59% reject such practices outright in all circumstances. Perceptions of some of the latest advances in science and technology, including cloning, genetically modified organisms and the applications of genetics, are heavily influenced by social values and the ethics of citizens, conclude the EOS Gallup Europe rapporteurs. The challenge for science and technology decision-makers is to keep pace with progress while not losing sight of the ethical considerations to which Europeans feel so committed. Graph 1 The importance of unborn life Percentage of respondents who consider protecting the dignity of the foetus to be very important for our society in ten years time. These proportions take into account gender, education and specific sensitivities. EU 25 Male Female Yes No Believe in God Believe in spirit/life force No religious beliefs Strict Not strict Risks and benefits analysis Moral and ethical issues 53% Sex 50% 55% Importance of reflection on the meaning of life 55% 45% Religious/spiritual beliefs 59% 49% 43% Upbringing 54% 49% Decisions about science and technology 51% 59% Source: S&V Eurobarometer

24 24 RTD info Special Eurobarometer issue November 2005 E N V I R O N M E N T Rights and duties Attitudes among Europeans to the very sensitive subject of the environment are ambiguous to say the least. While they certainly hear a lot about it possibly too much they also have other more immediate concerns, perhaps viewing the planet as more of a longterm problem. Also, while they appreciate nature and certainly want to protect it, they do not consider the word exploitation to be so very pejorative when it is for the sake of human well-being. THE UNLOVED GMOS 54% of Europeans believe that food made from GMOs is dangerous to health. The Cypriots (88%), the Greeks (80%), the Croats (73%) and the Austrians (70%) are most suspicious of their possible effects on health. At 75%, the people of Poland, Cyprus and Lithuania are the most sensitive to the ecological damage they could cause. Almost a quarter of respondents (23%) preferred not to express an opinion. A re science and technology the cause of a deteriorating environment while at the same time offering a possible remedy? The views of Europeans are mixed about this ambiguity. In the S&T survey, 57% believe science and technology to be principally responsible for environmental problems (with the populations of the new Member States most convinced of this) (see graph 2). The rest are equally divided between those who reject the notion and the don t knows (20% each). Conversely, 50% of respondents believe that science and technology are necessary to finding solutions (1) and in Denmark and Norway 71% and 70% of respondents respectively hold this view. However, at the time of the 1992 survey in the 12 Member States, the majority view (60%) was that S&T can provide a solution. Duty, necessity and right The Social Values survey also raises the question of the balance between respecting the environment and exploiting nature for the sake of human well-being. This subject was tested with reference to four statements (see graph 3). The response was almost unanimous: nine in ten Europeans believe that it is our duty to protect nature, even if the price is to limit progress. The Swedes (98%), the Danes and the Norwegians (96%) are most convinced of this, while the Irish and the Maltese are the least committed (78%). (1) Note that the proposal was formulated in negative terms: Science and technology cannot really play a role in improving the environment. Graph 2 Scepticism related to science and technology (S&T) S&T are responsible for most of the environmental problems we have today Food made from genetically modified organisms is dangerous S&T cannot really play a role in improving the environment 57% 20% 19% 54% 14% 23% 10% 28% 50% 18% Agree Disagree Neither agree Don t know nor disagree Source: S&T Eurobarometer

25 E N V I R O N M E N T RTD info Special Eurobarometer issue November Graph 3 The duty to protect nature and the right to exploit it We have a duty to protect nature, even if this means limiting human progress 89% 8% Exploiting nature may be unavoidable if humankind is to progress We have a right to exploit nature for the sake of human well-being Nature will be able to survive human actions. 51% 43% 43% 53% 37% 55% 7% 8% Source: S&V Eurobarometer Agree Disagree Don t know On the question of the necessity and the right to exploit nature for the sake of humankind the results are much more mixed. 51% of respondents believe it is necessary and 43% regard it as legitimate. Comparisons between the duty to protect nature and the right to exploit it can show a coherent picture, as in Hungary where 91% of respondents believe protection is essential and just 10% are prepared to sacrifice it for human progress. The scores for Germany and Austria are also largely in line with this view. In Poland, on the contrary, a 90% score for the duty to protect nature does not prevent 70% also believing in the right to exploit it for justifiable reasons such as human health (see graph 4). The question on the need to exploit nature is presented in terms of it being unavoidable for achieving progress, while the statement on the right to exploit it is linked to the notion of human well-being. These two terms have different connotations. Progress relates to the development of science, technology and innovation while well-being evokes one s personal life and notions of health and happiness. This difference produces different attitudes. The Germans, Austrians and Hungarians, for example, are less opposed to exploitation in the name of progress than to exploitation for well-being. The Swedes, on the other hand, see well-being as more legitimate than progress. Graph 4 National sensibilities Duty to protect nature even if this means limiting human progress Right to exploit nature for the sake of human well-being DON T BE TOO QUICK TO JUDGE In the Social Values Eurobarometer, respondents express a high level of interest in the environment, as they did in earlier surveys carried out at the end of last year. These all clearly show that if a choice had to be made between economic competitiveness and environmental protection, the Europeans would come out on the side of the environment. Also, one must not be too quick to draw conclusions concerning the reduced interest in the environment suggested by the S&T survey findings. The question asked offered three possible replies: very interested, moderately interested or not at all interested. The transfer from very to moderately interested is considerable when compared to the 1992 survey, with an 18-point fall for the former and an 11-point increase for the latter. But this change must be put into context. Thirteen years ago, the environment was an almost new subject. The Member States were only just beginning to take steps in this field and people were very focused on an issue that was only just being brought to their attention. Today, environmental pollution is an almost commonplace subject. People encounter it daily. In our major towns and cities, boards displaying air quality are being put up virtually every day. The replies do not mean that people do not consider the issues at stake to be important but rather that they feel the information they have on the subject is sufficient. It is not a value judgement. Leendert de Voogd 93% 93% 98% 86% 96% 94% 93% 90% 88% 90% 90% 85% 91% 85% 95% 96% 90% 86% 87% 87% 83% 80% 84% 81% 91% 93% 94% 78% 91% 78% 91% 82% 67% 63% 62% 53% 49% 54% 60% 70% 77% 71% 74% 61% 56% 60% 60% 50% 55% 50% 42% 45% 47% 39% 32% 32% 31% 26% 24% 21% 25% 12% 12% 10% BE DK DE EL ES FR IE IT LU NL AT PT FI SE UK CY CZ EE HU LV LT MT PL SK SI BG RO HR TR IS CH NW Source: S&V Eurobarometer

26 26 RTD info Special Eurobarometer issue November 2005 W O M E N A N D S C I E N C E The gender balance While we accept that equality between the sexes is a fundamental right, it is an ideal that is far from respected in all fields. What is more, conditions that are unfavourable to women at work whether in terms of wages, working hours or responsibilities, etc. are illegal. But what about the sciences in all of this? Do they remain largely a matter for men? Eurobarometer asked the question. The Europeans do not appear to be sexist. As a rule, they favour a balance between men and women in studies and at work. In the Social Values survey, 81% of respondents (EU-25) reject the notion that a university education is more important for a boy than for a girl. More than nine in ten respondents take this view in the Northern countries (Iceland, Denmark, Norway, the Graph 5 A university education is more important for a boy than for a girl. Agree: EU 25 Male Female Still studying Believe in God Believe in spirit/life force No religious beliefs Graph 6 Men make better political leaders than women. Agree: EU 25 Male Female Left Centre Right Believe in God Believe in spirit/life force No religious beliefs Sex Age Education (at end of) Religious/spiritual beliefs Sex Political views Religious/spiritual beliefs 15% 13% 14% 15% 11% 13% 14% 12% 16% 17% 23% 19% 20% 27% 24% 26% 23% 23% 22% 24% Source: S&V Eurobarometer 32% 31% 34% Source: S&V Eurobarometer Netherlands, Sweden). By contrast, a third of Slovakians, Austrians, Hungarians and Italians believe that studies are more important for boys and 46% of Turks also take this view. The socio-cultural breakdown of these replies is given in graph 5. In this same survey, a very large number of respondents (86%) express the view that women have as much right to a job as men, even when jobs are scarce. Ten countries record a 90% score or higher on this (Malta, Hungary, Portugal, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, France, Denmark) while 60% of Slovakians also believe this to be the case, despite not being the most fervent champions of access to higher education for women. 66% of respondents reject the statement that men make better political leaders than women, a view most prevalent in the Northern countries (Sweden, Norway). Graph 6 gives a breakdown of citizens who agree with the statement per gender, political views and religious beliefs. For its part, the S&T survey asked respondents whether or not they wanted to see more women studying and embarking on careers in science. A very large majority (74% EU-25) favour this and just 7% oppose it. The countries most in favour of equal opportunities, with a score of over 80%, are Malta, Ireland, Portugal, Sweden, Cyprus and Poland, as well as Iceland and Norway among the non-eu countries. The least enthusiastic are the Lithuanians (48%) and the Czechs (52%). The relatively large number of those who neither agree nor disagree (17%) also merits attention. These undecided citizens are predominantly young people (15-39 yrs), those who live in the largest families (3-4 people), those born outside Europe, the self-employed, white-collar workers and manual workers, as well as the inhabitants of rural areas.

27 & decisions

28 28 RTD info Special Eurobarometer issue November 2005 S C I E N C E A N D G O V E R N A N C E Risks, benefits and ethics On what criteria should we base our technological choices? What influence should be exercised by scientists, politicians, lobbies and citizens? And who do Europeans really trust? What elements should motivate decisions in the field of science and technology? The S&T survey proposes two alternatives: an analysis of the risks and benefits, or of the moral and ethical consequences. Half of European citizens opt for risks and benefits while a third give priority to the moral and ethical considerations that underlie research choices. The people of Greece (70%), Hungary (67%), and also Romania among the non-eu countries (68%), vote predominantly for the former, with relatively more Norwegians, Swedes and Icelanders choosing the latter. For every three European citizens, one expresses confidence in When considering the balance between the checks and risks and benefits, 66% of respondents (EUregulations that 25) believe it is better to follow the advice industrial research must of experts rather than the general public. But respect (with the Finns this percentage varies quite widely, the Finns ranking top), another thinks the opposite (especially the Poles, the Czechs and the Danes), while a third gives no opinion. placing most trust in the views of scientists (83%) and the Portuguese the least (48%). One European in two believes that a scientific project or programme must be stopped if the risks are not fully understood. Among respondents who favour the precautionary principle, 54% nevertheless admit that attaching too much importance to the potential dangers can result in missing out on possible progress, while 24% believe that precaution is not at all a brake on technological innovation. Groups and associations When European citizens are asked (SV Eurobarometer) whether certain professional groups or associations, etc. involved in science and technology have a positive or negative influence, their replies express a great deal of confidence in them (1) (see graph 1). Scientists working at univer- Graph 1 Levels of influence Do you think that these people and groups involved in science and technology have a positive or negative effect on society? Scientists in university Television and radio reporting on science and technology Consumer organisations testing new products Scientists in industry doing research Newspapers and magazines reporting on science and technology Industry developing new products Environmental groups Citizens who get involved in debates about science and technology Public authorities assessing the risks that may come from new technologies Animal rights groups campaigning about the treatment of animals The European Commission regulating on S&T for all EU countries Public authorities regulating science and technology 88% 86% 86% 85% 83% 81% 80% 78% 78% 77% 75% 73% Source: S&V Eurobarometer

29 S C I E N C E A N D G O V E R N A N C E RTD info Special Eurobarometer issue November sities enjoy the most confidence and public authorities the least although with a 73% confidence rating even the latter do well. Newspapers and magazines do very well: 83% of respondents believe they have a positive effect, while television reporting receives an 86% approval rating (EU-25). Request for free subscription to RTD info You can subscribe free of charge to the magazine at You can also complete this coupon in block capitals and return it to the following address: NATIONAL SENSITIVITIES People often wonder whether there is such a thing as European public opinion. The answer is yes and no. Behind any figure for a European average there is often a great deal Consumer organisations and environmental groups (with 86% and 80% respectively for the EU-25) achieve the highest scores in Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Malta and Cyprus. of divergence between countries, even neighbouring countries. Notions of a North-South or East-West divide are too simple and our surveys often give the lie to preconceptions. In the Mediterranean region, for example, the Greeks and Portuguese are very different. If the Dutch Animal rights groups also meet with approval: show a very independent and also critical spirit, that an average 77% giving them the thumbs up, reflects their culture as a country of conquerors used to but also with some rather erratic scores, with just 49% in Bulgaria and 58% for the United Kingdom that is reputed to be a nation of animal lovers. proclaiming their ideas loud and clear. Finland, a country with enviable technological progress, nevertheless retains a certain scepticism and cannot in any way stand accused of naivety. In some countries, economic sluggishness and political scepticism influence the morale of their citizens People with above average confidence in these various associations are those identified as reflecting on the meaning of life. and clouds their perceptions hence a negative view that is reflected in the surveys. The past plays a part too. We can see this very clearly when we compare two geographically close countries such as Bulgaria and Romania. In the former, the communist state guaranteed a certain Public authorities standard of living for all. The entry to the market economy changed all that, with work no longer guaranteed, people The Social Values surveyors asked about perceptions of the role of the public authorities in science and technology. Three-quarters of respondents gave an essentially positive appraisal of their role in managing risks related to the new technologies (78%) and their power in regulating science and technology. This regulating role is also accorded to the same degree to action by the European Union that applies to all the Member States. Among the most educated, this score climbs to 83% and among becoming poorer and a general sense of discontent. This is reflected in the opinion polls. As to the Romanians, they have just got rid of a dictatorship and find it hard to imagine falling any lower. For them, Europe is an opportunity that is opening up and they view it favourably. A knowledge of these local realities therefore permits a better understanding of these reactions. One often has the Cypriots and Greeks it is as high as 90% and 86% respectively. It is preconceptions, regarding the British, for example. They retain their insularity and pragmatism but are not in Northern Europe, in Sweden (54%), that the European Union s action fundamentally anti-european. Then there are is least appreciated. Scandinavian countries, such as Sweden, that are in many respects more negative towards European construction. These results show that in cases of potential conflict between a scientific application and the individual s ethical values, the regulating responsibilities Leendert de Voogd of the European Commission are recognised, believe the EOS Gallup Europe rapporteurs. (1) The answers to this question in the SV survey are quite different to those concerning trust in those recognised as most adequately explaining the implications of science (see page 11). Address: Postcode: Town: RTD info ML DG1201 Boîte postale 2201 L-1022 Luxembourg Name: Organisation: Language version(s) desired*: French English German Country: (*) If you would like to receive several copies of one language version, please make your request, giving your full name and a brief justification: - by (rtd-info@cec.eu.int) - by fax ( ). If you would like to receive a copy of any recent issues of RTD info, please send a brief message by or fax.

30 30 RTD info Special Eurobarometer issue November 2005 S C I E N C E A N D G O V E R N A N C E What do we expect from European research? Transnational European research supported by the EU is popular. A majority of respondents see it as beneficial and a very important framework for the future. Although not everyone is in favour of granting it increased funding, three in five respondents would be prepared to accept it. Alarge majority of citizens (71%) agree that collaborative European research is effective and will increase in the future (71%) (see graph 2). Just 5% disagree and 23% have no opinion on the subject. Those who support European research believe it to be a strategy that serves both industry s interest (69%) and the national interest (65%). Three people in five believe it will lead to more effective research (60%). On the other hand, just one respondent in two see it as a means of saving money on overall science and technology budgets. The percentage of those who do not express an opinion on this latter point is notably high. Graph 2 EU-backed research Compared with research carried out and funded by the Member States, to what extent do you think that internationally collaborative research funded by the European Union across Europe: will become more and more important? 71% 5% 13% 10% is in industry s interest? 69% 6% 15% 10% is in the national interest? 65% 9% 16% 10% is more creative and effective? 60% 10% 18% 12% saves money? 50% 16% 20% 14% Source: S&T Eurobarometer Agree Disagree Neither agree Don t know nor disagree Is the USA better than Europe? When asked to compare Europe with the United States, almost one in two respondents feel that the latter has an advantage, in terms of education, technological innovations and scientific discoveries. That means that between 25% and 40% of Europeans believe that Europe is holding its own against the United States, or is even outperforming it. 18% believe that scientific education in Europe is better than that in the United States. The education of scientists Technological advances applied to industry Technological advances applied to everyday life Scientific discoveries Graph 3 What is the position of Europe compared with the United States in the following fields? 13% 13% 12% 18% 24% 45% 12% 26% 27% 29% 49% 47% 51% 12% 10% 10% Ahead At the same level Behind Don t know Source: S&T Eurobarometer

31 S C I E N C E A N D G O V E R N A N C E RTD info Special Eurobarometer issue November Graph 4 Some statements about European research Researchers in different European countries should co-operate more with each other Agree Disagree Neither agree Don t know nor disagree 88% 7% Scientists and industrialists should co-operate more with each other There should be more coordination of research between the EU Member States European research is important for developing countries 85% 83% 82% 10% 6% 10% 9% In Europe, there should be more people working in research and technological development 68% 6% 20% 6% Too many top scientists leave Europe and go to the United States 67% 5% 15% 13% Europe should aim to lead the world in science and technology 67% 8% 20% 5% There should be more women in European science and technology European scientists should be more interested in the patenting and use of the results of their research The EU should spend more money on research and less on other things My government should spend more money on scientific research and less on other things The priorities of European research reflect more the personal interest of scientists than society s needs Europeans should be less concerned about ethical issues relating to modern science and technology 62% 5% 26% 8% 61% 8% 20% 10% 59% 16% 20% 5% 57% 20% 20% 46% 16% 26% 12% 32% 40% 21% 8% Source: S&T Eurobarometer The EU as a catalyst for S&T co-operation When respondents were asked about the reasons behind the importance they give to collaborative European research (see graph 3), a very large majority cited the need to strengthen transnational co-operation between researchers. Fewer than one in ten take issue with this and there are very few don t knows. Two-thirds also consider that European S&T must aim for a leadership position at world level and 80% that it is important for the developing countries. Three Europeans in five believe that the EU should have a bigger research budget, even if it means cutting the budget in certain other areas of policy. While 16% reject this, 30% do not express an opinion. Nevertheless, 45% take a critical view, believing that European research priorities reflect the personal interests of scientists rather than society s needs. 40% consider that it is not the case that too much importance is given to ethical criteria when making choices in this field, while 32% believe in fact that it is the case. Does the image of European research suffer because it does not receive enough attention? We should stress the EU s research efforts. The major scientific and technological projects and the results achieved by medical teams instil a sense of pride and enthusiasm in most people. They would like to understand better what research can contribute to their own dayto-day lives, in terms of results, believes Leendert de Voogd. They agree on the need that research should be granted additional funds, but they also want to know where that money goes. They are prepared to accept that research needs investment and long-term projects, but at the same time they need to know the results achieved to date and that can serve as an example. Research and innovation ranks fourth on their list of priorities, first of which is employment. It is also a fact that research can be the source of jobs of course. Graph 5 Do you think that the European Commission s regulation of science and technology in all EU Member States has a positive or negative effect? Percentage of positive opinions in the EU as a whole and per age group EU Still studying Source: S&V Eurobarometer 69% 75% 77% 77% 83%

32 32 RTD info Special Eurobarometer issue November 2005 I N V O L V E M E N T Having your say Europeans would like more information about science and technology. But does that mean they want to be more involved in debates and decisions on the subjects? Do they express a desire to make their voices heard in the decision-making processes that determine choices in these fields? KI-AB EN-C How passive or indifferent are we? To assess this, the S&T interviewers presented respondents with a negative statement (1) : for people like me it is not important to be involved in decisions about science and technology. 41% of respondents rejected this statement, while 39% agreed. So opinions would appear to be more or less evenly split, with 18% who neither agree nor disagree. A section of the population takes the view of not considering themselves to be in a position to judge science and technology, comments Leendert de Voogd. They do not feel comfortable in this area and prefer to leave decisions to the experts. Feelings about involvement in S&T decisions are very mixed, with 39% not wanting to be involved while 41% want to have their say. There are also very marked national differences on this point. The Dutch have a strong desire to be involved, in contrast to the Portuguese and the majority of citizens in the former communist countries who do not. They express a kind of modesty, not feeling sufficiently comfortable in these fields. The camp of the concerned Indifference is most in evidence in Portugal and Lithuania (60%), and in Estonia and Bulgaria (59%). The Europeans who attach most importance to their personal involvement are the residents of France (56%), Sweden (55%), Luxembourg and Norway (53%). It is younger people, the highly educated, students and managers who are most interested in having their voices heard. A comparison between those who feel it is important for people like them to have their say and the quiz results shows that of the 41% of Europeans who reject passivity, 53% achieved a very good score in the scientific knowledge test and 36% a moderately good score. It is particularly interesting to note that 39% of those who did least well in the test nevertheless want to have their say! These scores certainly bear a relationship to level of education and, if we analyse them in comparison with results on other questions, we can define groups that we can describe as those who are concerned about science, believes George Gaskell. These people are most interested in science, read more about it and would also like to know more. Once these groups are FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME This formulation may seem strange. Does it not imply, from the outset, that the person in question is not competent to judge? In fact this is a very well-known technique used by survey institutes that aims to resituate the respondent and avoid him projecting his own opinion on the population as a whole, explains Leendert de Voogd. If you ask somebody, in country X, if the situation of households will improve in five years time, the no s will no doubt be in the majority. If you ask that same question by saying in your case, for you yourself, the replies will be less categorical. The EOS Gallup Europe director believes that the relationship that is established between the interviewer and respondent prevents any misunderstanding in terms of possible contempt implied by the question. They have quite a close relationship. Respondents allow you to sit down in their home and spend some time there. A certain empathy and complicity are generated. We listen to the reactions of our surveyors who submit reports to us, particularly on certain questions, and this formulation does not appear to be ill-received in any way. identified we can compare them with the other respondents and then see that interest in science is linked to certain attitudes towards it. Different formulations elicit different responses Respondents were asked to respond to the statement the public is sufficiently involved in decisions about science and technology. A majority (56%) disagreed, especially in France, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic (69%). Socio-cultural categories do not seem to play a part in this. The Social Values survey sought to identify the desire of Europeans to be involved in decisionmaking processes in various fields with implications for their day-to-day lives (equality, environment, disabled people, etc.). Nine citizens out of ten (EU-25) believe it would be desirable to be able to be more actively involved, in ten years time, in issues that affect their work and living environment, thus clearly including decisions about science and technology. 46% reply that this is very important (between 60 and 70% for the citizens of Luxembourg, Slovenia, Malta, Sweden and Greece) and 44% consider it fairly important. Social Values also stresses that 87% of Europeans want to have more say in important government decisions (45% believe this to be very important and 42% fairly important ). Asked in 32 countries, this question revealed that it is outside the EU that expectations are the highest: 68% of the Turks and 63% of the Croats say it is very important. (1) In the S&V survey, when the question is formulated in positive terms, it receives an 81% approval rating.

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