Citizens’ knowledge, perceptions, values and expectations of science : report.
Date: 2022-01-28
Institutions: Directorate-General for Communication
Subjects: EU research policy, European citizenship, Framework Programme for Research and Development, diffusion of innovations, innovation, new technology, report, research policy, research programme, scientific research, technology

Special Eurobarometer 516 

European citizens’ knowledge and 
attitudes towards science and 
technology

Report 

Fieldwork: April-May 2021 

Survey conducted by Kantar at the request of the European Commission, 
Directorate-General for Research and Innovation 

Survey co-ordinated by the European Commission, 
Directorate-General for Communication (DG COMM “Media monitoring and 
Eurobarometer Unit”) 

Project title 

Special Eurobarometer 516 – April-May 2021 

“European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology” 

Language version 

Catalogue number 

ISBN 

DOI 

© European Union, 2021  

https://europa.eu/eurobarometer  

[Photo credit : Flickr - https://www.flickr.com/photos/mattimattila/7807641962/; Getty Images; Unsplash] 

Report 

EN 

NA-01-21-172-EN-N 

978-92-76-41143-7 

doi:10.2775/071577 

Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

INTRODUCTION 
KEY FINDINGS 

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Knowledge about science and technology

Views on the impacts of science and technology

Views on the governance of science and technology

Views of scientists

Citizens’ engagement in science and technology

Young people, gender equality, and social responsibility in science and technology

Comparative advantage of the EU in science

I.

KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Interest in - and awareness of - science and technology

Attitudes towards science

Sources of information about scientific and technological developments

Knowledge of natural history, demographics and geography

Knowledge of the natural and physical sciences

Belief in conspiracy theories

Overall science literacy

7.
VIEWS ON THE IMPACTS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1.

2.

Overall influence of science and technology on society

Effects of new technologies on society

Opinions on the benefits of science and technology

3.
VIEWS ON THE GOVERNANCE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

II.

III.

1.

2.

Governance of science and technology

Public access to research results

IV.

VIEWS OF SCIENTISTS

1.

2.

Characteristics of scientists

Scientists and society

V.

CITIZENS’ ENGAGEMENT IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1.

Desired public involvement in decisions about science and technology

VI.

VII.

Citizens’ engagement with science and technology

2.
YOUNG PEOPLE, GENDER EQUALITY, AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1.

2.

Young people and science

Gender equality and science and technology

3.
Social responsibility in science and technology
COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE OF THE EU IN SCIENCE

1.

2.

Cooperation with the rest of the world

Comparative advantage of the EU in making scientific discoveries

CONCLUSION 

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 
QUESTIONNAIRE  

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INTRODUCTION 

Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Fostering  science  and  innovation  is  a  central  priority  for  the 
European Union (EU). EU support for research and innovation aims 
to  improve  the  quality  and  quantity  of  research  and  innovation 
conducted,  ensure  that  the  processes  and  outcomes  of research 
and  innovation  align  with  the  needs,  values  and  expectations  of 
society,  and  address  the  many  pressing  issues  that  face  us  as 
individuals, as society, and as a planet.  

Through  its  multiannual  research  and  innovation  framework 
programmes (currently Horizon Europe), the EU provides funding 
to: 

  Strengthen the EU’s position in science; 

  Promote  industrial  innovation,  including  investment  in  key 
technologies, greater access to capital, and support for small 
businesses; 

  Address  major  societal  concerns,  such  as  climate  change, 

sustainable transport, and renewable energy; 

  Ensure technological breakthroughs are developed into viable 
products  with  real  commercial  potential  –  by  building 
partnerships with industry and governments; 

  Step up international cooperation on research & innovation1. 

Horizon  Europe,  the  EU’s  major  Research  and 
Innovation 
programme,  is  the  successor  to  Horizon 2020.  It  is  the  EU’s  key 
funding programme for research and innovation with a budget of 
€95.5 billion. It aims to support scientific excellence, tackle climate 
change, help to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, 
and boost the EU’s competitiveness and growth2. 

This  Special  Eurobarometer  report  provides  an  insight  into 
perceptions  of  science  and  technology.  The  survey  covers  the 
following topics: 

  Knowledge  about  science  and  technology,  including  interest 
and understanding in the subject, sources of information and 
belief in conspiracy theories; 

  Views on the impacts of science and technology, including the 
influence  of  science  on  society,  and  the  risks  and  perceived 
benefits of new technologies;  

  Views  on  the  governance  of  science  and  technology,  and 

attitudes regarding public access to research results; 

  EBS 225: Social Values, Science & Technology (2005)3; 

  EBS 340: Science and Technology (2010)4; 

  EBS 401: Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), Science 

and Technology (2013)5. 

This  Eurobarometer  survey,  commissioned  by  the  European 
Commission’s  Directorate-General  for  Research  and  Innovation, 
was carried out by the Kantar network between 13 April and 10 
May 2021. Some 26,827 respondents in the 27 EU Member States 
were  interviewed  in  their  mother  tongue  and  the  data  was 
weighted  to  be  socio-demographically  representative  at  country 
level.  The  survey  was  also  conducted  in  11  other  countries  or 
territories, where a total of 10,276 respondents were interviewed 
in  their  mother  tongue:  five  candidate  countries  (Albania, 
Montenegro,  North  Macedonia,  Serbia  and  Turkey),  as  well  as 
Bosnia  and  Herzegovina,  Iceland,  Kosovo6,  Norway,  Switzerland 
and the United Kingdom. In total, 37,103 respondents from EU and 
non-EU countries and territories took part in the survey.  

The  methodology  used  was  that  of  a  Standard  Eurobarometer 
survey, as carried out for the European Commission’s Directorate-
and 
General 
Eurobarometer”  Unit).  Given  the  impact  of  COVID-19  and 
subsequent  health  safety  measures,  face-to-face 
interview 
methodology was not always possible:  

(“Media  monitoring 

Communication 

for 

  In Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, 
Hungary,  Italy,  Poland,  Spain,  as  well  as  Albania,  Bosnia and 
Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, all 
interviews were conducted face to face;  

  In  Denmark,  Malta,  the  Netherlands,  Slovenia,  Slovakia  and 
Turkey face-to-face interviews were complemented by online 
interviews;  

  In  Belgium,  Czechia,  Estonia,  Finland,  Iceland,  Ireland,  Latvia, 
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland 
and the United Kingdom all interviews were conducted online.  

A  technical  note  on  the  manner  in  which  the  interviews  were 
conducted by the institutes within the Kantar network is appended 
after the main text of this report. Also included are the interview 
methods and the confidence intervals. 

  Attitudes 

towards  scientists, 

their  perceived 
characteristics,  credibility,  and  views  on  the  role(s)  that  they 
should play in society; 

including 

  Citizens’  engagement  in  science  and  technology,  including 
preferred level of public involvement in decision making about 
science  and  technology  and  current  –  and  ideal  -  levels  of 
engagement; 

  The  comparative  advantage  of  the  EU  in  science  and 

technology compared with other parts of the world. 

The  survey  continues  in  the  tradition  of  a  long  line  of  surveys 
stretching  back  to  the  late  1970s.  In  order  to  show  trends  over 
time,  the  report  includes  trend  comparisons  with  the  following 
previous Eurobarometer surveys: 

1 https://europa.eu/european-union/topics/research-innovation_en 
2 https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/funding/funding-
opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en 
3 https://data.europa.eu/data/datasets/s448_63_1_ebs225?locale=en  

4 https://data.europa.eu/data/datasets/s806_73_1_ebs340?locale=en  
5 https://data.europa.eu/data/datasets/s1096_79_2_401?locale=en  
6 This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with 
UNSCR 1244/99 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. 

5 

Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

We would like to thank all the respondents across Europe 
who took their time to take part in this survey. 

Without their active participation, this survey would not 
have been possible. 

Note:  In  this  report,  countries  are  referred  to  by  their  official 
abbreviation:  

Belgium 
Bulgaria 
Czechia 
Denmark 
Germany 
Estonia 
Ireland 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Croatia 
Italy 
Republic of 
Cyprus 
Latvia 

BE 
BG 
CZ 
DK 
DE 
EE 
IE 
EL 
ES 
FR 
HR 
IT 
CY* 

LV 

Lithuania 
Luxembourg 
Hungary 
Malta 
Netherlands 
Austria 
Poland 
Portugal 
Romania 
Slovenia 
Slovakia 
Finland 
Sweden 

Albania 
AL 
Montenegro  ME 
MK 
North 
Macedonia 

Turkey 
Serbia 

Bosnia and 
Herzegovina 
Iceland 
Kosovo 

BA 

Norway 

IS 
XK* 

Switzerland 
The United Kingdom 

European Union - weighted average for the 27 
Member States of the European Union 
BE, FR, IT, LU, DE, AT, ES, PT, IE, NL, FI, EL, EE, SI, 
CY, MT, SK, LV, LT 

BG, CZ, DK, HR, HU, PL, RO, SE 

LT 
LU 
HU 
MT 
NL 
AT 
PL 
PT 
RO 
SI 
SK 
FI 
SE 

TR 
RS 

NO 

CH 
UK 

EU27 

Euro 
area 
Outside 
euro 
area 

* Cyprus  as  a  whole  is  one  of  the  27  Member  States  of  the
European Union. However, the ‘Community acquis’ is suspended in
the part of the country not controlled by the Government of the
Republic  of Cyprus.  For  practical  reasons,  only  interviews  carried
out in the part of the country controlled by the Government of the
Republic  of  Cyprus  are  included  in  the  category  ‘CY’  and  in  the
average of the EU27.

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and
is in line with UNSCR 1244/99 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo 
declaration of independence 

6 

KEY FINDINGS 

7 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

1. 

Knowledge about science and 
technology  

The following results refer to EU27 countries: 

▪  Interest in scientific and technological issues is high, with 
42% of respondents very interested and 47% moderately 
interested in environmental problems including climate 
change, 38% very interested and 48% moderately 
interested in new medical discoveries, and 33% very 
interested and 49% moderately interested in new 
scientific discoveries and technological developments. 
There is higher interest in these issues than the non-
scientific areas of culture and arts, politics, and sports 
news.  

▪  Since 2010, the proportions of respondents who say they 
are “very interested” in the areas relating to science and 
technology have increased: new medical discoveries (+6 
pp), environmental problems including climate change (+5 
pp), and new scientific discoveries and technological 
developments (+3 pp). 

▪  While citizens have high levels of interest in science and 
technology, they do not feel quite so well informed: just 
21% of respondents say they are very informed about 
environmental problems including climate change and 
61% say they are moderately informed. When it comes to 
new medical discoveries, 13% say they are very informed 
and 54% moderately well informed. For new scientific 
discoveries and technological developments the figures 
are similar: 13% very well informed and 53% moderately 
well informed.  

▪  Since 2010 there have been small increases in the 

proportions of respondents who say they are “very well 
informed” about areas relating to science and technology: 
new medical discoveries (+2 percentage points), new 
scientific discoveries and technological developments (+2 
pp) and environmental problems (+2 pp), with small drops 
in the proportions who say they are “poorly informed” 
about new medical discoveries (-2 pp) and environmental 
problems (-3 pp) and a somewhat larger drop in relation 
to new scientific discoveries (-5 pp). 

▪  While interest and knowledge about science and 

technology are high, the topics may still seem out of 
respondents’ reach or even of little relevance: while 54% 
agree that they would like to learn more about scientific 
developments, 46% of respondents agree that science is 
so complicated that they do not understand much about it 
(28% disagree) and 33% agree that in their daily life it is 
not important to know about science (46% disagree).  

▪  Television (63%) is the preferred means to obtain 
information about developments in science and 
technology, followed far behind by online social networks 
and blogs (29%), and online and printed newspapers 
(24%). 

▪  Respondents were also presented with statements on 
scientific issues, which they were asked to identify as 
either true or false; these tested different areas of 
knowledge relating to natural history and geography, the 
natural and physical sciences, as well as beliefs in 
conspiracy theories.  

▪  In terms of natural history and geography, a clear 

majority of respondents (82%) knows that the continents 
on which we live have been moving for millions of years 
and will continue to move in the future, and that human 

beings as we know them today developed from earlier 
species of animals (67%). Most also say that it is false 
that the earliest humans lived at the same time as the 
dinosaurs (66%). Fewer are able to say that it is false 
that the world’s human population is currently more than 
ten billion (43%).  

▪  When it comes to citizens’ knowledge of the natural and 
physical sciences, 82% of respondents know that the 
oxygen we breathe comes from plants, and 65% know it 
is false that climate change is for the most part caused 
by natural cycles rather than human activities. While a 
majority of respondents know that it is false that 
antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria (55%), fewer 
know that lasers do not work by focusing sound waves 
(42%). Just under half (47%) say that it is true that the 
methods used by the natural sciences and the social 
sciences are equally scientific (47%). 

▪  When it comes to conspiracy theories, a majority know 
that it is false that viruses have been produced in 
government laboratories to control our freedom (55%) or 
that the cure for cancer exists but is hidden from the 
public by commercial interests (56%).  

2. 

Views on the impacts of science 
and technology 

▪  The most influential characteristics in determining the 

status of a country or group of countries are considered 
to be economic strength (51%), living and working 
conditions and well-being (35%), social, health and 
welfare services (25%), the rule of law (21%), and 
scientific and technological advancement (18%). 
▪  Almost nine in ten (86%) respondents think the overall 

influence of science and technology on society is positive, 
an increase of nine percentage points since 2013. More 
than seven in ten respondents in every country think the 
influence is positive. 

▪  Respondents are most likely to think that solar energy 
(92%), wind energy (87%), vaccines and combatting 
infectious diseases (86%), and information and 
communication technology (82%) will have a positive 
effect on our way of life in the next 20 years. 

▪  Almost half of all respondents think health and medical 
care (47%) will be most affected by research and 
innovation in the coming years, while 40% think it will be 
the fight against climate change, and 32% the energy 
supply. 

▪  Only a minority (25%) agree that science and technology 

do not really benefit people like them. 

▪  More than half (57%) agree that science and technology 
could improve everyone's lives, but mostly improve the 
lives of people who are already better off; the majority of 
respondents in every EU27 country agrees with this 
statement. 

▪  Seven in ten (70%) respondents agree that science and 
technology could improve living conditions in less 
developed countries, but mostly improve living conditions 
in well-off countries; the majority in every country agrees. 

▪  Almost two-thirds (65%) of respondents agree that 
science and technology could help improve the 
environment, but mostly help companies make money; 
the majority in every Member State also agrees. 

8 

 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

▪  Opinion is divided on whether science and technology can 
sort out any problem: 38% agree, 35% disagree and 25% 
neither agree nor disagree. However, agreement has 
increased 16 percentage points since 2010 and has gone 
from being a minority to the majority view. 

▪  Only a minority (25%) of respondents agree that thanks 
to scientific and technological advances, the Earth’s 
natural resources will be inexhaustible. However, this is a 
five percentage point increase since 2010. 

▪  More than half (56%) agree that new inventions will 

always be found to counteract any harmful consequences 
of scientific and technological development, an increase 
of five percentage points since 2010. 

▪  Fewer than three in ten (29%) respondents agree that 

artificial intelligence and automation will create more jobs 
than they will eliminate. 

▪  Across the EU almost seven in ten (69%) agree that 

science and technology make our lives easier, healthier 
and more comfortable, while 57% agree science and 
technology make our lives healthier – an increase of 
seven percentage points since 2013. 

▪  The majority of respondents in the EU agree that science 
makes our ways of life change too fast (57%), and that 
the applications of science and technology can threaten 
human rights (52%).  

▪  A minority (32%) of respondents in the EU agree that we 
depend too much on science and not enough on faith, a 
decline of seven percentage points since 2013. 

3. 

Views on the governance of 
science and technology 

▪  Just over half (52%) of respondents agree that we have 
no option but to trust those governing science and 
technology. 

▪  Opinion is divided over the regulation of science and 

technology. Half (50%) of respondents think that science 
and technology should be tightly regulated by the 
government, while almost as many (48%) think it should 
be allowed to operate freely in the marketplace like a 
business.  

▪  There is also no clear consensus amongst respondents 

about whether there should be no limit to what science is 
allowed to investigate – 41% agree but almost as many 
(38%) disagree. 

▪  Respondents are more likely to agree that decisions about 
science and technology should be based primarily on the 
moral and ethical issues concerned (55%) than to say 
these decisions should be based primarily on the potential 
to make new scientific discoveries and develop new 
technologies (43%). 

▪  Almost eight in ten (79%) respondents agree that the 
results of publicly funded research should be made 
available online free of charge; more than six in ten 
respondents in every Member State agrees. 

4. 

Views of scientists 

▪  Respondents have a mostly positive view of scientists, 
with 89% saying that “intelligent” describes scientists 

well. 68% say the same of “reliable”, 66% of 
“collaborative”, 58% of “honest”, and 47% that scientists 
‘know what is good for people’. Fewer respondents see 
scientists as “bad at communicating” (39%), “arrogant” 
(28%), “narrow minded” (23%), or “immoral” (16%).  
▪   Asked what qualities they want to see most in scientists, 
respondents mention intelligence (50%), honesty (43%), 
reliability (39%), morality (34%) and the ability to work 
together (27%). Qualities like communication skills (16%), 
altruism (12%) and modesty (8%) are less frequently 
mentioned.  

▪  Respondents tend to agree that scientists should 

intervene in political debate to ensure that decisions take 
into account scientific evidence (68%), with fewer 
agreeing with the opposite statement that scientists 
should not intervene in political debate when decisions 
ignore scientific evidence (39%).  

▪  Most respondents (50%) agree that we can no longer 
trust scientists to tell the truth about controversial 
scientific and technological issues because they depend 
more and more on money from industry (21% disagree).  

▪  Most respondents (51%) disagree that scientists spend 
sufficient time meeting people like them to explain their 
work, with 23% agreeing.  

5. 

Citizens’ engagement in science 
and technology 

▪  Looking at respondents’ involvement in science and 

technology, most (52%) feel that decisions about science 
and technology should be made by scientists, engineers 
and politicians, but that the public should always be 
informed. About a third think that the public should be 
consulted and public opinion should be seriously 
considered (32%). Fewer think that the public does not 
need to be involved in decisions about science and 
technology (7%) or that public opinion should be the main 
concern when making decisions about science and 
technology (8%).  

▪  Most respondents (72%) think that decisions about 

science and technology should be based mainly on the 
advice of experts.  

▪  Most respondents agree (61%) that involving non-

scientists in research and technological development 
ensures that science and technology respond to the 
needs, values and expectations of society. 

▪  Asked about the people and organisations that are best 

qualified to explain the impact of scientific and 
technological developments on society, scientists working 
at public (61%) and private organisations (40%) are most 
cited, followed by general practitioners and specialist 
doctors (29%). 

▪  Respondents were also asked how they engaged with 
science and technology. Respondents cite watching 
documentaries (59%), talking about science and 
technology issues with family or friends (55%), visiting 
science and technology museums (33%), and studying 
science and technology-related issues in their free time 
(22%) the most frequently.  

▪  Asked why they may sometimes find it difficult to engage 
with science and technology, respondents most frequently 
mention lack of time (41%), lack of knowledge in the field 

9 

 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

7. 

Comparative advantage of the EU 
in science  

▪  Seven in ten (70%) respondents think we should 

cooperate enthusiastically with the rest of the world and 
not isolate ourselves, while 29% think that our lives are 
threatened by organised crime and terrorism, from which 
we urgently need to protect ourselves. The majority in 
every Member State considers cooperating 
enthusiastically with the rest of the world - not isolating 
ourselves - is closest to their point of view. 

▪  The majority of respondents think researchers in China 
(58%), the United States (57%), and Japan (54%) are 
ahead of researchers in the EU in making scientific 
discoveries. Three in ten (30%) say this is true for 
researchers in South Korea, 16% say researchers in their 
own country are ahead of those in the EU, and 13% think 
researchers in India are ahead of those in the EU. 

of science and technology (39%), and lack of interest 
(34%). 

6. 

Young people, gender equality, 
and social responsibility in science 
and technology 

▪  Science is considered important for young people, with 
61% of respondents agreeing that science prepares the 
younger generation to act as well-informed citizens. In 
addition, 69% of respondents think that thanks to science 
and technology, there will be more opportunities for 
future generations. 

▪  Gender equality is considered important, with 76% of 

respondents agreeing that promoting gender equality is 
important for them personally. Respondents also agree 
that gender equality in the science and technology 
workforce would help ensure we live in a fairer and more 
equal society (73%) and that gender equality in the 
science and technology workforce would improve the 
outcomes of science and technology (65%). Moreover, a 
majority agrees that gender equality in the science and 
technology workforce would improve business profits and 
the economy (58%).  

▪  Social responsibility is considered important for science 
and technology, with 78% of respondents agreeing that 
science and technology should consider the needs of all 
groups of people when developing new solutions and 
products. Respondents also think that the government 
should take responsibility to ensure that new technologies 
benefit everyone (72%). Almost the same proportion 
(79%) think that the government should make private 
companies tackle climate change.  

10 

 
 
 
I.  KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SCIENCE AND 

TECHNOLOGY 

11 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

1. 

Interest in - and awareness of - 
science and technology 

This report begins with an examination of how interested and well 
informed  respondents  are  for  a  range  of  everyday  activities, 
including areas related to science and technology. It then focuses 
on respondents' attitudes towards science and technology, and the 
most  used  sources  of 
information  about  scientific  and 
technological  developments.  The  sections  that  follow  explore 
respondents'  actual  knowledge and  understanding  of a  range  of 
issues, covering science in a broad sense, including some common 
conspiracy  theories.  It  then  summarises  people’s  knowledge  and 
understanding  of  scientific  issues  by  looking  at  the  number  of 
statements that respondents correctly identified as true or false. 

Within the EU, interest is most widespread in the areas relating to 
science and technology. Around nine in ten respondents (89%) say 
they  are  interested  (either  “very  interested”  or  “moderately 
interested”) in environmental problems, including climate change, 
with  a  similar  proportion  (86%)  interested  in  new  medical 
discoveries,  and  just  over  eight  in  ten  (82%)  interested  in  new 
scientific discoveries and technological developments. EU citizens 
are most likely to be “very interested” in environmental problems 
(42%)  and  new  medical  discoveries  (38%),  with  a  smaller 
proportion (33%) saying they are “very interested” in new scientific 
discoveries. 

In terms of the other spheres of activity covered, more than seven 
in ten respondents say they are interested in culture and the arts 
(77%)  and  politics  (71%),  with  around  one  in  four  (24%)  “very 
interested” in each. Respondents are least likely to say that they 
are interested in sports news; around six in ten (59%) say they are 
interested, with 21% saying they are “very interested”.  

A similar set of questions was included in a 2010 Eurobarometer 
Survey (Special Eurobarometer 340). Since then, the proportions of 
respondents  who  say  they  are  “very  interested”  in  the  areas 
relating  to  science  and  technology  have  increased:  new  medical 
discoveries  (+6  pp),  new  scientific  discoveries  and  technological 
developments (+3 pp) and environmental problems (+5 pp), with 
small  drops  in  the  proportion  who  say  they  are  “not  at  all 
interested” in new medical discoveries (-3 pp) and new scientific 
discoveries (-2 pp). 

In relation to other spheres of activity, there have been increases 
in the proportion of respondents saying they are “very interested” 
in politics (+6 pp) – with a small drop in the proportion “not at all 
interested”  (-2  pp);  and  “very  interested”  in  culture  and  the  arts  
(+4  pp)  –  with  a  drop  in  the  proportion  “not  at  all  interested”  
(-7  pp).  By  contrast,  there  has  been  a  drop  in  the  proportion  of 
respondents who are “very interested” in sports news (-4 pp) and 
an increase in the proportion that is “not at all interested” (+6 pp). 

12 

 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Focusing on the current survey and looking specifically at interest 
in environmental problems including climate change, there is 
considerable variation between EU Member States. 

The proportion of respondents who say they are “very interested” 
in environmental problems ranges from just 15% in Bulgaria and 
Lithuania to 68% in Cyprus and 71% in Portugal, compared with 
the EU average of 42%. 

“very 

interested” 

in  environmental  problems 

In addition to Portugal and Cyprus, a majority of respondents say 
they  are 
in 
Luxembourg  (58%),  Germany  (56%),  Belgium  and  France  (both 
55%), the Netherlands (54%), and Ireland and Malta (both 53%). 
The  only  EU  Member  States  where  more  than  one  in  five 
respondents say they are “not at all interested” in environmental 
problems  are  Poland  (25%)  and  Bulgaria  (23%).  This  compares 
with an average of 11% at the overall EU level. 

Comparing the current survey results with those of 2010, there are 
14 EU Member States where the proportion of respondents saying 
they  are  “very  interested”  in  environmental  problems  including 
tackling  climate  change  has  increased,  with  a  particularly  large 
increase in Portugal (+48 pp). The most notable shifts elsewhere 
are in Ireland (+22 points), Belgium (+16 pp), the Netherlands (+13 
pp),  Spain  (+12  pp),  Germany  and  Romania  (both  +11  pp)  and 
Czechia  (+10  pp).  There  are  ten  EU  Member  States  where  the 
proportion  saying  they  are  “very  interested”  in  environmental 
problems has dropped, with the most notable changes in Hungary 
(-17 pp) and Greece (-10 pp).  

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  there  has  been  a 
particularly large increase in the proportion of respondents saying 
they  are  “very  interested”  in  environmental  problems  in  Turkey 
(+27 pp). Norway is the only non-EU country where the proportion 
saying they are “very interested” has dropped (-7 pp). 

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, Switzerland is the only one 
where  a  majority  of  respondents  (59%)  say  they  are  “very 
interested” in environmental problems.  

More than one in five people say they are “not at all interested” in 
environmental  problems  in  Serbia  and  Albania  (both  29%)  and 
Bosnia and Herzegovina (22%). 

13 

 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

14 

QA2.6Very interestedDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Moderately interestedDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Not at all interestedDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Don't knowEU2742547411=0PT714828301170IE532242115100BE5516429370NL54134110530ES50124210810DE56113910510RO29115321761CZ3910556640AT4464531130SK39645101531EE375563720CY684264511LT1546831760FR551373820DK39=5131030LU58=38=4=0SI35=5251350PL1715832550IT1836331811LV2746011330HR28561121071BG1565912343MT536415511FI3375721050SE409537720EL45104561040HU321755111251TR472742311210MK29N/A51N/A19N/A1AL8N/A59N/A29N/A4ME14N/A68N/A18N/A0RS14N/A56N/A29N/A1UK445512570CH5943744=0IS3245361520NO3076041030XK33N/A49N/A16N/A2BA17N/A60N/A22N/A1Ineverydaylife,wehavetodealwithmanydifferentissues,wherewefeelmoreor less interested. For each of the following, please indicate whether you are…Environmental problems including climate change (%) 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Looking at the current survey, there is also considerable variation 
between EU Member States in relation to interest in new medical 
discoveries. 

The proportion of respondents who say they are “very interested” 
in new medical discoveries ranges from just 13% in Bulgaria and 
Poland to 67% in Cyprus and 70% in Portugal, compared with the 
EU average of 38%. In addition to Cyprus and Portugal, a majority 
of  respondents  say  they  are  “very  interested”  in  new  medical 
discoveries in Belgium (55%), and Ireland, Luxembourg and Spain 
(52% in each). The EU Member States where people are most likely 
to say they are “not at all interested” in new medical discoveries 
are  Poland  (37%)  and  Bulgaria  (26%).  This  compares  with  an 
average of 14% across the EU. 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  UK  is  the  only  one 
where more than half of the respondents (51%) say they are “very 
interested” in new medical discoveries. The non-EU countries where 
people are most likely to say they are “not at all interested” in new 
medical discoveries are Serbia (34%), and Bosnia and Herzegovina 
and Albania (both 25%). 

Comparing the current survey results with those reported in 2010, 
there  are  18  EU  Member  States  where  the  proportion  of 
respondents  saying  they  are  “very  interested”  in  new  medical 
discoveries  has  increased,  with  Portugal,  again,  showing  a 
particularly  large  increase  (+55  pp).  The  most  notable  shifts 
elsewhere are in Spain (+21  pp), Ireland (+19 pp), Belgium (+17 
pp),  Czechia  (+14  pp),  Estonia  (+13  pp),  Romania  (+12  pp)  and 
Austria (+10 pp). There are only six EU Member States where the 
proportion  saying  they  are  “very  interested”  in  new  medical 
discoveries has dropped since 2010. As seen also in relation to the 
findings on interest in environmental problems, Hungary shows a 
notable  drop  (-7  pp),  with  the  Netherlands  showing  a  similar 
decrease (-7 pp). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  Turkey  again  shows  a 
particularly large increase in the proportion of respondents saying 
they are “very interested” in new medical discoveries (+22 pp), with 
Norway also showing a notable increase (+10 pp). 

15 

 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

16 

QA2.1Very interestedDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Moderately interestedDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Not at all interestedDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Don't knowEU273864821430PT705529281260ES52214113780BE55194164130IE52194523160CZ4214535590EE4113524790RO28124842351AT33105151650DE477445920LU527442450CY676275610LV3265969120DK35454811120IT2045962170LT174671316160MT4334898111FI353581740SI2815511720FR46=4311110SK26=5452050SE40=543630BG1315832613HR2945881330PL1344913751EL3654921530HU3575221350NL427528610TR352247918270MK29N/A47N/A22N/A2AL9N/A62N/A25N/A4ME14N/A66N/A20N/A0RS14N/A52N/A34N/A0NO3710563760UK517442550IS31256312=1CH421534550XK45N/A41N/A13N/A1BA21N/A52N/A25N/A2Ineverydaylife,wehavetodealwithmanydifferentissues,wherewefeelmoreor less interested. For each of the following, please indicate whether you are…New medical discoveries (%) 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Comparing the current results with those reported in 2010, there 
are  18  EU  Member  States  where  the  proportion  of  respondents 
saying they are “very interested” in new scientific and technological 
developments  has  increased,  with  Portugal,  again,  showing  a 
particularly  large  increase  (+48  pp).  The  most  notable  shifts 
elsewhere are in Ireland (+27 pp), Belgium (+22 pp), Czechia (+21 
pp), Estonia (+14 pp) and Spain (+12 pp). As seen in relation to the 
findings on interest in the other two science-related areas, Hungary 
shows  the  most  notable  drop  in  the  proportion  saying  they  are 
“very interested” (-9 pp). In the remaining five EU Member States 
showing a decrease, changes are smaller (-4 pp or less). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  Turkey  again  shows  a 
particularly large increase in the proportion of respondents saying 
they  are  “very  interested”  in  new  scientific  and  technological 
developments (+30 pp), with Switzerland also showing a notable 
increase (+16 pp). 

Focusing  on  the  current  survey  results  and  interest  in  new 
scientific discoveries and technological developments, there 
is again considerable variation between EU Member States. 

The proportion of respondents who say they are “very interested” 
in  new  scientific  discoveries  and  technological  developments 
ranges  from  11%  in  Bulgaria  to  61%  in  Cyprus  and  62%  in 
Portugal,  compared  with  the  EU  average  of  33%.  In  addition  to 
Portugal and Cyprus, a majority of respondents say they are “very 
in  new  scientific  discoveries  and  technological 
interested” 
developments  in  Ireland  and  Belgium  (54%  in  each)  and 
Luxembourg (51%). There are only four EU Member States where 
more than one in four people say they are “not at all interested” in 
new scientific discoveries and technological developments: Poland 
(37%),  Bulgaria  (33%),  Italy  (31%)  and  Romania  (28%).  This 
compares with an EU average of 18%. 

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, people are most likely to 
be “very interested” in new scientific discoveries and technological 
developments  in  Switzerland  (49%),  the  UK  (48%)  and  Turkey 
(46%); they are least likely to say they are “very interested” in in 
Albania  (7%),  Serbia  (11%),  Montenegro  (14%)  and  Bosnia  and 
Herzegovina  (17%).  Respondents  in  Serbia  (39%)  are  the  most 
likely  to  say  they  are  “not  at  all  interested”  in  new  scientific 
discoveries and technological developments, followed by those in 
Albania  and  North  Macedonia  (both  29%)  and  Bosnia  and 
Herzegovina (28%). 

17 

 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

18 

QA2.2Very interestedDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Moderately interestedDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Not at all interestedDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Don't knowEU2733349=1820PT624836132330IE542744=2240BE54224264160CZ43215245170EE44145333160ES41124571440LU519454450DE4084921160LT208651515220DK38651711120CY616316711AT2765122141RO2165072891SK27550523=0LV3445987120MT39347913101NL502443650SI2915132020BG11=5253334FI34=576960SE43=525550FR3834821410IT1335633130PL14348=3731EL3344542280HR2745781630HU3295111790TR463045109360MK24N/A45N/A29N/A2AL7N/A60N/A29N/A4ME14N/A64N/A22N/A0RS11N/A50N/A39N/A0CH49164645110UK4864745100NO35=584730IS3235751120XK39N/A44N/A15N/A2BA17N/A54N/A28N/A1Ineverydaylife,wehavetodealwithmanydifferentissues,wherewefeelmoreor less interested. For each of the following, please indicate whether you are…New scientific discoveries and technological developments (%) 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

19 

QA2.3-5Culture and artsDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010PoliticsDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Sports newsDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010EU27244246214BE3283315196BG12314218=CZ24444271812DK2153613197DE2364210199EE2412814175IE321340212416EL27329=272ES3411164232FR323191234HR174134271IT14192214CY473228371LV2422591710LT122197151LU27338101716HU2012132237MT2753112243NL2734610206AT2272810322PL14=91213PT40273223202RO155154191SI141143305SK20=266269FI2013218209SE1812387229TR362234202813MK18N/A15N/A23N/AAL10N/A9N/A10N/AME12N/A16N/A18N/ARS12N/A15N/A25N/ANO17113551514CH2554582113UK20=26111712IS206196212XK32N/A21N/A32N/ABA15N/A18N/A29N/AIn everyday life, we have to deal with many different issues, where we feel more or less interested. For each of the following, please indicate whether you are…Very interested (%) 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

technology.  Hence,  sub-groups  particularly  likely  to  say  they  are 
“very  interested”  in  each  of  the  three  areas  include:  those  who 
have, or had in the past, a professional association with research, 
science  and  innovative  technology  development,  either  through 
their own work or the work of a family member; people who believe 
that  science  and  technology  has  a  positive  influence  on  society; 
and people who achieve high scores on the ‘science quiz’ questions. 
In addition, there is a strong positive association between the three 
topics,  where  interest  in  one  of  the  three  topics  asked  about  is 
often connected to interest in the other two topics. 

Looking  at  differences  between  socio-demographic  groups7,  and 
focusing  on  the  three  areas  relating  to  science  and  technology 
(new  medical  discoveries,  new  scientific  and  technological 
developments,  and  environmental  problems  including  climate 
change),  some  consistent  patterns  emerge  in  terms  of  the  sub-
groups that are particularly likely to say they are “very interested”. 

Sub-groups  that  are  particularly  likely  to  be  “very  interested”  in 
each of the three areas are: 

People  who  finished  full-time  education  aged  20  or  over, 
particularly when compared with those leaving full-time education 
aged 15 or under. The largest differences are in relation to new 
scientific  discoveries  and  technological  developments  (44%  of 
those who finished full-time education aged 20 or over are “very 
interested”, compared with 18% of those who finished aged 15 or 
under); and in relation to environmental problems: (53% vs 29% 
respectively); 

Managers,  when  compared  with  all  other  occupational  groups, 
most  notably  in  relation  to  new  scientific  discoveries  and 
“very 
technological  developments 
interested”, compared with the housepersons – 24%); 

(47%  of  managers  are 

People  who  say  they  ‘never’  or  ‘almost  never’  have  difficulties 
paying  their  household  bills,  particularly  when  compared  with 
those who have difficulties paying their household bills ‘from time 
to  time’.  The  largest  differences  are  in  relation  to  new  scientific 
discoveries  and  technological  developments  (36%  of  those  who 
‘never’  or  ‘almost  never’  have  difficulties  are  “very  interested”, 
compared with 22% of those who have difficulties ‘from time to 
time’); and environmental problems: (46% vs 31% respectively). 

People who use the internet every day, particularly when compared 
with those who never use it. Again, the differences are larger in 
relation 
technological 
developments  (37%  of  everyday  users,  compared  with  13%  of 
non-users);  and  environmental  problems: 
(45%  vs  23% 
respectively). 

to  new  scientific  discoveries  and 

In  terms  of  gender  and  age,  on  the  other  hand,  there  are  no 
consistent patterns. Men (40%) are much more likely than women 
(26%) to say they are “very interested” in new scientific discoveries 
and technological developments, while women (40%) are slightly 
more likely than men (36%) to be “very interested” in new medical 
discoveries.  Similarly,  while  the  proportion  of  people  “very 
interested” 
in  new  scientific  discoveries  and  technological 
developments declines with age, ranging from 38% among 15-24 
year olds to 29% among those aged 55 or over, the opposite is 
true  for  new  medical  discoveries,  where  the  proportion  of  “very 
interested”  ranges  from  30%  among  15-24  year  olds  to  41% 
among  those  aged  55  or  over.  In  relation  to  environmental 
problems,  the  proportions of  people  “very  interested”  are  similar 
across gender and age groups. 

In  terms  of  the  key  variable  groups,  there  are  strong  and 
unsurprising  relationships  between  people  saying  they  are  “very 
interested” in these three areas and other variables that indicate 
engagement  or  involvement  with  the  world  of  science  and 

7 Note that throughout the report socio-demographic and key variable findings are 
based on the EU 27 Member States. 

20 

 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

21 

QA2TEnvironmental problems including climate changeNew medical discoveriesNew scientific discoveries and technological developments Culture and artsPoliticsSports newsEU27423833242421Man413640213034Woman43402626199 15-24413038221927 25-39423536242123 40-54433934242523 55+41412924281715-29321814131616-1935342518192320+534544333420Still studying453341252327Self-employed424037293127Managers524347323425Other white collars413531222419Manual workers353428191525House persons32352417147Unemployed434031211319Retired424228232917Students453341252327Most of the time373528221924From time to time313022201620Almost never/ Never464136252721Everyday454037262722Often/Sometimes363519181521Never232413121413Left524035313122Centre424134222119Right323533202825Interested6710061373524Moderately interested31018182020Not interested11079919Interested6671100383827Moderately interested36270202120Not interested12808814Interested1006153403824Moderately interested02421131620Not interested010106917Positive433935242522Negative323121212019Less than 5 correct answers272818151418Between 5 and 8 correct answers 403932242223More than 8 correct answers574348303921Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'464140252924Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'393730242221Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'403727222217You alone do or did in the past545058323820A family member does or did in the past 625550373822Both you and a family member do or did in the past675769355017No393529212121Ineverydaylife,wehavetodealwithmanydifferentissues,wherewefeelmoreorlessinterested.Foreachofthefollowing,pleaseindicatewhether you are…     (% - Very interested)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsUse of the Internet Left-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Following the questions on interest in the six spheres of activity, 
respondents  were  asked  how  well  informed  they  felt  they  were 
about each of those areas.  

Within  the  EU,  a  majority  of  people  say  they  feel  well  informed 
(either “very well” or “moderately well”) about each of the six areas 
of interest. People are most likely to say they feel well informed 
about  environmental  problems  including  climate  change  (82%), 
followed by politics (75%). Two-thirds of respondents say they are 
well informed about new medical discoveries (67%), new scientific 
discoveries and technological developments (66%) and culture and 
the arts (66%). A slightly lower proportion (60%) say they are well 
informed about sports news. 

More than one in five EU citizens say they are “very well informed” 
about  politics  (23%),  sports  news  (23%)  and  environmental 
problems  (21%).  Somewhat  smaller  proportions  –  13%  in  each 
case  –  say  they  are  “very  well  informed”  about  new  medical 
discoveries,  new  scientific  discoveries  and 
technological 
developments, and culture and the arts.

A similar measure was included in an earlier Eurobarometer Survey 
(Special  Eurobarometer  340  EB  73.1)  conducted  in  2010.  Since 
then,  there  have  been  small  increases  in  the  proportions  of 
respondents  who  say  they  are  “very  well  informed”  about  areas 
relating  to  science  and  technology:  new  medical  discoveries  (+2 
pp), new scientific discoveries and technological developments (+2 
pp) and environmental problems (+2 pp), with small drops in the 
proportion who say they are “poorly informed” about new medical 
discoveries  (-2  pp)  and  environmental  problems  (-3  pp),  and  a 
somewhat larger drop in relation to new scientific discoveries (-5 
pp). 

Regarding the other spheres of activity, there have been increases 
in  the  proportion  of  respondents  saying  they  are  “very  well 
informed”  about  politics  (+4  pp)  –  with  a  small  drop  in  the 
proportion who say they are “poorly informed” (-2 pp). There has 
also been an increase in the number of respondents who say they 
are “very well informed” about  culture  and the  arts (+2 pp)  – 
with a drop in the proportion who feel they are “poorly informed” 
(-6  pp).  There  has  been  a  drop  in  the  proportion  of respondents 
who  feel  “very  informed”  about  sports  news  (-7  pp)  and  an 
increase in the proportion who say they are “poorly informed” (+8 
pp). 

22 

 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Focusing on the current survey, while there are notable variations 
between countries in the EU in terms of how well informed people 
feel about scientific and technological issues, these tend to be less 
marked than those in relation to respondents’ level of interest in 
these issues.  

The chart below shows the variation between EU Member States 
in relation to how well informed people feel about environmental 
problems, including climate change. 

The  proportion  of  respondents  who  say  they  are  “very  well 
informed” about environmental problems including climate change 
ranges from just 5% in Bulgaria to around a third in Luxembourg 
(35%), Cyprus (34%) and Germany and Denmark (both 32%). This 
compares  with  an  average  of 21%  at  the  EU  level.  The  only  EU 
Member States where more than three in ten respondents say they 
are “poorly informed” about environmental problems are Bulgaria 
(39%), and Hungary and Italy (both 32%). This compares with the 
EU average of 18%. 

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, people are most likely to 
say they are “very well informed” about environmental problems 
in Switzerland (34%) and Turkey (29%). At least three in ten people 
say they are “poorly informed” about environmental problems in 
Serbia  (41%),  Montenegro  (33%),  Kosovo  (31%)  and  North 
Macedonia (30%). 

Comparing the current survey results with those reported in 2010, 
there  are  16  EU  Member  States  where  the  proportion  of 
informed”  about 
respondents  saying  they  feel  “very  well 
environmental  problems,  including  tackling  climate  change,  has 
increased, with the most notable changes in Portugal and Austria 
(both +13 pp) and Denmark (+11 pp). There are nine EU Member 
States where the proportion who say they feel “very well informed” 
has dropped, with the most notable shift in France (-9 pp).  

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  Turkey  shows  a  notable 
increase in the proportion of respondents who say they feel ‘very 
informed’ about environmental problems (+15 pp), while Norway 
shows a notable decline (-10 pp). 

23 

 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

24 

QA3.6Very well informedDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Moderately well-informedDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Poorly informedDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Don't knowEU272126121830AT27135751680PT211370239350DK3211593980DE329607820IE2696688140CY3495131471ES24856720150NL25867=880RO138661720211BE2866448100LT126661122150CZ15573612100EE1747021350PL1535722652SK13361=2541HR1326971880SI18=6521720FI17=6931430BG515333923EL1516172480IT7260732101LV8369423=0SE254685710LU355597610HU1055833280MT265621611101FR2795871530TR2915581313250MK17N/A53N/A30N/A0AL8N/A58N/A28N/A6ME8N/A59N/A33N/A0RS6N/A53N/A41N/A0IS18572710120CH341622420UK20570121060NO15106941670XK20N/A48N/A31N/A1BA11N/A59N/A29N/A1Ineverydaylife,wehavetodealwithmanydifferentissues,wherewefeelmoreor less informed. For each of the following, please indicate whether you are…Environmental problems including climate change (%) 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Comparing the current survey results with those reported in 2010, 
there  are  12  EU  Member  States  where  the  proportion  of 
respondents  who  say  they  feel  “very  well  informed”  about  new 
medical discoveries has increased, with the most notable changes 
in Spain (+12 pp), Denmark (+8 pp), and Austria and Romania (+6 
pp). There are nine EU Member States where the proportion who 
say  they  feel  “very  well  informed”  has  dropped,  with  the  most 
notable declines in Greece and the Netherlands (both -5 pp).  

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  Turkey  again  shows  a 
notable increase in the proportion of respondents saying they feel 
“very well informed” about new medical discoveries (+9 pp). 

Focusing  on  the  current  survey,  variation  between  EU  Member 
States is less marked in relation to how well informed people feel 
about new medical discoveries: 

Relative to the EU average of 13%, respondents are most likely to 
say  they  feel  “very  well 
informed”  about  new  medical 
discoveries  in  Spain  (20%),  France  (19%)  and  Denmark  (18%); 
they are least likely to say they are “very well informed” in Latvia 
(3%),  Greece  and  Bulgaria  (both  5%),  and  Slovakia,  Estonia  and 
Finland  (6%  in  each).  Relative  to  the  EU  average  of  32%, 
respondents  are  particularly  likely  to  say  they  feel  “poorly 
informed”  about  new  medical  discoveries  in  Hungary  (55%)  and 
Bulgaria (51%). A further four EU Member States report more than 
two  in  five  respondents  saying they  feel  “poorly  informed”:  Italy 
(45%), Greece and Finland (both 44%) and Latvia (43%).  

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  proportion  of 
respondents  who  say  they  are  “very  well  informed”  about  new 
medical discoveries ranges from just 4% in Serbia and Iceland to 
20%  in  Kosovo.  The  proportion  of  respondents  saying  they  are 
“poorly  informed”  about  new  medical  discoveries  is  particularly 
high in Serbia (55%), followed by Iceland (42%) and Montenegro 
(40%). 

25 

 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

26 

QA3.1Very well informedDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Moderately well-informedDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Poorly informedDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Don't knowEU2713254=3221ES201252528170DK18857725150AT147551031170RO106541435151BE154631022130CZ114691020120DE16457=2651LT94571134130MT163591723192PT83723220340PL9249140=2BG513915145EE6=55139=0IE13=641323100IT7=471045121CY16=6022420HU7=381555150SK6=5633741HR9158=3310SI915843320SE101641426130LU1726671740FI625044460FR1935642471LV345444310EL55511044150NL7563630110TR179612322280AL10N/A57N/A29N/A4ME7N/A52N/A40N/A1RS4N/A40N/A55N/A1MK13N/A50N/A36N/A1CH16157=27=0UK1326462340IS42541442120NO536063530IS42541442120XK20N/A51N/A28N/A1BA11N/A52N/A36N/A1Ineverydaylife,wehavetodealwithmanydifferentissues,wherewefeelmoreor less informed. For each of the following, please indicate whether you are…New medical discoveries (%) 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Focusing on the current survey, the level of variation between EU 
Member States in relation to how well informed people feel about 
new scientific discoveries and technological developments 
is similar to that seen in relation to new medical discoveries: 

Respondents  in  Denmark  (20%),  and  those  in  Luxembourg  and 
Spain  (both  19%),  are  most  likely  to  say  they  are  “very  well 
informed”,  compared  with  the  EU  average  of  13%;  those  in 
Bulgaria (4%), and Latvia, Greece, and Italy (6% in each) are the 
least  likely  to  feel  “very  well  informed”.  The  EU  Member  States 
where  respondents  are  most  likely  to  say  they  are  “poorly 
informed” are Hungary and Bulgaria (both 53%), Italy (50%) and 
Greece  (48%).  This  compares  with  an  average  across  the  EU  of 
33%. 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  proportion  of 
respondents  who  say  they  are  “very  well  informed”  about  new 
scientific discoveries and technological developments ranges from 
just 5% in Serbia to 20% in Kosovo. Respondents in Serbia (57%) 
are particularly likely to say they are “poorly informed” about new 
scientific discoveries and technological developments. 

Comparing  the  current  results  compared  with  those  reported  in 
2010,  there  are  15  EU  Member  States  where  the  proportion  of 
respondents  who  say  they  feel  “very  well  informed”  about  new 
scientific  discoveries  and 
technological  developments  has 
increased, with the most notable shifts in Spain (+12 pp), Czechia 
(+8  pp),  and  Belgium,  Denmark,  Austria  and  Portugal  (+7  pp  in 
each).  Among  the  nine  EU  Member  States  where  the  proportion 
who  say  they  feel  “very  well  informed”  has  dropped,  the  most 
notable change is in Luxembourg (-5 pp). 

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, the most notable change is 
again in Turkey where the proportion of respondents saying they 
feel  “very  well  informed”  about  new  scientific  discoveries  and 
technological discoveries has increased (+14 pp).  

27 

 
 
 
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28 

QA3.2Very well informedDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Moderately well-informedDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Poorly informedDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Don't knowEU271325333351ES191248533170CZ138671820230BE187621220180DK207581122180AT14749836151PT107713319380DE16657326101RO106532236221LT115571232150MT185552124223CY1845822460SK9450639122EE113611028120IE151642221170PL1015073872BG4=3765366HU7=391453131SE15=671718170IT6143950111SI1015743320EL624674890HR925963230FR1735522751LV635444010NL12362=2630FI835553720LU1956381820TR2414612615350MK13N/A45N/A41N/A1AL9N/A59N/A27N/A5ME6N/A53N/A40N/A1RS5N/A38N/A57N/A0CH16=611323120UK14265122190IS835883450NO1055823230XK20N/A49N/A29N/A2BA9N/A52N/A38N/A1Ineverydaylife,wehavetodealwithmanydifferentissues,wherewefeelmoreor less informed. For each of the following, please indicate whether you are…New scientific discoveries and technological developments (%) 
 
 
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29 

QA3.3-5PoliticsDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Culture and artsDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Sports newsDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010EU27234132237BE3011131264BG14485182CZ39181512613DK4318197314DE341315722=EE221194163IE32101422715EL2249224=ES2411199235FR3192213818HR1459=252IT5371161CY205191296LV162851313LT208123246LU3541492520HU9174154MT3717152271NL29377157AT2310164271PL171131263PT1596=153RO1239514=SI201832913SK3219123312FI211353139SE301266199TR28172312228MK16N/A13N/A21N/AAL10N/A8N/A12N/AME15N/A7N/A18N/ARS15N/A8N/A23N/ANO2075101316CH367117237UK2761012715IS18385222XK26N/A24N/A28N/ABA20N/A12N/A29N/AIneverydaylife,wehavetodealwithmanydifferentissues,wherewefeelmoreorlessinformed.Foreachofthefollowing,pleaseindicatewhether you are…Very well informed (%) 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

very interested in one of the other two science-related topics asked 
about; and those who have, or did have in the past, a professional 
association  with  research,  science  and  innovative  technology 
development, either through their own work or the work of a family 
member. 

The proportions of people who say they are “very well informed” 
about the three topics does not vary much according to whether 
they  regard  science  and  technology  as  having  a  positive  or 
negative  influence  on  society.  However,  those  who  think  science 
and technology has a negative influence on society are much more 
likely than those who say it has a positive influence to say they are 
“poorly informed” about each of the topics (43% vs 30% in relation 
to  new  medical  discoveries;  46%  vs  31%  for  new  scientific 
discoveries and technological developments; and 32% vs 15% for 
environmental problems). 

Finally,  there  is  a  positive  association  between  people’s  own 
assessment of how well informed they are about each of the three 
topics  and  how  well  they  perform  in  the  ‘quiz’  about  science-
related topics:  

  16% of people who get more than eight correct answers in the 
quiz  say  they  are  “very  well  informed”  about  new  medical 
discoveries, compared with 13% of those who get five to eight 
answers  correct  and  9%  of  those  who  get  less  than  five 
answers correct; 

  22% of people who get more than eight correct answers in the 
quiz  say  they  are  “very  well  informed”  about  new  scientific 
discoveries  and  technological  developments,  compared  with 
11% of those who get five to eight answers correct and 9% of 
those who get less than five answers correct; 

  33% of people who get more than eight correct answers in the 
quiz  say  they  are  “very  well  informed”  about  environmental 
problems, compared with 20% of those who get five to eight 
answers  correct  and  11%  of  those  who  get  less  than  five 
answers correct. 

Looking at differences between socio-demographic groups across 
the three areas relating to science and technology (new medical 
discoveries,  new  scientific  and  technological  developments  and 
environmental  problems),  some  consistent  patterns  emerge  in 
terms of the sub-groups that are particularly likely to say they are 
“very well informed” in each of the areas.  

The differences largely reflect those seen in relation to “interest” 
(see  above)  in  the  same  three  areas,  with  the  sub-groups 
particularly likely to say they are “very well informed” about each 
of the three areas being: 

People  who  finished  full-time  education  aged  20  or  over, 
particularly when compared with those leaving full-time education 
aged 15 or under. The largest differences are in relation to new 
scientific  discoveries  and  technological  developments  (18%  of 
those finishing aged 20 or over say they are “very well informed”, 
compared with 6% of those aged 15 or under); and in relation to 
environmental problems (28% vs 12% respectively); 

Managers,  particularly  when  compared  with  housepersons,  most 
notably in relation to new scientific discoveries and technological 
developments  (20%  of  managers  say  they  are  “very  well 
informed”, compared with 6% of housepersons); and in relation to 
environmental problems (28% vs 14% respectively); 

People  who  say  they  ‘never’  or  ‘almost  never’  have  difficulties 
paying their household bills, when compared with those who have 
difficulties paying their bills either ‘most of the time’ or ‘from time 
to time’. The differences are somewhat smaller than for the other 
socio-demographic variables highlighted here. The most notable is 
in  relation  to  environmental  problems,  with  23%  of  those  who 
‘never’ or ‘almost never’ have difficulties saying they are “very well 
informed”,  compared  with  16%  of  those  who  have  difficulties 
‘most of the time’ and 14% of those who have difficulties ‘from 
time to time’; 

People who use the internet every day, particularly when compared 
to those who never use it, with relatively large differences across 
all three measures: 14% whose use the internet everyday vs 7% 
who never use it in relation to  new medical discoveries; 14%  of 
everyday users vs 5% who never use the internet for new scientific 
discoveries and technological developments; and 23% of everyday 
users  vs  10%  of  those  who  never  use  the  internet  for 
environmental problems. 

In terms of gender, the pattern of responses is less consistent. Men 
(18%) are twice as likely as women (9%) to say they are “very well 
informed”  about  new  scientific  discoveries  and  technological 
developments and somewhat more likely to say this in relation to 
environmental problems (23% vs 19%), while similar proportions 
(13%  of  men  and  12%  of  women)  say  they  are  “very  well 
informed”  about  new  medical  discoveries.  Differences  by  age 
group across the three topics are relatively small. 

In  terms  of  the  key  variable  groups,  there  are  again  strong  and 
unsurprising  relationships  between  people  saying  they  are  “very 
well informed” in the three areas and other variables that indicate 
engagement  or  involvement  with  the  world  of  science  and 
technology.  Hence,  sub-groups  particularly  likely  to  say  they  are 
“very well informed” in each of the three areas include: those who 
say they are very interested in the topic; those who say they are 

30 

 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

31 

QA3TEnvironmental problems including climate changeNew medical discoveriesNew scientific discoveries and technological developmentsPoliticsCulture and artsSports newsEU27211313231323Man231318291334Woman19129191413 15-24231016181227 25-39211215221325 40-54221514251427 55+20131025141915-12961571616-1917121019122420+281618321724Still studying251218211427Self-employed211415271428Managers281620321826Other white collars181213211323Manual workers181211191128House persons1410615910Unemployed191312191223Retired211310261418Students251218211427Most of the time16911161222From time to time141110161120Almost never/ Never231414261425Everyday231414251425Often/Sometimes181110201222Never107513712Left251314281726Centre211413211222Right191315261225Interested322721311826Moderately interested1659211223Not interested73512621Interested362430342028Moderately interested1696211223Not interested64210617Interested381919332027Moderately interested1091018922Not interested67611418Positive221313241324Negative171210201223Less than 5 correct answers119814818Between 5 and 8 correct answers 191312221424More than 8 correct answers331621351726Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'251416281327Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'201312211423Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'171210201217You alone do or did in the past382229351725A family member does or did in the past 322022322126Both you and a family member do or did in the past462139481723No181111211223Ineverydaylife,wehavetodealwithmanydifferentissues,wherewefeelmoreorlessinformed.Foreachofthefollowing,pleaseindicatewhether you are… (% - Very well informed)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsUse of the Internet Left-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

2. 

Attitudes towards science 

The  rest  of  this  chapter  focuses  on  attitudes  towards  science. 
Respondents  were  asked  to  say  how  much  they  agreed  or 
disagreed  with  a  series  of  nine  statements  about  science  and 
technology. The three statements reported in this chapter are:  

  “Science is so complicated that I do not understand much about 

it”; 

  “I  would  like  to  learn  more  about  scientific  developments  in 

places like town halls, museums and libraries”; 

  “In my daily life, it is not important to know about science”. 

Within the EU, just over half of respondents (54%) agree that they 
would like to learn more about scientific developments in places 
like  town  halls,  museums  and  libraries,  with  around  one  in  six 
(16%)  saying  that  they  “strongly  agree”.  Just  over  one  in  five 
respondents  (22%)  disagree  that  they  would  like  to  learn  more, 
with  a  small  minority  (8%)  saying  they  “strongly  disagree”.  Just 
under one in four respondents (23%) say that they neither agree 
nor disagree.

A somewhat smaller proportion  – just under half of respondents 
(46%)  –  agree  that  science  is  so  complicated  that  they  don’t 
understand  much  about  it,  with  one  in  seven  (15%)  saying  that 
they “strongly agree”. Just under three in ten respondents (28%) 
disagree,  with  one  in  ten  (10%)  saying  that  they  “strongly 
disagree”.  One  in  four  respondents  (25%)  neither  agree  nor 
disagree with the statement. 

Respondents  are  least  likely  to  agree  that  it  is  not  important  in 
their daily lives to know about science. One-third of respondents 
(33%) agree that it is not important, with one in ten (10%) saying 
that they “strongly agree”. Just under half of all respondents (46%) 
disagree with the statement, with one in five (20%) saying they 
“strongly disagree”. One in five respondents (20%) are neutral. 

Attitudes towards these statements vary considerably both within 
the EU and among the non-EU countries surveyed. 

32 

 
 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

For  the  statement  “I  would  like  to  learn  more  about  scientific 
developments  in  places  like  town  halls,  museums  and  libraries”, 
respondents in Portugal are most likely to agree (80%) with the 
statement, considerably higher than the EU average of 54%. The 
next  highest  levels  of  agreement  are  found  in  Ireland  (68%), 
Luxembourg  (65%)  and  Cyprus  (64%).  More  than  a  third  of 
respondents  in  Portugal  (36%)  and  Cyprus  (37%)  say  they 
“strongly agree” that they would like to learn more about scientific 
developments. The lowest levels of agreement on this measure are 
seen in Bulgaria, Austria and Croatia (41% in each), Slovakia (42%) 
and Denmark (43%). 

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, a notably high proportion 
of respondents in Turkey (84%) agree that they would like to learn 
more  about  scientific  developments  in  places  like  town  halls, 
museums and libraries, with close to half (46%) saying that they 
“strongly agree”. Respondents in Albania (24%) and Serbia (30%) 
are least likely to agree. 

33 

 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The next chart shows how attitudes vary across EU Member States 
in relation to the statement “Science is so complicated that I do not 
understand much about it”. 

Respondents in Bulgaria (70%), Cyprus (69%), Greece (67%) and 
Spain  (61%)  are  particularly  likely  to  agree  that  science  is  so 
complicated  that  they  do  not  understand  much  about  it,  when 
compared with the EU average of 46%. A majority of respondents 
agree  with  the  statement  in  a  further  nine  EU  countries. 
Respondents in Belgium (23%), Ireland (24%) and the Netherlands 
(25%) are the least likely to agree that science is so complicated 
that they do not understand much about it. 

There  are  five  EU  Member  States  where  at  least  one  in  four 
respondents  “strongly  agree”  that  they  do  not  understand  much 
about science (compared with the EU average of 15%): Bulgaria 
(36%), Cyprus (31%), Greece (27%), Spain (26%) and Malta (25%).  

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  proportion  of 
respondents who agree that science is so complicated that they do 
not  understand  much  about  it  is  highest  in  Kosovo  (60%),  and 
Montenegro and Serbia (both 59%), and lowest in Albania (24%) 
and Iceland (26%).  

34 

 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Attitudes across the EU Member States again vary considerably in 
relation  to  the  statement  “In  my  daily  life  it  is  not  important  to 
know about science”. 

There  are  three  EU  Member  States  where  the  majority  of 
respondents agree that it is not important for them to know about 
science in their daily lives: Bulgaria (57%) and Greece and Austria 
(both  53%),  compared  with  the  EU  average  of  33%.  The  lowest 
proportions  are  in  Czechia  and  Finland  (both  16%),  followed  by 
Latvia, Portugal and Malta (18% in each).  

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, a majority of respondents 
agree that it is not important for them to know about science in 
their daily lives in Montenegro and Serbia (both 54%). The non-EU 
countries where the lowest proportion of respondents agree with 
this statement are Switzerland (19%) and Albania (20%). 

This  measure  was  included  in  an  earlier  Eurobarometer  Survey 
(Special  Eurobarometer  340  EB  73.1)  conducted  in  2010.  Since 
then,  there  has  been  no  change  at  the  EU  27  level  in  the 
proportions of respondents who say they “strongly agree” or “tend 
to agree” that it is not important for them to know about science 
in their daily lives. 

Comparing the current national level results with those reported in 
2010,  there  are  ten  EU  Member  States  where  the  proportion  of 
respondents who agree that it is not important for them to know 
about  science  in  their  daily  lives  has  increased,  with  the  most 
notable shifts in Poland and Romania (both +15 pp), Bulgaria and 
Hungary (both +12 pp) and Greece and Italy (both +8 pp). There 
are 17 EU Member States where the proportion who agree that it 
is not important for them to know about science has dropped, with 
the  most  notable  decreases  in  Portugal  (-26  pp),  Czechia  and 
Estonia  (both  -22  pp),  Belgium  and  Luxembourg  (both  -18  pp), 
Ireland and Finland (both -14 pp) and Latvia (-13 pp).  

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, the most notable change is 
in Switzerland, with a marked drop in the proportion of respondents 
who agree that it is not important for them to know about science 
in their daily lives (-12 pp).  

35 

 
 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

36 

QA9.2Strongly agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Tend to agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Neither agree nor disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Tend to disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Strongly disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Don't knowTotal 'Agree'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Total 'Disagree'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010EU2710=23=202265203133=462PL1453310245211178147152819RO137298316203515242152518BG2982842221424535712187HU1643282641511106148122517EL2243142122066405382610IT11329529520119324082914SE412051910321251202445713CY11115214936324802636011ES1132111442263191322533SI11=2212352711740331445LT4417226123811580212539FR11=2341423032151344512HR1472532882131210394332NL5416=17233229=0214622AT20133317=1911051534294MT421431932843194185595SK1643212322127=1485282DK721351863133021207611DE8316517129629131248587LV47146271034121201813553IE4716712640122814020146826FI2414101434311271016147012BE3717112113911208020185919LU53151515439102612020186522CZ29141317843152415016226730EE5182441733914155029225419PT410141691533124032018267344TR161163105213371003225813MK21N/A20N/A25N/A19N/A14N/A141N/A33N/AAL5N/A15N/A44N/A18N/A7N/A1120N/A25N/AME16N/A38N/A21N/A20N/A4N/A154N/A24N/ARS21N/A33N/A25N/A15N/A5N/A154N/A20N/ANO421772010377222202155915IS51162231136=2080213568UK441811743932210225612CH2717518740823201912636XK17N/A27N/A21N/A12N/A16N/A744N/A28N/ABA17N/A31N/A26N/A19N/A7N/A048N/A26N/AThefollowingaresomestatementsthatpeoplehavemadeaboutscienceortechnology.Foreachstatement,pleaseindicatetowhatextentyouagreeordisagree.In my daily life, it is not important to know about science (%) 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Looking at differences between socio-demographic groups across 
these three statements, some consistent patterns emerge. 

“In  my  daily  life,  it  is  not  important  to  know  about 
science” (30% vs 55% agree). 

  People who say they ‘never’ or ‘almost never’ have difficulties 
paying their household bills, compared with those who do have 
difficulties,  although  the  differences  are  small  in  relation  to 
learning more about scientific developments: 

“I would like to learn more about scientific developments 
in places like town halls, museums and libraries” – ‘never’ 
or ‘almost never’ (55% agree), ‘from time to time’ (54%), 
‘most of the time’ (51%); 

“Science is so complicated that I do not understand much 
about it” – ‘never’ or ‘almost never’ (42% agree), ‘from 
time to time’ (56%), ‘most of the time’ (62%); 

“In  my  daily  life,  it  is  not  important  to  know  about 
science” – ‘never/almost never’ (30% agree), ‘from time 
to time’ (41%), ‘most of the time’ (44%). 

In  terms  of  gender,  the  pattern  of  answers  is  less  consistent. 
Women (50%) are somewhat more likely than men (42%) to agree 
that  “Science  is  so  complicated  that  I  do  not  understand  much 
about it” and slightly more likely to agree that “In my daily life, it 
is not important to know about science” (35% vs 32% respectively). 
However, women and men are equally likely to agree that “I would 
like to learn more about scientific developments in places like town 
halls, museums and libraries” (both 54%).  

In  terms  of  the  key  variable  groups,  there  are  again  strong 
relationships between variables that indicate engagement with the 
world  of science  and  technology  and  attitudes  in  relation  to  the 
three statements. As with the socio-demographic groups, there is 
a consistent pattern for groups that are more likely to say that they 
would like to learn more about scientific developments in places 
like  town  halls,  museums  and  libraries  to  disagree  both  that 
“Science is so complicated that I do not understand much about it” 
and  “In  my  daily  life,  it is  not  important  to  know  about  science”. 
This is the case for: those who say they are very interested in each 
of the three scientific areas asked about in the survey; those who 
have, or did have a professional association with research, science 
and innovative technology development; people who believe that 
science  and  technology  has  a  positive  influence  on  society;  and 
people who achieve high scores on the ‘quiz’ questions. 

Broadly speaking, groups more likely to agree with the statement 
“I would like to learn more about scientific developments in places 
like town halls, museums and libraries” are less likely to agree with 
the two other statements (“Science is so complicated that I do not 
understand much about it” and “In my daily life, it is not important 
to know about science”). This is the case for the following groups: 

  Younger people, when compared with those aged 55 and over: 

“I would like to learn more about scientific developments 
in places like town halls, museums and libraries” – 15-
24 (61% agree), 25-39 (59%), 40-54 (56%), 55+ (48%); 

“Science is so complicated that I do not understand much 
about  it”  –  15-24  (39%  agree),  25-39  (40%),  40-54 
(42%), 55+ (55%); 

“In  my  daily  life,  it  is  not  important  to  know  about 
science”  –  15-24  (25%  agree),  25-39  (31%),  40-54 
(31%), 55+ (40%). 

  People who finished their full-time education aged 20 or over, 
particularly  when  compared  with  those  leaving  full-time 
education aged 15 or under: 

“I would like to learn more about scientific developments 
in places like town halls, museums and libraries” (60% 
vs 39% agree); 

“Science is so complicated that I do not understand much 
about it” (31% vs 71% agree); 

“In  my  daily  life,  it  is  not  important  to  know  about 
science” (24% vs 51% agree). 

  Managers  and  students,  when  compared  with  other 

occupational groups: 

“I would like to learn more about scientific developments 
in places like town halls, museums and libraries” (60% of 
managers  and  65%  of  students  agree,  compared  with 
46% of housepersons); 

“Science is so complicated that I do not understand much 
about it” (26% of managers and 35% of students agree, 
compared with 55% of unemployed people and 57% of 
those who are retired), 

“In  my  daily  life,  it  is  not  important  to  know  about 
science” (20% of managers and 22% of students agree, 
compared with42% of respondents who are retired). 

  People  who  use  the  internet  every  day,  particularly  when 

compared with those who never use it: 

“I would like to learn more about scientific developments 
in places like town halls, museums and libraries” (58% 
vs 34% agree); 

“Science is so complicated that I do not understand much 
about it” (43% vs 67% agree); 

37 

 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

38 

QA9TI would like to learn more about scientific developmentsScience is so complicated that I do not understand much about itIn my daily life, it is not important to know about science33EU27544632Man544232Woman545035 15-24613925 25-39594031 40-54564231 55+48554015-39715116-1952564020+603124Still studying653522Self-employed594030Managers602620Other white collars584432Manual workers515238House persons466049Unemployed595537Retired465742Students653522Most of the time516244From time to time545641Almost never/ Never554230Everyday584330Often/Sometimes475943Never346755Left594231Centre544633Right514937Interested644127Moderately interested514735Not interested385948Interested673222Moderately interested544834Not interested347054Interested643826Moderately interested515137Not interested345949Positive574532Negative435542Less than 5 correct answers426249Between 5 and 8 correct answers 565034More than 8 correct answers592719Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'533928Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'564734Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'525643You alone do or did in the past592522A family member does or did in the past 663420Both you and a family member do or did in the past631514No534936Thefollowingaresomestatementsthatpeoplehavemadeaboutscienceortechnology.Foreachstatement, please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree. (% - Total 'Agree')GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsUse of the Internet Left-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

3. 

Sources of information about 
scientific and technological 
developments 

This section looks at the sources of information people use to find 
out about developments in science and technology. 

Respondents  were  presented  with  a  list  of  different  sources  of 
information that may be used to find out about developments in 
science and technology and asked to choose the two main sources 
that they use. 

Within EU Member States, television, either via a TV set or via the 
internet, is by far the most widely used source. Almost two-thirds 
of respondents (63%) say that this is one of their two main sources 
of information. Around three in ten respondents (29%) use online 
social  networks  and  blogs  as a main  source  of information,  and 
around  a  quarter  (24%)  use  online  or  printed  newspapers. Much 
smaller  proportions  say  that  they  use  radio,  including  podcasts 
(14%), online encyclopaedias (13%), and online or printed scientific 
journals  (10%).  Less  than  one  in  ten  respondents  use  the  other 
sources  that  were  listed  as  one  of  their  two  main  methods  for 
finding information about science and technology. 

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Among the non-EU countries surveyed, respondents are most likely 
to  mention  television  as  a  main  source  of  information  about 
developments 
in  Bosnia  and 
Herzegovina  (76%),  North  Macedonia  (72%)  and  Kosovo  (71%), 
and least likely to do so in Albania (46%). 

in  science  and 

technology 

Television is the most widely cited source of information used in 
all  EU  Member  States,  with  at  least  seven  in  ten  respondents 
saying it is one of their two main sources in Romania (74%), Italy, 
Hungary,  and  Portugal  (71%  in  each),  and  Slovenia  (70%), 
compared with  the  EU average of 63%.  The  EU  countries  where 
respondents are least likely to mention television as a main source 
of information about developments in science and technology are 
Finland (48%), Luxembourg (51%), Ireland (52%), and Greece and 
Austria (both 53%). 

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Using online social networks and blogs is the second or third most 
widely  mentioned  main  source  of  information  in  all  EU  Member 
States except Finland. In Finland it ranks fifth  (behind television, 
newspapers,  scientific  journals,  and  online  encyclopaedias),  with 
only 17% of respondents – lower than any other EU country and 
compared with the EU average of 29%  – saying they use social 
networks and blogs as a main source of information. Notably high 
proportions  of  respondents  (compared  with  the  EU  average  of 
29%) say that they use social networks and blogs in Cyprus (53%), 
Greece (50%), Lithuania (46%) and Malta (44%).

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, notably high proportions of 
respondents use social networks and blogs in Kosovo (48%), North 
Macedonia (42%), Montenegro (41%) and Bosnia and Herzegovina 
(40%). The countries where respondents are least likely to say that 
they use social networks and blogs are Switzerland (19%), where 
this source ranks fourth behind television, newspapers and radio; 
and Norway (18%), ranking fourth behind television, newspapers 
and scientific journals. 

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Among  EU  countries,  the  proportion  of  respondents  mentioning 
newspapers (either online or in print) is highest in the Netherlands 
(51%),  Belgium  (45%),  Denmark  (44%),  Sweden  (43%),  Finland 
and Ireland (both 42%) and Luxembourg (41%), compared with the 
EU  average  of  24%.  It  is  lowest  in  Romania  (7%)  and  Hungary 
(10%). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  people  in  Norway  (54%) 
and Switzerland (51%) are particularly likely to use newspapers as 
a  main  source  of  information,  while  those  in  North  Macedonia 
(4%), Kosovo (7%) and Albania (10%) are least likely to do so.  

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Looking at the remaining sources of information that can be used 
for  information  about  developments  in  science  and  technology, 
and those where at least one in ten respondents say it is one of 
their two main sources: 

Within  the  EU,  use  of  the  radio,  including  podcasts  is  most 
widespread  in  Ireland  (30%),  France  (22%),  Czechia  (21%)  and 
Slovakia (20%) – compared with the EU average of 14%. It is least 
widely  mentioned  by  respondents  in  Greece  and  Italy  (both  5%) 
and  Finland  (6%).  Within  non-EU  countries,  radio  is  most  widely 
mentioned in Iceland (23%), the UK and Switzerland (both 20%), 
and least widely mentioned in Kosovo (3%), Montenegro (4%), and 
North Macedonia and Serbia (both 5%);

The  proportion  of  respondents  in  EU  countries  using  online 
encyclopaedias as one of their two main sources of information 
ranges  from  a  high  of  26%  in  Finland,  followed  by  Greece  and 
Latvia (both 24%) to a low of 5% reported in Spain and Portugal; 
this compares with an EU average of 13%. In non-EU countries, the 
proportions range from 16% in Iceland and Switzerland to 6% in 
Kosovo; 

EU Member States with a notably high proportion of respondents 
using  scientific  journals  as  one  of  their  two  main  sources  for 
information  include  Finland  (28%),  Portugal  (22%)  and  Estonia 
(20%), with the lowest proportion in Bulgaria (3%); this compares 
with an EU average of 10%. In non-EU countries, proportions range 
from a high of 20% in Norway to a low of 5% in North Macedonia. 

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44 

QA4aTelevision, on a TV set or via the internetOnline social networks and blogs (e.g. video hosting websites)Newspapers, either online or in printRadio, including podcastsOnline encyclopaedias e.g. WikipediaScientific journals, either online or in printMagazines, either online or in printBooks, either in print or e-booksOther (SPONTANEOUS)You do not look for information about developments in science and technologyDon't knowEU2763292414131097030BE612445141716108000BG7027128143230112CZ622830211913128000DK60224417121897000DE632631181811119010EE5726381817201010000IE523242301014510000EL535012524836050ES593916145857080FR62331922111199030HR65322112159115040IT712422510886060CY575313918836040LV6035151424151010000LT60462114181498000LU5126411914181113000HU7132101315795030MT614427119877140NL58245113161499000AT532226141813149060PL6526131112894030PT713232115221012000RO7426789643070SI7032231313856050SK58291620158108061FI48174262628118000SE58234319189169000TR64361961218617000MK72424512565030AL462210714899000ME6641134131087040RS642621512797061NO57185415122087000CH581951201613127000UK64284120151079010IS593229231615613000XK7148736658000BA7640161010644000Of the following list of sources of information about developments in science and technology, please choose the two main sources that you use (watch, read, or listen) the most.  (MAX. 2 ANSWERS)(%)1st MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM2nd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM3rd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM 
 
 
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There  are  some  notable  differences  between  socio-demographic 
groups in terms of the sources of information people use the most 
to find out about developments in science and technology. 

Gender is not a key differentiator in this respect. The only notable 
difference between men and women in terms of the sources they 
use the most relates to scientific journals, which men (12%) are 
more  likely  than  women  (8%)  to  mention as  one  of the  sources 
that they use the most. 

Age,  by  contrast,  has  a  strong  relationship  on  the  sources  of 
information people use. This is not surprising given that internet 
usage  in  general  varies  considerably  by  age.  Within  the  EU,  the 
proportion  of  respondents  in  this  survey  who  say  they  use  the 
internet  daily  decreases  as  age increases  –  over  90%  of people 
aged under 55 say they use the internet every day, rising to 99% 
of those aged 15-24 and 98% of 25-34s. Usage then decreases 
rapidly,  falling to  80% among  55-64s,  62%  among 65-74s  and 
34% among those aged 75 and over.  

These differences are reflected in the sources people use to learn 
about developments in science and technology. Use of online social 
networks and blogs also varies considerably by age: the proportion 
of respondents who mention these as one of their main sources of 
information range from 57% of 15-24 year olds to 10% of 65-74 
year olds and just 4% of those aged 75 and over. Among 15–24 
year  olds,  social  networks  and  blogs  are  the  most  widely 
mentioned source of information, followed by television. There is 
a similar (but less marked) pattern in relation to the use of online 
encyclopaedias, such as Wikipedia, with the proportion mentioning 
these  as  one  of their  main  sources  of information ranging  from 
19% of 15-24 year olds to 5% of those aged 75 and over.  

Conversely, younger people – in particular those aged 15-24 – are 
much  less  likely  than  their  older  peers  to  use  more  traditional 
channels of information (whether online or not) such as television, 
newspapers, magazines, and radio. This is especially the case for 
newspapers – which 13% of 15-24 year olds mention as a main 
information source, compared with 24% of EU adults as a whole – 
and radio (7% and 14% respectively). 

The survey results show that the proportion of respondents using 
more traditional channels of information increases with age. With 
the  exception  of  15–24  year  olds,  television  is  the  most  widely 
mentioned source among all age groups. However, social networks 
and blogs are the second most widely mentioned source among 
those  aged  25-54,  (with  newspapers  mentioned  by  a  similar 
proportion of those aged 45-54). Among those aged 55 and over, 
however, 
is  particularly  widely  mentioned  and 
newspapers are the second most commonly mentioned source of 
information.  Radio  is  also  a  relatively  important  source  of 
information among these older age groups.  

television 

In terms of occupational status, differences between students and 
those who are retired reflect those noted by age. Of note, students 
(18%),  together  with  managers  (19%),  are  particularly  likely  to 
mention  scientific  journals  as  one  of  the  sources  of  information 
they  use  the  most,  relative  to  all  other  occupational  groups. 
Managers  are  more  likely  than  all  other  groups  to  mention 
newspapers,  magazines,  radio  and  scientific  journals,  while 
housepersons are the group least likely to mention books, journals 
and, along with students, newspapers. 

People  who  score  highly  in  the  ‘quiz’  are  particularly  likely  to 
mention online encyclopaedias (19% of those with more than eight 
correct answers vs 7% of those with less than 5 correct answers) 
and journals (17% vs 5%) as among the sources of information 
they use the most. Among the high-performing groups, only 54% 
mention television as one of sources they use the most, compared 
with  65%  among  those  getting  5-8  correct  answers  and  69% 
among those getting less than five correct answers.  

Finally,  mention  of  books  and  journals  as  a  preferred  source  of 
information  –  again,  as  might  be  expected  –  is  particularly  high 
among people who themselves and/or via a family member, work 
or have worked in a scientific profession. For example, among the 
group where both the respondent and a family member have, or 
did have in the past, a professional association with this area, 15% 
mention books as one of the sources they use the most, compared 
with  7%  among  adults  as  a  whole,  and  32%  mention  journals, 
compared with 10% among adults as a whole. 

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46 

QA4aTelevision, on a TV set or via the internetNewspapers, either online or in printOnline encyclopaedias e.g. WikipediaMagazines, either online or in printRadio, including podcastsBooks, either in print or e-booksOnline social networks and blogs (e.g. video hosting websites)Scientific journals, either online or in printOther (SPONTANEOUS)You do not look for information about developments in science and technologyDon't knowEU2763241391472910030Man61241491473012020Woman6624128147288040 15-244713197795713030 25-3954221691374214020 40-5465241491562911020 55+73289916712705015-78174615412309016-19712211814529604020+5631171116102915010Still studying43161988115418030Self-employed57291491383312030Managers523217121892719010Other white collars64231691363210020Manual workers6818118156357030House persons721697103273090Unemployed6018157118429050Retired753089177106050Students43161988115418030Most of the time6113115127379050From time to time6517117136328050Almost never/ Never632714101582811030Everyday60251591383412020Often/Sometimes7621611207106030Never801515163220101Left622813101682911020Centre65241391473011020Right652312101572710030Interested632814101792815010Moderately interested6524148146308030Not interested611396952750130Interested5626171116103218000Moderately interested6726138146308020Not interested6714761042140130Interested602815101793013010Moderately interested6722138136299030Not interested601386862550141Positive64251491473011020Negative601698158277070Less than 5 correct answers691577125245080Between 5 and 8 correct answers 6523128147319030More than 8 correct answers543319111692817010Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'582615101683313020Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'66231391372910030Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'6821107136237060You alone do or did in the past4226211315142825000A family member does or did in the past 5131161317112720010Both you and a family member do or did in the past3836241113152332000No6723128146298040Education (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsOf the following list of sources of information about developments in science and technology, please choose the two main sources that you use (watch, read, or listen) the most.  (MAX. 2 ANSWERS) (% - EU)GenderAgeUse of the Internet Left-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
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Respondents were then asked to choose the source that they use 
least often for finding information about developments in science 
and technology.

Within the EU, respondents are most likely to say they use online 
social networks and blogs the least as a source of information for 
information  about  science  and  technology  developments  (19%), 
followed  by  scientific  journals  (17%),  radio,  including  podcasts 
(15%),  books,  either  printed  or  e-books  (13%),  and  online 
encyclopaedias (10%). Smaller proportions still say they use online 
or printed newspapers (9%), online or printed magazines (8%) and 
television (7%) the least. 

47 

 
 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Across  EU  Member  States,  the  countries  with  the  highest 
proportions of respondents saying they use online social networks 
and blogs the least (compared with the EU average of 19%) are 
Germany and Finland (both 27%) and Luxembourg (25%), with the 
lowest proportions reported in Greece (8%) and Cyprus, Lithuania 
and  Malta  (9%  in  each).  Looking  across  the  non-EU  countries, 
proportions range from a high of 32% in Switzerland to just 5% in 
Kosovo. 

The  EU  countries  with  the  highest  proportion  of  respondents 
mentioning that they use online or printed scientific journals the 
least (compared with the EU average of 17%) are Slovakia (31%), 
Ireland (29%), Czechia (28%), Sweden (26%) and Belgium (25%). 
The lowest proportion is reported in Cyprus (10%). Among the non-
EU countries surveyed, the highest proportions are found in the UK 
(30%) and Iceland (25%), with the lowest in Montenegro (7%) and 
Kosovo (9%). 

Within the EU, the proportion of respondents saying they use radio 
(including podcasts) the least for finding information about science 
and technology developments ranges from 6% in Ireland to 23% 
in  Malta,  compared  with  the  EU  average of 15%.  Within  non-EU 
countries, the highest proportions of respondents saying they use 
radio the least are found in Kosovo (39%), Montenegro (36%) and 
Turkey (34%), with the lowest proportion in Iceland (8%). 

Across  the  EU  Member  States,  the  highest  proportion  of 
respondents  saying  they  use  printed  or  e-books  the  least 
(compared  with  the  EU  average  of  13%)  are  Croatia  (24%)  and 
Slovenia (22%), with the lowest proportion in Ireland (9%). Among 
the non-EU countries surveyed, proportions range from a high of 
17% in Montenegro to a low of 8% in Turkey.

Looking at the remaining sources of information that can be used 
for information about developments in science and technology: 

Within the EU, online encyclopaedias are most likely to be used the 
least (compared with the EU average of 10%) in Spain (16%), with 
the lowest proportions seen in Czechia and Sweden (both 4%). In 
non-EU countries, proportions range from a high of 13% in North 
Macedonia to a low of 4% in Switzerland; 

Online or printed newspapers are most likely to be used the least 
within the EU in Cyprus (20%), with the lowest proportion reported 
in Finland (3%), compared with the EU average of 9%. In non-EU 
countries,  newspapers  are  most  likely  to  be  used  the  least  in 
Kosovo  (16%),  with  the  lowest  proportions  reported  in  Norway 
(2%) and Switzerland (3%); 

Online or printed magazines are most likely to be used the least 
within the EU in Ireland (15%), with the lowest proportions seen in 
Estonia, Luxembourg and Slovakia (5% in each), compared with the 
EU  average  of  8%.  In  non-EU  countries,  Iceland  (14%)  has  the 
highest proportion and Switzerland (5%) the lowest; 

Within the EU, television (on a TV set or via the internet) is most 
likely to be used the least (compared with the EU average of 7%) 
in Greece (16%), with the lowest proportion reported in Bulgaria 
(2%). In non-EU countries, television is most likely to be used the 
least in Albania (18%), with the lowest proportions seen in the UK, 
Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (3% in each). 

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49 

QA4bOnline social networks and blogs (e.g. video hosting websites)Scientific journals, either online or in printRadio, including podcastsBooks, either in print or e-booksOnline encyclopaedias e.g. WikipediaNewspapers, either online or in printMagazines, either online or in printTelevision, on a TV set or via the internetOther (SPONTANEOUS)You do not look for information about developments in science and technologyDon't knowEU271917151310987011BE222515138575000BG16191215101192033CZ212814144766000DK21151615107115000DE271712149776001EE221620187557000IE202969115155000EL8151710716816120ES1219141216888012FR22141510101188011HR111818248884010IT2015181211975021CY9102014720125012LV1224171561475000LT9201717811108000LU2516171375512000HU1415141891495020MT913231589116015NL192416148685000AT2117131312866112PL121315161012119011PT17161814138104000RO141116161014105031SI1220112291095101SK1431121311557011FI2713211653105000SE242614164475000TR912348101395000MK10112111131398130AL19121014711918000ME127361712763000RS171922149863011NO2618171562124000CH322313144356000UK1730111198113000IS1325816109145000XK59399101684000BA131421161211103000And now, please choose the source that you use the least.(%)1st MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM2nd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM3rd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM 
 
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As  would  be  expected,  differences  between  socio-demographic 
and key variable groups in terms of the sources of information that 
they use the least to find out about developments in science and 
technology  reflect  the  findings  in  relation  to  the  sources  that 
different groups use the most. 

This is particularly evident in relation to age, a key determinant of 
the sources of information that people use. For instance, while only 
2% of those aged 75 and over and 3% of 65-74 year olds choose 
television as the source that they use the least, this stands at 10% 
among  15-24  year  olds  and  11%  among  25-34  year  olds; 
conversely, while only 4% of 15-24 year olds and 8% of 25-34 
year olds choose social networks and blogs as the source that they 
use the least, this rises to 25% of 55-64 year olds, 35% of 65-74 
year olds and 43% of those aged 75 and over.  

50 

 
 
 
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51 

QA4bTelevision, on a TV set or via the internetNewspapers, either online or in printOnline encyclopaedias e.g. WikipediaMagazines, either online or in printRadio, including podcastsBooks, either in print or e-booksOnline social networks and blogs (e.g. video hosting websites)Scientific journals, either online or in printOther (SPONTANEOUS)You do not look for information about developments in science and technologyDon't knowEU277910815131917011Man71010715152014011Woman6911814121919011 15-2410147102117415011 25-3910101091815917011 40-546910815141719011 55+471161110321602115-27127913301404216-194111271315181801120+979815112218001Still studying11137112314514011Self-employed10612815141717001Managers989715132216001Other white collars61091016151519000Manual workers61012815161220010House persons31011814151916031Unemployed9139917121019011Retired371161093615021Students11137112314514011Most of the time81212814151316011From time to time71111815141516021Almost never/ Never6910814132117011Everyday7910816141618011Often/Sometimes4101269123114011Never29116893810052Left7810715122118011Centre6911914132017010Right61010815151816011Interested7911815112315001Moderately interested699815141819011Not interested6129913161417031Interested9910816122213001Moderately interested5910815141819011Not interested41011811141918041Interested8810815112217001Moderately interested61010815151717011Not interested61211812151615032Positive6910815131918011Negative81291014131813021Less than 5 correct answers51112813141717021Between 5 and 8 correct answers 71011815131717011More than 8 correct answers877716122716000Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'899815142017000Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'6911815131818011Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'61011714122116021You alone do or did in the past1471081610259010A family member does or did in the past 1110871492416001Both you and a family member do or did in the past186871872511000No6910815141818011Education (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsAnd now, please choose the source that you use the least. (% - EU)GenderAgeUse of the Internet Left-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
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 A similar proportion of respondents (66%) correctly say that it is 
false  that  “The  earliest  humans  lived  at  the  same  time  as  the 
dinosaurs”. One in five respondents (20%) incorrectly identify it as 
true. One in seven respondents (14%) say they don’t know whether 
the statement is true or false. 

Respondents  in  the  EU  are  less  likely  to  know  what  the  world’s 
population is: just over two-fifths (43%) of respondents correctly 
say that it is false that “The world’s human population is currently 
more  than  10  billion”.  A  slightly  smaller  proportion  (37%)  of 
respondents incorrectly identify it as true, with one in five (20%) 
unable to say if it is true or false. 

Three of these questions were included in an earlier Eurobarometer 
Survey (Special Eurobarometer 224 EB 63.1) conducted in 2005. 
Since then, there has been a small drop in the proportions correctly 
saying that it is true that continents have been moving for millions 
of  years  and  will  continue  to  move  in  the  future  (-4  pp);  and 
correctly saying that it is true that human beings developed from 
earlier species of animals (-3 pp), with corresponding increases in 
the proportions incorrectly thinking each statement is false (both 
+3 pp). In relation to whether the earliest humans lived at the same 
time as the dinosaurs, there has been no change in the proportion 
correctly identifying this as false, though there has been a small 
drop  in  the  proportion  incorrectly  thinking  that  it  is  true  
(-3 pp) and a corresponding increase in the proportion who don’t 
know whether the statement is true or false (+3 pp). 

4. 

Knowledge of natural history, 
demographics and geography 

The  remaining  sections  of  this  chapter  explore  people’s  actual 
knowledge and understanding of science in a broad sense. This was 
done via a ‘quiz’ format, where respondents were presented with 
a set of 11 statements – some factual and others non-factual – 
and asked to say whether they believed each statement to be true 
or  false.  The  findings  are  reported  in  three  broad  topic  areas: 
natural  history,  demographics  and  geography;  the  natural  and 
physical  sciences;  and  common  conspiracy  theories.  The  final 
section  of  this  chapter  summarises  people’s  knowledge  and 
understanding  of  scientific  issues  by  looking  at  the  number  of 
correct answers that respondents gave. 

Respondents were presented with four statements that relate to 
natural  history,  demographics  and  geography,  and  asked  to  say 
whether they believed them to be true or false. For each statement, 
respondents could also say they did not know if they were unsure 
of their answer (the “don’t know” answer option was read out loud 
in  face-to-face  interviewing  and  immediately  visible  in  online 
interviewing). The four statements were: 

  “The earliest humans lived at the same time as the dinosaurs” 

(FALSE); 

  “The continents on which we live have been moving for millions 
of years and will continue to move in the future” (TRUE); 

  “The  world’s  human  population  is  currently  more  than  10 

billion” (FALSE)8; 

  “Human  beings,  as  we  know  them  today,  developed  from 

earlier species of animals” (TRUE). 

Across  the  four  questions,  people  are  most  likely  to  be  able  to 
correctly say that it is true that “The continents on which we live 
have been moving for millions of years and will continue to move 
in the future”. The large majority of respondents in the EU (82%) 
correctly identify this statement as true. Only 9% of respondents 
incorrectly say that it is false, and 9% unable to say if it is true or 
false. 

Two-thirds of respondents (67%) correctly say that it is true that 
“Human  beings, as we  know  them  today,  developed  from earlier 
species  of  animals”.  Just  under  one  in  four  respondents  (23%) 
incorrectly identify this as false, with one in ten respondents (10%) 
unable to say if this statement is true or false.

8 This item is new and was not asked in 2005. 

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Looking at the current survey results, in most EU Member States 
(22/27) the majority of respondents correctly say that it is false 
that  “The  earliest  humans  lived  at  the  same  time  as  the 
dinosaurs”9: 

Respondents are most likely to correctly say that it is false that the 
earliest humans lived at the same time as the dinosaurs in Sweden 
(86%),  Luxembourg,  Czechia  and  Belgium  (82%  in  each)  and 
Germany  (80%).  This  compares  with  the  EU  average  of  66%.  A 
minority  of  respondents  correctly  say  this  is  false  in  Bulgaria 
(35%),  Romania  and  Cyprus  (both  45%)  and  Lithuania  (49%). 
Around  a  third  or  more  of  respondents  say  they  don’t  know 
whether the statement is true or false in Bulgaria (36%), Lithuania 
and Latvia (both 33%) and Cyprus (32%) – compared with the EU 
average of 14%. 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  proportion  of 
respondents  who  correctly  say  that  it  is  false  that  the  earliest 
humans  lived  at  the  same  time  as  the  dinosaurs  is  highest  in 
Switzerland (80%), followed by Iceland (73%), with only a minority 
of respondents correct in Albania (26%), Kosovo (34%) and Turkey 
(42%). Kosovo has a notably high proportion (48%) of respondents 
unable to say if this statement is true or false. 

Comparing the 2021 findings with those of 2005, there are 12 EU 
Member States where the proportion of respondents who correctly 
say that it is false that the earliest humans lived at the same time 
as  the  dinosaurs  has  increased,  with  the  most  notable  shifts  in 
Portugal (+18 pp), Spain (+15  pp), Ireland (+14 pp) and Belgium 
and Malta (both +12 pp). Among the 11 EU Member States where 
the  proportion  who  correctly  say  this  statement  is  false  has 
dropped,  the  most  notable  decreases  are  in  Slovenia  (-14 
percentage points), Hungary (-13 pp) and Bulgaria and Denmark 
(both -10 pp). 

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, the most notable changes 
are in Turkey, where the proportion of respondents who correctly 
say that it is false that the earliest humans lived at the same time 
as the dinosaurs has increased (+12 pp); and in Norway, where the 
proportion who correctly say this statement is false has dropped  
(-10 pp).  

9 In this question “True” is incorrect and “False” is correct. 

53 

 
 
 
 
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54 

QA20.1 TrueDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005 FalseDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Don't knowEU2720366=14BG2913351036HU3113561313RO341345321AT28126636HR25255520IT34253213SI222571421EL30150=20SK17165=18DE9280=11FR18370=12NL12369619LT18549933PL28558514SE3686111DK78691024CZ6982412CY23945532LU6982512EE81267125ES1712711512LV151252133FI81370222MT1514601225IE1017701420PT917711820BE519821213TR339421225MK22N/A56N/A22AL48N/A26N/A26ME25N/A60N/A15RS19N/A59N/A22IS7573120CH5480115NO67701024UK121666322XK18N/A34N/A48BA18N/A62N/A20Finally,foreachofthefollowingstatements,pleaseindicatewhetheryoubelievethemtobetrueorfalse.Ifyoudon'tknow, you can just indicate so.Theearliesthumanslivedatthesametimeasthedinosaurs (%) 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
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Comparing the current survey findings with those of 2005, there 
are  14  EU  Member  States  where  the  proportion  of  respondents 
correctly saying that it is true that human beings developed from 
earlier  species  of  animals  has  increased,  with  the  most  notable 
changes  in  Ireland  (+17  pp),  Luxembourg  (+15  pp),  Portugal  
(+13 pp) and Malta and Austria (both +12 pp). Among the ten EU 
Member  States  where  the  proportion  who  correctly  say  this 
statement  is  true  has  dropped,  Slovakia  has  a  particularly  large 
decline (-24 pp), followed by Slovenia (-12 pp) and Latvia (-10 pp).  

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, the most notable changes 
are again in Turkey, along with Switzerland, where the proportion 
of respondents who give a correct answer has increased (+10 and 
+11 pp respectively). 

Focusing on  the  current  survey, in  almost  all  EU  Member States 
(24/27) the majority of respondents correctly say that it is true that 
“Human  beings, as we  know  them  today,  developed  from earlier 
species of animals”10: 

Respondents  are  most  likely  to  correctly  say  that  human  beings 
developed  from  earlier  species  of  animals  in  Ireland  (84%), 
Sweden,  Luxembourg  and  Denmark  (83%  in  each)  and  Belgium 
(81%). This compares with the EU average of 67%. The exceptions, 
where only a minority correctly say that this is true are Slovakia 
(36%), Latvia (39%) and Greece and Cyprus (both 48%). Latvia has 
a markedly high proportion of respondents (28%) unable to say if 
this  statement  is  true  or  false,  along  with  Bulgaria  (27%)  and 
Lithuania (24%) – compared with the EU average of 10%. 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  respondents  in  Iceland 
(86%),  and  the  UK  and  Norway  (both  79%)  are  most  likely  to 
correctly  say  that  it  is  true  that  human  beings  developed  from 
earlier  species  of  animals,  while  those  in  Kosovo  (22%),  Turkey 
(37%),  Montenegro  (40%),  Bosnia  and  Herzegovina  (40%),  and 
Albania (49%) are the least likely. Kosovo has an exceptionally high 
proportion  of  respondents  (48%)  who  don’t  know  whether  the 
statement is true or false. 

10 In this question “True” is correct and “False” is incorrect. 

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56 

QA20.8 TrueDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005 FalseDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Don't knowEU2767323310IE84178138LU831510137PT77131479MT7412151011AT69122447BE81711108CZ726171011FI726141314NL7241949LT52324624ES75216=9CY48237115BG51122127SE831859DK83=7610IT69=2447HU67=2439EE63120117HR56233511DE66324110RO523371211EL48637515PL52736912FR72817511LV391033628SI551229416SK3624481916TR371050113MK51N/A36N/A13AL49N/A25N/A26ME40N/A51N/A9RS50N/A35N/A15CH7311161211NO79510811UK79411610IS861529XK22N/A34N/A44BA40N/A47N/A13Finally,foreachofthefollowingstatements,pleaseindicatewhetheryoubelievethemtobetrueorfalse.Ifyoudon'tknow, you can just indicate so.Humanbeings,asweknowthemtoday,developedfromearlier species of animals (%) 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Focusing on  the  current  survey, there  are  12  EU Member States 
where at least half of respondents correctly say it is false that “The 
world’s human population is currently more than 10 billion”11: 

Respondents are most likely to correctly say that it is false that the 
world’s population is more than 10 billion in Luxembourg (63%), 
Estonia  (62%)  and  Czechia  (60%),  with  the  lowest  proportions 
reported  in  Cyprus  (24%),  Bulgaria  (27%),  and  Spain  and  Malta 
(both 28%). This compares with the EU average of 43%. A notably 
high proportion of respondents in Bulgaria (39%) and Malta (31%) 
don’t know whether the statement is true or false, compared with 
the EU average of 20%. 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  Norway  (62%)  and 
Switzerland  (59%)  have  the  highest  proportions  of  respondents 
correctly  saying  it  is  false  that  the  world’s  human  population  is 
more than 10 billion, with the lowest in Albania (23%). As seen in 
relation  to measures  already reported  on  in  this  section,  Kosovo 
has an exceptionally high proportion of respondents (48%) who are 
unable  to  say  if it  is  true  or  false  that  the  world’s  population  is 
more than 10 billion. 

11 In this question “True” is incorrect and “False” is correct. 

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Comparing current survey findings with those of 2005, there are 
eight  EU  Member  States  where  the  proportion  of  respondents 
correctly saying that it is true that continents have been moving 
for millions of years and will continue to do so has increased, with 
the most notable shifts in Ireland (+14 pp) and Portugal (+10 pp). 
Among  the  16  EU  Member  States  where  the  proportion  who 
correctly say this statement is true has dropped, the most notable 
changes  are  in  Austria  (-10  pp),  France  (-9  pp),  and  Poland  and 
Finland (both -8 pp).  

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, the most notable change is 
again in Turkey, where the proportion of respondents who give a 
correct answer has increased (+15 pp). 

The majority of respondents across all EU Member States correctly 
say that it is true that “The continents on which we live have been 
moving  for  millions  of  years  and  will  continue  to  move  in  the 
future”12:  

There  are  six  EU  Member  States  where  at  least  nine  in  ten 
respondents correctly say that it is true that continents have been 
moving for millions of years and will continue to do so: Germany 
and Sweden (both 92%), Ireland, the Netherlands and Luxembourg 
(91%  in  each)  and  Belgium  (90%).  The  lowest  proportion  is  in 
Romania (62%), followed by Bulgaria (67%). This compares with 
the EU average of 82%. 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  at  least  nine  in  ten 
respondents correctly say that it is true that continents have been 
moving  for  millions  of  years  and  will  continue  to  do  so  in 
Switzerland (94%) and Norway (91%), with the lowest proportions 
saying that this is correct in Kosovo (35%), Albania (54%), North 
Macedonia  (60%),  and  Serbia  (65%).  Again,  as  seen  on  earlier 
measures  in  this  section,  Kosovo  has  an  exceptionally  high 
proportion of respondents (47%) unable to say if it is true or false 
that  continents  have  been  moving  for  millions  of  years  and  will 
continue to do. 

12 In this question “True” is correct and “False” is incorrect.  

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59 

QA20.2 TrueDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005 FalseDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Don't knowEU27824939IE9114198PT86102512LV8065215CY7657117MT8354113SK8059411BG6748125EE893249ES80=10110IT76=1668HU81=1237DE921315HR8111039LT7517118LU911316BE902337CZ892328SE922216EL74311415NL913425RO625241514SI895526DK887428PL72816812FI8484212FR849858AT781016116TR81159410MK60N/A21N/A19AL54N/A26N/A20ME74N/A18N/A8RS65N/A17N/A18IS8753110CH941115UK8753110NO911138XK35N/A18N/A47BA69N/A17N/A14Finally,foreachofthefollowingstatements,pleaseindicatewhetheryoubelievethemtobetrueorfalse.Ifyoudon'tknow, you can just indicate so.Thecontinentsonwhichwelivehavebeenmovingformillionsofyearsandwillcontinuetomoveinthefuture(%) 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Some consistent patterns emerge in terms of the extent to which 
people in different socio-demographic groups are able to answer 
the four questions correctly. The following groups are more likely 
than  their  counterparts  to  give  the  correct  answer  to  all  four 
questions: 

Men, compared with women, with the most marked difference seen 
in relation to the size of the world’s human population (men 51% 
correct, women 34% correct); 

People who have stayed in education longer, with the most marked 
differences seen in relation to whether the earliest humans lived 
at the same time as dinosaurs – those who completed full-time 
education aged 20 or over (75% correct), aged 16-19 (61%), and 
aged 15 or under (53%); and the size of the world’s population – 
those who completed full-time education aged 20 or over (50%), 
aged 16-19 (38%), and aged 15 or under (28%); 

Managers  and  students,  particularly  when  compared  with 
housepersons, with the most marked differences on the questions 
about the size of the world’s population: managers (55% correct), 
students  (54%)  and  housepersons  (30%);  and  whether  human 
beings  developed  from  earlier  animal  species:  managers  (77% 
correct), students (75%) and housepersons (54%); 

People  who  tend  not  to  be  in  financial  difficulty,  with  the  most 
marked differences in relation to the question about whether the 
earliest humans lived at the same time as dinosaurs – those who 
‘never’ or ‘almost never’ have difficulties paying their household 
bills (70% correct); those who have difficulties ‘from time to time’ 
(58%); and those who have difficulties ‘most of the time’ (50%);

People  who  use  the  internet,  particularly  those  who  use  it  every 
day, with the most marked differences in relation to the questions 
about  whether  human  beings  developed  from  earlier  animal 
species  –  use  the  internet  every  day  (70%  correct),  use  it 
sometimes/often  (55%),  never  use  it  (49%);  and  whether  the 
continents  have  been  moving  for  millions  of  years  and  will 
continue to do so – use the internet every day (85% correct), use 
it sometimes/often (73%), never use it (64%). 

In relation to age, younger people are more likely than older people 
to  give  correct  answers  on  three  of  the  quiz  questions.  The 
exception is the question about whether the continents have been 
moving for millions of years and will continue to do so, where there 
are  no  notable  differences  across  the  age  groups  among  those 
who correctly say that this is true. 

There are also some consistent patterns in relation to some of the 
key variable groups. Most notably, the proportion of respondents 
who  answer  all  four  questions  correctly  is  higher  among  people 
who think that the overall influence of science and technology on 
society is positive; those who are more interested in new scientific 
discoveries  and  developments,  new  medical  discoveries  and 
environmental problems; and those who have, or did have in the 
past,  a  professional  association  with  research,  science  and 
innovative technology development, either through their own work 
or the work of a family member. 

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61 

QA20.1-2/6/8The earliest humans lived at the same time as the dinosaursHuman beings, as we know them today, developed from earlier species of animalsThe world's human population is currently more than 10 billionThe continents on which we live have been moving for millions of years and will continue to move in the futureEU2766674382Man69705184Woman64643480 15-2472735281 25-3969724584 40-5467674384 55+6262388015-5357287016-196164388120+75735087Still studying73755483Self-employed67694782Managers77775590Other white collars67704085Manual workers65643980House persons58543073Unemployed61673679Retired60613779Students73755483Most of the time50573169From time to time58623674Almost never/ Never70694685Everyday69704585Often/ Sometimes62553873Never50493064Left72734786Centre67654083Right61634478Interested70714486Moderately interested67674481Not interested55553672Interested74755190Moderately interested66664281Not interested53562969Interested72724788Moderately interested64654180Not interested51573368Positive68694484Negative59543869Less than 5 correct answers25381355Between 5 and 8 correct answers 69673984More than 8 correct answers95917699Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'76775188Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'64663981Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'56523673You alone do or did in the past76725885A family member does or did in the past 77745288Both you and a family member do or did in the past78846491No64664081Finally,foreachofthefollowingstatements,pleaseindicatewhetheryoubelievethemtobetrueorfalse.Ifyoudon'tknow, you can just indicate so. (% - Correct answer)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsUse of the Internet Left-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

5. 

Knowledge of the natural and 
physical sciences 

This section of the report focuses on five statements that relate to 
science: 

  “Antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria” (FALSE); 

  “The oxygen we breathe comes from plants” (TRUE); 

  “Lasers work by focusing sound waves” (FALSE); 

  “Climate change is for the most part caused by natural cycles 

rather than human activities” (FALSE); 

  “The  methods  used  by  the  natural  sciences  and  the  social 

sciences are equally scientific” (TRUE). 

Across the five statements about science covered in this section, 
people are most likely to be able to correctly say that it is true that 
“The oxygen we breathe comes from plants”. The large majority of 
respondents in the EU (82%) correctly say that this statement is 
true. One in eight respondents (13%) incorrectly say that it is false. 
A very small minority (5%) are unable to say if it is true or false. 

Two-thirds (65%) of respondents correctly say that it is false that 
“Climate  change  is  for  the  most  part  caused  by  natural  cycles 
rather  than  human  activities”13.  A  quarter  of  respondents  (26%) 
incorrectly  say  that  the  statement  is  true.  One  in  eleven 
respondents (9%) are unable to say whether it is true or false.

More than half of respondents (55%) correctly say that it is false 
that  “Antibiotics  kill  viruses  as  well  as  bacteria”.  A  third  of 
respondents (32%) incorrectly think that the statement is true. One 
in eight respondents (13%) are unable to say if it is true or false.  

Nearly half (47%) of respondents think that “The methods used by 
the natural sciences and the social sciences are equally scientific”14 
is true. Three in ten respondents (29%) incorrectly say that this is 
false;  and  around  one  in  four  (24%)  are  unable  to  express  an 
opinion. 

Respondents  are  least  likely  to  know  that  that  “Lasers  work  by 
focusing  sound  waves”  (42%).  A  quarter  of  respondents  (26%) 
incorrectly think that this is true, and a notably large proportion of 
respondents (32%) are unable to give an answer. 

Three of these questions were included in an earlier Eurobarometer 
Survey (Special Eurobarometer 224 EB 63.1) conducted in 2005. 
Since  then,  there  has  been  a  notable  increase  in  the  proportion 
correctly saying that it is false that antibiotics kill viruses as well 
as bacteria (+9 pp), with a somewhat greater drop in the proportion 
incorrectly thinking that it is true (-11 pp), and a small increase in 
the proportion unable to say if it is true or false (+2 pp). In relation 
to whether lasers work by focusing on sound waves, there has been 
a drop in the proportion correctly saying that this is false (-5 pp), 
no change in the proportion incorrectly saying that this is true, and 
an increase in the proportion unable to express an opinion (+5 pp). 
The results for the question about whether the oxygen we breathe 

comes  from  plants  are  very  similar  across  the  two  surveys  (no 
more than +/-1 pp difference). 

13 This is a new item that was not asked in 2005. 

14 This is a new item that was not asked in 2005. 

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Focusing on the current survey, the majority of respondents across 
all EU Member States correctly say that it is true that “The oxygen 
we breathe comes from plants”15:  

The proportion of respondents correctly saying that it is true that 
the  oxygen  we  breathe  comes  from  plants  ranges  from  97%  in 
Slovenia,  and  90%  in  Latvia,  to  70%  in  Belgium.  This  compares 
with the EU average of 82%. 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  Albania  has  a  very  low 
proportion of respondents (52%) correctly saying that it is true that 
the oxygen we breathe come from plants. As seen in relation to 
measures  reported  earlier,  Kosovo  also  has  a  notably  high 
proportion  of  respondents  (22%)  who  don’t  know  whether  the 
statement is true or false, as does Albania (19%). 

Comparing the current results with those from 2005, there are 
13 EU Member States where the proportion of respondents who 
correctly saying that it true that the oxygen we breathe comes 
from plants has increased, with the most notable changes in 
Malta (+16 pp), Cyprus (+14 pp) and Ireland (+10 pp). There are 
12 EU Member States where the proportion who correctly say this 
statement is true has dropped, with the most notable shifts in 
Hungary (-17 pp), Estonia (-12 pp) and Romania (-11 pp). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  largest  change  is  in 
Turkey where, in line with findings reported in the previous section, 
the  proportion  of  respondents  who  give  a  correct  answer  has 
increased (+6 pp). 

15 In this question “True” is correct and “False” is incorrect.  

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64 

QA20.4 TrueDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005 FalseDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Don't knowEU2782=1315MT83168139CY86149145IE85101055ES8181297SI977271FI897596BE70622118BG855649EL875964LV905624LT843937DE872845FR7911635HR89=813IT77=1924PT8411234SE871726CZ84211=5NL8421214SK8629=5AT8131554DK8468=8PL8061565LU8171445RO751119146EE8512867HU751722183TR7661737MK82N/A14N/A4AL52N/A29N/A19ME83N/A13N/A4RS89N/A8N/A3IS8436=10UK831948NO851758CH83112=5XK71N/A7N/A22BA87N/A10N/A3Finally,foreachofthefollowingstatements,pleaseindicatewhetheryoubelievethemtobetrueorfalse.Ifyoudon'tknow, you can just indicate so.The oxygen we breathe comes from plants (%) 
  
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Focusing on  the  current  survey, in  almost  all  EU  Member States 
(24/27), the majority of respondents correctly say it is false that 
“Climate  change  is  for  the  most  part  caused  by  natural  cycles 
rather than human activities”16: 

At least three-quarters of respondents correctly say it is false that 
climate change is for the most part caused by natural cycles rather 
than  human  activities  in  four  countries:  Portugal  (84%),  the 
Netherlands  (80%),  Ireland  (77%)  and  Belgium  (76%).  This 
compares with the EU average of 65%. By contrast, there are three 
countries where only a minority of respondents correctly say that 
this  statement  is  false:  Romania  (40%),  Slovakia  (46%)  and 
Hungary (47%). The proportion of respondents unable to give an 
answer is highest in Bulgaria (20%), compared with the EU average 
of 9%. 

the  non-EU  countries, 

the  highest  proportion  of 
Among 
respondents saying that it is false that climate change is for the 
most part caused by natural cycles rather than human activities is 
found  in  Switzerland  (75%).  The  only  non-EU  countries  where  a 
minority of respondents correctly say that it is false that climate 
change  is  mostly  caused  by  natural  cycles  rather  than  human 
activities are Albania (22%) and Kosovo (35%). The proportion of 
respondents unable to give an answer is highest in Kosovo (28%), 
followed by Albania (22%). 

16 For this question “True” is incorrect and “False” is correct. 

65 

 
 
 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In just over half of the EU Member States (14/27), the majority of 
respondents correctly say it is false that “Antibiotics kill viruses as 
well as bacteria”17: 

There are five EU Member States where at least three-quarters of 
respondents correctly say that it is false that antibiotics kill viruses 
as well as bacteria: Sweden and Belgium (both 83%), Luxembourg 
(80%), Ireland (77%) and Finland (75%). This compares with the 
EU  average  of  55%.  The  lowest  proportions  of  respondents 
correctly  saying  that  this  is  false  are  in  Greece  (19%),  Cyprus 
(20%), Bulgaria (22%) and Romania (29%). 

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, respondents in Switzerland 
and Norway (both 79%) are the most likely to correctly say that it 
is  false  that  antibiotics  kill  viruses  as  well  as  bacteria,  with  the 
lowest proportions of respondents correctly saying this is false in 
Kosovo (15%), Albania (22%), North Macedonia (32%) and Bosnia 
and Herzegovina (38%). Once again, Kosovo has a high proportion 
(25%)  of  respondents  unable  to  say  if  the  statement  is  true  or 
false (compared with the EU average of 13%), although it is lower 
than the proportions reported on other measures. 

Comparing the 2021 survey results with those from 2005, there 
are  24  EU  Member  States  where  the  proportion  of  respondents 
correctly saying that it is false that antibiotics kill viruses as well 
as  bacteria  has  increased,  with  a  particularly  large  increase  in 
Portugal (+43 pp), followed by Estonia (+32 pp), Latvia (+30 pp), 
Lithuania and Malta (both +28 pp), Czechia (+26 pp), Austria and 
Poland (both +24 pp), Belgium, Germany and Slovakia (+22 pp in 
each) and Ireland (+21  pp). Among the three EU Member States 
where the proportion who correctly say this statement is false has 
dropped, the most notable change is in Greece (-13 pp). 

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, the largest change is again 
in Turkey, where the proportion of respondents who correctly say 
that it is false that antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria has 
increased (+24 pp). Switzerland and the UK also show big increases 
in  the  proportions  who  answer  correctly  (+18  and  +14  pp 
respectively). 

17 For this question “True” is incorrect and “False” is correct. 

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67 

QA20.3 TrueDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005 FalseDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Don't knowEU27321155913EL6821191313BG651022413RO63102948HU4545025HR4724617FR33157210IT39147114CY7132059ES42445913NL18871211FI10875215SI3595669SE8108359AT2614642410LU121780168IE1319772110CZ212373266SK442347229PL4424462410DK1725691614PT1727724311LV4328443013LT4028492811BE729832210MT3831472815DE1432672219EE3236553213TR3613462418MK58N/A32N/A10AL57N/A22N/A21ME53N/A41N/A6RS46N/A47N/A7IS10969=21NO101279611UK1520711414CH722791814XK60N/A15N/A25BA50N/A38N/A12Finally,foreachofthefollowingstatements,pleaseindicatewhetheryoubelievethemtobetrueorfalse.Ifyoudon'tknow, you can just indicate so.Antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria (%) 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Focusing on the current survey, there are only nine EU countries 
where at least half of respondents correctly say that it is false that 
“Lasers work by focusing on sound waves”18: 

The proportion of respondents correctly saying that it is false that 
lasers  work  by  focusing  on  sound  waves  is  highest  in  Czechia 
(63%), followed by Germany (58%) and Luxembourg (56%), with 
the  lowest  proportions  reported  in  Bulgaria  (16%)  and  Cyprus 
(22%). This compares with the EU average of 42%. Bulgaria (55%), 
along  with  Estonia  (46%),  Malta  and  Lithuania  (both  44%)  and 
Spain and Denmark (both 43%) have notably high proportions of 
respondents unable to say if it is true or false that lasers work by 
focusing on sound waves, compared with the EU average of 32%. 

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, Switzerland is the only one 
where a majority of respondents (56%) correctly say that it is false 
that lasers work by focusing on sound waves. The countries with 
the lowest proportion of respondents correctly saying that this is 
false  are  Kosovo  (20%),  Turkey  (23%)  and  Montenegro  (25%). 
Kosovo,  once  again,  has  an  exceptionally  high  proportion  of 
respondents  (55%)  unable  to  unable  to  give  an  answer,  as  has 
Iceland (49%). 

Comparing the current results with the 2005 findings, there are 11 
EU  Member  States  where  the  proportion  of  respondents  who 
correctly  say  that  it  is  false  that  lasers  work  by  focusing  on 
soundwaves  has  increased,  with  the  most  notable  increases  in 
Portugal (+26 pp), Latvia (+24 pp), Lithuania (+19 pp), and Ireland 
(+15 pp). Among the 12 EU Member States where the proportion 
who correctly say this statement is false has dropped, the most 
notable changes are in Slovakia (-20 pp), Poland (-16 pp), Sweden 
(-14 pp), Denmark and Slovenia (both -12 pp) and Croatia (-11 pp). 

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, the most notable changes 
are  in  Switzerland,  where  the  proportion  of  respondents  who 
correctly  say  that  it  is  false  that  lasers  work  by  focusing  on 
soundwaves  has  increased  (+9  pp);  and  in  Norway,  where  the 
proportion who correctly say this statement is false has dropped  
(-11 pp). 

18 In this question “True” is incorrect and “False” is correct. 

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69 

QA20.5 TrueDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005 FalseDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Don't knowEU2726=42532RO381928634SK3919372024HU361741223PL4317321625IT4016331127EL381428434HR3813351127CY391222339AT42940118SI318471222BG29616455FR19143738MT194371044LU136561331SE147531433ES23934243NL14951735PT813522640DK1714401243DE1814581224FI131449338CZ111563826EE131641446LV1016502440LT1516411944BE91952339IE1019541536TR391223638MK31N/A32N/A37AL45N/A27N/A28ME53N/A25N/A22RS35N/A37N/A28IS18933=49NO137481139UK111149340CH131156931XK25N/A20N/A55BA30N/A38N/A32Finally,foreachofthefollowingstatements,pleaseindicatewhetheryoubelievethemtobetrueorfalse.Ifyoudon'tknow, you can just indicate so.Lasers work by focusing sound waves (%) 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Looking at the current survey findings, at least half of respondents 
across 11 EU Member States correctly say that is  true that “The 
methods used by the natural sciences and the social sciences are 
equally scientific”19: 

The proportion of respondents correctly saying that it is true that 
methods used by the natural sciences and the social sciences are 
equally scientific is highest in Hungary (78%), followed by Austria 
(59%), Croatia (58%), and Greece (57%). The lowest proportions 
are in Ireland (30%), Denmark and Malta (both 33%) and Latvia 
(36%). This compares with the EU average of 47%. A notably high 
proportion  of  respondents  say  they  don’t  know  whether  the 
statement is true or false in Bulgaria (44%), Latvia and Denmark 
(both  38%)  and Malta (37%),  compared  with  the  EU  average  of 
24%. 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  proportion  of 
respondents correctly saying it is true that methods used by the 
natural  sciences  and  the  social  sciences  are  equally  scientific  is 
highest  in  Montenegro  (59%),  followed  Albania  and  North 
Macedonia (both 53%), and lowest in the United Kingdom (29%). 
Again,  as  seen  in  relation  to  other  measures  reported  in  this 
section,  Kosovo  has  an  exceptionally  high  proportion  of 
respondents (47%) unable to give an answer, as has the UK (41%). 

19 In this question “True” is correct and “False” is incorrect. 

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People  who  use  the  internet,  particularly  those  who  use  it  every 
day, with the most marked differences in relation to the questions 
about whether antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria – use the 
internet  every  day  (59%  correct),  use  it  sometimes/often  (43%), 
never use it (33%); and how lasers work – use it every day (46% 
correct), use it sometimes/often (37%), never use it (22%); 

In relation to age, there are no consistent patterns across the five 
questions, and differences tend to be small. The most notable are 
in relation to the question about climate change, with people under 
the  age  of  55  more  likely  to  correctly  say  that  it  is  false  that 
climate change is for the most part caused by natural cycles rather 
than human activities – 70% of 15-24 years old compared to 62% 
of  those  aged  55  and  over;  and  the  question  about  lasers,  with 
people under 55 also more likely to correctly say that it is false 
that  lasers  work  by  focusing  on  sound  waves  –  44%  of  15-54 
years old compared to 39% of those aged 55 and over. 

There are some consistent patterns in relation to some of the key 
variable groups. Most notably, the proportion of respondents who 
answer all five questions correctly is higher among people who are 
more  interested  in  new  scientific  discoveries  and  developments 
and new medical discoveries; and people who say they are not very 
or not at all spiritual or religious. 

In  terms  of  the  extent  to  which  people  in  different  socio-
demographic  groups  are  able  to  answer  the  five  questions 
correctly, there are less consistent patterns. The following groups 
are more likely than their counterparts to give the correct answer 
to questions: 

Men, compared with women, in relation to whether the oxygen we 
breathe comes from plants and if lasers work by focusing sound 
waves, with the most marked difference seen in relation to how 
lasers work (men 51% correct, women 35% correct). There are only 
very small gender differences on the other two questions; 

People  who  have  stayed  in  education  longer,  across  all  five 
questions, with the most marked in relation to whether antibiotics 
kill  viruses  as  well  as  bacteria  –  those  who  completed  full-time 
education aged 20 or over (67% correct), aged 16-19 (50%), and 
aged  15  or  under  (37%);  and  the  least  marked  in  relation  to 
whether the oxygen we breathe comes from plants  – those who 
completed full-time education aged 20 or over (83% correct), aged 
16-19 and aged 15 or under (80% in each group); 

Managers, students, and self-employed people, particularly when 
compared with housepersons and unemployed people. Across four 
of the measures the most notable differences are in relation to the 
questions about lasers, with the proportion of respondents giving 
correct answers ranging from 31% among housepersons to 56% 
among managers; and whether antibiotics kill viruses as well as 
bacteria, with the proportion giving correct answers ranging from 
46% of unemployed people and 47% of housepersons to 69% of 
managers. In relation to the fifth measure – whether the methods 
used by natural sciences and social sciences are equally scientific 
–  the  sub-group  differences  are  much  smaller,  with  managers 
(54%) most likely to correctly say that this is true and unemployed 
people (41%), housepersons (42%), and retired people (43%); 

Across four of the questions, people who tend not to be in financial 
difficulty,  with  the  most  marked  differences  in  relation  to  the 
question about whether antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria 
– those who ‘never’ or ‘almost never’ have difficulties paying their 
household  bills  (60%  correct);  those  who  have  difficulties  ‘from 
time to time’ (44%); and those who have difficulties ‘most of the 
time’ (38%);

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QA20.3-5/7/9The oxygen we breathe comes from plantsClimate change is for the most part caused by natural cycles rather than human activitiesAntibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteriaLasers work by focusing sound wavesThe methods used by the natural sciences and the social sciences are equally scientificEU278265554247Man8365545147Woman8066563546 15-248370524448 25-398366574450 40-548067584548 55+816253394415-805737263916-19806150394620+8371675250Still studying8572564652Self-employed8267604546Managers8373695654Other white collars8167594050Manual workers8161514145House persons8057473142Unemployed7864463741Retired8161513843Students8572564652Most of the time7558383036From time to time7858443647Almost never/ Never8368604547Everyday8268594649Often/Sometimes7855433741Never7852332239Left8473624652Centre8265554247Right7957534244Interested8269624645Moderately interested8265544249Not interested7855423544Interested8370645549Moderately interested8266554048Not interested7755412841Interested8476624849Moderately interested8160524047Not interested7546433340Positive8366574349Negative7060493838Less than 5 correct answers6632171027Between 5 and 8 correct answers 8267543846More than 8 correct answers9489897966Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'8370645247Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'8163544147Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'8161433046You alone do or did in the past8167716352A family member does or did in the past 8174705547Both you and a family member do or did in the past8484746854No8264523947GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsUse of the Internet Left-right political scaleWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentFinally,foreachofthefollowingstatements,pleaseindicatewhetheryoubelievethemtobetrueorfalse. If you don't know, you can just indicate so. (% - Correct answers)Correct answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / SpiritualityMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technology 
 
 
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6. 

Belief in conspiracy theories 

The final set of statements covered in this chapter looks at beliefs 
in conspiracy theories using two measures: 

  “The  cure  for  cancer  exists  but  is  hidden  from  the  public  by 

commercial interests” (FALSE); 

  “Viruses  have  been  produced  in  government  laboratories  to 

control our freedom” (FALSE). 

Within the EU27, more than half of respondents (55%) correctly 
say that it is false that “Viruses have been produced in government 
laboratories  to  control  our  freedom”.  Just  under  three  in  ten 
respondents (28%)  incorrectly  say  that  it  is  true,  with  one in  six 
(17%) unable to express an opinion. 

More than half of respondents (56%) also correctly say that it is 
false that “The cure for cancer exists but is hidden from the public 
by  commercial 
in  four  respondents  (26%) 
incorrectly say that this is true. Less than one in five respondents 
(18%) is unable to say whether it is true or false. 

interests”.  One 

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Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  Norway  is  the  only  one 
where  more  than  three-quarters  of  respondents  (79%)  correctly 
say that it is false that the cure for cancer exists but is hidden from 
the public by commercial interests. It is followed by the UK (71%). 
Less than one in four respondents correctly say that this is false in 
Kosovo (21%) and Montenegro (23%). As seen in relation to other 
measures reported in this chapter, the proportion of respondents 
unable to give an answer on this measure is high in Kosovo (34%). 

There are 15 EU Member States where the majority of respondents 
correctly say that it is false that “The cure for cancer exists but is 
hidden from the public by commercial interests”20. 

There are five EU Member States where at least three-quarters of 
respondents correctly say that it is false that a cancer cure exists 
but  is  hidden  from  the  public  by  commercial  interests:  Denmark 
and  Sweden  (both  83%),  Finland  (78%),  Belgium  (76%)  and  the 
Netherlands  (75%).  Countries  where  the  fewest  respondents 
correctly say that it is false that a cancer cure exists but is hidden 
from  the  public  for  commercial  interests  are  Bulgaria  (22%), 
Cyprus (27%), Greece (29%) and Romania (34%). This compares 
with the EU average of 56%. Bulgaria has an exceptionally high 
proportion of respondents (37%) unable to give an answer, as has 
Latvia (33%), with high proportions also reported in Estonia (29%) 
and Croatia (27%), compared with the EU average of 18%. 

20 In this question “True” is incorrect and “False” is correct.  

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There are 13 EU Member States where the majority of respondents 
correctly say that it is false that “Viruses have been produced in 
government laboratories to control our freedom”21. 

There  are  six  EU  Member  States  where  at  least  seven  in  ten 
respondents  correctly  say  that  it  is  false  that  viruses  have  been 
produced in government laboratories to control our freedom: the 
Netherlands  (84%),  Denmark  (83%),  Sweden  (75%),  Belgium 
(74%), Ireland (73%) and Germany (70%). By contrast, less than 
three  in  ten  respondents  correctly  say  this  statement  is  false  in 
Bulgaria (19%), Cyprus (26%) and Croatia (28%). This compares 
with  the  EU  average  of  55%.  The  countries  with  the  highest 
proportions  of  respondents  unable  to  give  an  answer  are  Latvia 
and  Portugal  (both  31%),  Bulgaria, Malta  and  Lithuania  (29% in 
each), and Estonia (27%), compared with the EU average of 17%.  

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  at  least  seven  in  ten 
respondents  correctly  say  that  it  is  false  that  viruses  have  been 
produced  in  government  laboratories  to  control  our  freedom  in 
Norway (75%) and Switzerland (74%). By contrast, less than three 
in ten respondents correctly say that this is false in Kosovo (18%), 
Turkey  and  Montenegro  (both  22%)  and  North  Macedonia  and 
Albania  (both  24%).  Again,  Kosovo  has  a  high  proportion  of 
respondents  (29%)  who  are  unable  to  give  an  answer,  as  has 
Turkey (27%). 

21 In this question “True” is incorrect and “False” is correct. 

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Some consistent patterns emerge in terms of the extent to which 
people in different socio-demographic groups are able to answer 
both questions correctly. The following groups are more likely than 
their counterparts to give the correct answer to the two questions: 

Men, when compared with women (6 pp. more men give the correct 
answer for both questions); 

People who have stayed in education longer, with the most marked 
differences seen in relation to whether viruses have been produced 
in  government  laboratories  to  control  our  freedom  –  those  who 
completed full-time education aged 20 or over (66% correct), aged 
16-19 (48%), and aged 15 or under (38%); 

Managers  and,  to  a  lesser  extent,  students,  particularly  when 
compared with housepersons and unemployed people, with, again, 
the most marked differences seen for the question about viruses 
being  produced  in  government  laboratories  –  managers  (71% 
correct), students (62%) compared with housepersons (40%) and 
unemployed people (41%); 

People who tend not to be in financial difficulty, with somewhat 
more marked differences in relation to the question about viruses 
being produced in government laboratories – those who ‘never’ or 
‘almost never’ have difficulties paying their household bills (60% 
correct); those who have difficulties ‘from time to time’ (43%); and 
those who have difficulties ‘most of the time’ (31%); 

People  who  use  the  internet,  particularly  those  who  use  it  every 
day, with similar differences across both questions. 

In relation to age, differences are not particularly marked and not 
consistent across the two questions. People aged 15-24 and 40-
54  are  somewhat  more  likely  than  other  age  groups  to  give  a 
correct answer in relation to whether a cancer cure exists – 15-24 
year olds (59%), 40-54 year olds (58%), 25-39 year olds (56%), 
those  aged  55  and  over  (55%).  Young  people  aged  15-24  are 
somewhat  more  likely  than  those  aged  25  and  over  to  give  a 
correct  answer  in  relation  to  whether  viruses  are  produced  in 
government laboratories – 15-24 year olds (58%), compared with 
those aged 25 and over (53%-55%). 

There are more consistent patterns in relation to some of the other 
key variable groups. Most notably, the proportion of respondents 
who answer both questions correctly is higher among people who 
think  that  the  overall  influence  of  science  and  technology  on 
society is positive; those who are more interested in new scientific 
discoveries  and  developments,  new  medical  discoveries  and 
environmental problems; those who say they are not very or not at 
all  spiritual  or  religious;  and  those  who  have,  or  did  have  in  the 
past,  a  professional  association  with  research,  science  and 
innovative technology development, through both their own work 
and that of a family member. 

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77 

QA20.10-11The cure for cancer exists but is hidden from the public by commercial interestsViruses have been produced in government laboratories to control our freedomEU275655Man6058Woman5452 15-245958 25-395655 40-545855 55+555315-453816-19494820+6866Still studying6162Self-employed5657Managers7171Other white collars5857Manual workers5147House persons4840Unemployed4841Retired5452Students6162Most of the time3631From time to time4443Almost never/ Never6260Everyday6058Often/Sometimes4644Never4037Left6465Centre5554Right5350Interested6159Moderately interested5755Not interested4441Interested6563Moderately interested5655Not interested4338Interested6363Moderately interested5452Not interested4135Positive5958Negative4035Less than 5 correct answers1512Between 5 and 8 correct answers 5653More than 8 correct answers9294Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'6564Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'5554Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'4541You alone do or did in the past6768A family member does or did in the past 7069Both you and a family member do or did in the past8178No5452Finally,foreachofthefollowingstatements,pleaseindicatewhetheryoubelievethemto be true or false. If you don't know, you can just indicate so. (% - Correct answers)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsUse of the Internet Left-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

7. 

Overall science literacy  

The final section of this chapter presents an  overview looking at 
the  number  of  correct  and  incorrect  answers  respondents  gave 
across all 11 ‘quiz’ questions that were included in the survey. 

Within  the  EU,  around  one-fifth  of  respondents  (24%)  correctly 
answered  more  than  eight  out  of 11  questions,  over  half  (56%) 
give  between  five  and  eight  correct  answers,  and  around  one  in 
five (20%) are able to provide less than five correct answers.

In the EU, respondents are most likely to be able to give more than 
eight correct answers in Luxembourg (46%), Belgium and Sweden 
(both  44%),  Ireland  and  Finland  (both  41%),  Denmark,  the 
Netherlands  and  Germany  (all  39%).  The  countries  where 
respondents are most likely to give less than five correct answers 
are Bulgaria (56%), Romania (47%) and Cyprus (42%). 

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, respondents are most likely 
to be able to give more than eight correct answers in Switzerland 
(44%), Norway and Iceland (both 42%), and most likely to be able 
to provide less than five correct answers in Albania (74%), Kosovo 
(67%) and Turkey (44%). 

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The  socio-demographic  differences,  in  terms  of  the  number  of 
correct  and  incorrect  answers  respondents  gave  across  the  11 
questions, reflect the survey findings already described in section 
3  of  this  chapter.  Thus,  the  groups  more  likely  to  give  correct 
answers across all the quiz questions are: 

Men,  who  are  more  likely  than  women  to  give  more  than  eight 
correct answers (29% vs 19%). Women are somewhat more likely 
than men to give between five and eight correct answers (58% vs 
54%) and to provide less than five correct answers (23% vs 17%); 

People aged 54 and under are more likely than those aged 55 and 
over to give more than eight correct answers (25%-29% of those 
aged 54 and under vs 20% of those aged 55 and over), and less 
likely to give less than five correct answers (16%-18% of those 54 
and younger vs 24% of those 55 and older); 

People who finished full-time education aged 20 or over (36%) are 
more likely to give more than eight correct answers than those who 
completed their full-time education aged 15 and under (9%) or 16-
19 (16%). Conversely, those who finished full-time education aged 
15 and under are more likely to give less than five correct answers 
(39%)  or  16-19  (23%)  than  those  finishing  aged  20  and  over 
(11%); 

Managers (41%) and students (33%) are more likely than those in 
other occupational groups, particularly unemployed people (16%) 
and  housepersons  (12%)  to  give  eight  or  more  correct  answers; 
and less likely to give less than five correct answers (managers 8% 
and  students  13%  compared  to  unemployed  people  28%  and 
housepersons 34%);

People who rarely or never have difficulties paying their household 
bills (28%) are more likely to give more than eight correct answers 
than those who have difficulties ‘from time to time’ (13%) or ‘most 
of the time’ (9%); and less likely to provide less than five correct 
answers (‘most of the time’ 40%, ‘from time to time’ 29%, ‘almost 
never’ or ‘never’ (16%)); 

The likelihood of scoring well on the quiz is associated with greater 
internet usage. Among people who use the internet every day, 27% 
give more than eight correct answers, compared with 11% of those 
who use the internet often or sometimes and 6% of those who do 
not use the internet. Conversely, almost half of non-users of the 
internet  (44%)  give  fewer  than  five  correct  answers,  compared 
with 28% of those using the internet often or sometimes and 16% 
of daily internet users. 

In  terms  of  differences  across  key  variable  groups,  it  is  not 
surprising to find that people who say they are interested in the 
three  areas  of  science  (new  medical  discoveries,  new  scientific 
discoveries  and  technological  developments,  and  environmental 
problems) are more likely to score highly in the quiz e.g. in relation 
to interest in new scientific discoveries: 35% of those who say they 
are “very interested” give more than eight correct answers; 22% of 
those who are “moderately interested”; and 9% of those who are 
“not at all interested”. Conversely, those who say they are “not at 
all interested” in new scientific discoveries are more likely to give 
less  than  five  correct  answers  (37%),  compared  with  those  who 
are “moderately interested” (19%) and “very interested” (11%). It 
is also not surprising that people who think science and technology 
has  a  positive  influence  on  society  and  people  who  have  some 
connection with work in a scientific profession, particularly those 
who  have  a  personal  and  family  member  connection  are  more 
likely to score highly. 

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80 

QA20TLess than 5 correct answersBetween 5 and 8 correct answersMore than 8 correct answersEU27205624Man175429Woman235819 15-24165529 25-39175726 40-54185725 55+24562015-3952916-1923611620+115336Still studying135433Self-employed185626Managers85141Other white collars176023Manual workers226018House persons345412Unemployed285616Retired265519Students135433Most of the time40519From time to time295813Almost never/ Never165628Everyday165727Often/Sometimes286111Never44506Left155431Centre235720Right255817Interested155827Moderately interested205525Not interested345412Interested115435Moderately interested195922Not interested37549Interested135433Moderately interested215320Not interested39538Positive185626Negative32599Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'135433Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'235819Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'365311You alone do or did in the past124543A family member does or did in the past 105139Both you and a family member do or did in the past44056No225820Foreachofthefollowingstatements,pleaseindicatewhetheryoubelievethemtobetrueorfalse.Ifyou don't know, you can indicate so. (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsUse of the Internet Left-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentReligiosity / Spirituality 
  
II.  VIEWS ON THE IMPACTS OF 
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

1. 

Overall influence of science and 
technology on society 

Respondents  were  asked  for  up  to  two  characteristics  that  they 
think are the most influential in determining the status of a country 
or  group  of  countries.  The  majority  of  EU  respondents  mention 
economic strength (51%), with living and working conditions and 
well-being (35%) the only other characteristic mentioned by more 
than one-third. 

A quarter of respondents think social, health and welfare services 
(25%) are the most influential, one-fifth the rule of law (21%), and 
18%  mention  scientific  and  technological  advancement.  At  least 
one in ten also mention military and defence capabilities (13%) or 
the  availability  of  natural  resources  (10%).  Protection  of  the 
environment (9%) and the export of cultural works (4%) are least 
likely to be considered influential characteristics in determining the 
status of a country or group of countries. 

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Across the EU, economic strength is seen as the most influential, 
but at a country level the proportions vary from 68% in Czechia, 
65% in Greece and 62% in Lithuania to 30% in Sweden, 37% in 
Denmark  and  41%  in  Romania.  This  is  the  most  mentioned 
characteristic  by  respondents  in  24  countries,  the  second  most 
mentioned  feature  in  Portugal  (51%),  and  the  third  most 
mentioned in Denmark (37%) and Sweden (30%). 

Outside of the EU, in eight countries the most common answer is 
economic  strength,  with  the  highest  proportion  seen 
in 
Montenegro (62%). 

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There  are  three  countries  where  at  least  half  of  respondents 
mention  living  and  working  conditions  and  well-being:  Sweden 
(58%), Portugal (51%) and Ireland (50%). In contrast this is least 
likely to be considered the most influential feature by respondents 
in Czechia (19%), Poland (27%), Slovakia, Germany and Lithuania 
(all 28%). Living and working conditions and well-being is the most 
mentioned feature in Sweden, Portugal and Denmark (43%), and 
either the second or third most mentioned characteristic in each 
other Member State.

In three non-EU countries—Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland, living 
and working conditions and well-being is the most mentioned item 
– particularly by those in Norway (58%). 

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Social, health and welfare services are most often mentioned by 
respondents in Sweden (45%), Denmark (41%) and Austria (37%) 
and least mentioned by those in Czechia and Finland (both 14%), 
Poland, Lithuania and Estonia (all 18%). This is the second most 
mentioned  characteristic  in  15  countries  and  the  third  most 
mentioned characteristic in two countries. 

Looking  at  the  11  non-EU  countries,  social,  health  and  welfare 
services is the second most mentioned issue in Norway (54%) and 
Iceland (41%), and the third most mentioned issue in the United 
Kingdom (33%).  

85 

 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The  rule  of  law  is  mentioned  by  no  more  than  one-third  of 
respondents in any country, with proportions ranging from 33% in 
Germany and 31% in Denmark and Slovakia to 10% in Lithuania, 
12% in Italy and 13% in Hungary and Latvia. This is the second 
most mentioned characteristic in four countries, and the third most 
mentioned in one. 

Respondents in Estonia (25%), Germany, Belgium and Hungary (all 
23%)  are  the  most  likely  to  say  scientific  and  technological 
advancement is the most influential characteristic in determining 
the status of a country or group of countries, while those in Malta 
(9%), Ireland (11%) and Romania (12%) are the least likely to do 
so. It is the third most mentioned characteristic in Estonia (25%). 

There  are  only  three  countries  where  at  least  one  in  five 
respondents mention  military and defence capabilities: Lithuania 
(29%), Latvia (24%) and Finland (23%). This contrasts with 4% of 
respondents in Malta, 5% in Spain and 6% in Denmark and Sweden 
who  think  the  same  way.  This  is  the  second  most  mentioned 
characteristic  by  respondents  in  Lithuania  (29%),  and  the  third 
most mentioned by those in Latvia, Czechia and Finland.

The availability of natural resources is most likely to be mentioned 
by  respondents  in  Poland  (20%),  Latvia,  Hungary  and  Italy  (all 
14%), and least likely to be mentioned by respondents in Denmark 
(2%), Sweden (3%) and Ireland (4%). It is the third most mentioned 
characteristic in Poland. 

There are six countries where at least one in ten think protection 
of  the  environment  is  the  most  influential  characteristic  in 
determining the status of a country or group of countries: Austria, 
France (both 14%), Poland (13%), Romania and Malta (both 12%) 
and  Germany  (10%).  At  the  other  end  of  the  scale,  2%  of 
respondents in Czechia, Finland and Latvia think the same way. 

Finally, fewer than one in ten respondents in each country think the 
export of cultural works is the most influential characteristic, with 
the  highest  proportions  observed  in  Austria  and  Romania  (both 
8%). 

86 

 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

87 

QA1Economic strengthLiving and working conditions and well-beingSocial, health and welfare servicesRule of lawScientific and technological advancementMilitary and defence capabilitiesAvailability of natural resourcesProtection of the environmentExport of cultural works (films, novels, language, etc.)Other (SPONTANEOUS)Don't knowEU27513525211813109401BE59362518231684300BG504421201713105202CZ68191427181982100DK3743413117627301DE52282333239710301EE50351822251955300IE5150321611947500EL65302221181975700ES4740361720565201FR543220191619914501HR533219222016125301IT484526121810149401CY57292626161967300LV563820131424142200LT622818101929104100LU57392326151567300HU463627132314147301MT5146361794612201NL5534323020784400AT423937191391214800PL5127181614182013600PT4951252518854200RO4134222012191212801SI553228191310116300SK472822311916139300FI572914291423102500SE3058452813633200TR61221029291695400MK4939272717669200AL351719279876600ME6221172913162010300RS533317161729115301NO185854419233100CH4748243517654200UK54413322161335300IS325741811496401XK5922115194414100BA59251722171876300In your opinion, which of the following are the most influential in determining the status of a country or group of countries in the world? (MAX. 2 ANSWERS)(%)1st MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM3r+A1:Q46d MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM2nd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The  less  financial  difficulties  respondents  experience,  the  more 
likely they are to mention economic strength, the rule of law and 
scientific/technological advancement, and the less likely they are 
to  mention  living  and  working  conditions  and  well-being.  For 
example,  52%  with  the  least  financial  difficulties  mention 
economic strength, compared to 44% of those who experience the 
most difficulties. 

Finally,  respondents  who  think  the  influence  of  science  and 
technology  is  positive  are  more  likely  to  mention  economic 
strength  (51%)  compared  to  those  who  think  the  influence  is 
negative (45%), the rule of law (22% vs 17%), and scientific and 
technological advancement (19% vs 12%). 

The socio-demographic analysis shows that women are more likely 
to think social, health and welfare services are the most influential 
characteristics  (29%  compared  with  21%  of  men),  and  are  less 
likely to mention military and defence capabilities (15% compared 
with 10%). 

It also illustrates that the older the respondent, the more likely they 
are  to  mention  the  rule  of  law,  and  the  less  likely  they  are  to 
mention  scientific  and  technological  advancement.  For  example, 
25%  of  15-24  year  olds  mention  scientific  and  technological 
advancement, compared to 16% of those aged 55+. 

The  longer  a  respondent  remained  in  education,  the  more  likely 
they  are  to  mention  the  rule  of  law  and  scientific/technological 
advancement,  and  the  less  likely  they  are  to  mention  living and 
working  conditions  and  well-being,  or  social,  health  and  welfare 
services. For instance, 26% who stayed in education until age 20 
or  older  mention  the  rule  of  law,  compared  with  13%  who 
completed  education  aged  15  or  younger.  In  addition,  students 
(26%)  are  more  likely  than  other  occupation  groups  to  mention 
scientific and technological advancement.

88 

 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

89 

QA1Military and defence capabilitiesExport of cultural works (films, novels, language, etc.)Scientific and technological advancementEconomic strengthAvailability of natural resourcesLiving and working conditions and well-beingSocial, health and welfare servicesProtection of the environmentRule of lawOther (SPONTANEOUS)Don't knowEU27134185110352592101Man154205310332182200Woman1041749103729102101 15-2413625508332291701 25-39145205211352481900 40-54133185111372482200 55+113165010352710230115-12312519393011130216-19134165011362510210020+124215210332372600Still studying14626507342591601Self-employed124225112362562100Managers134215510342262600Other white collars124215212342492100Manual workers144165111372491800House persons9313518403091901Unemployed12516507363092100Retired1231548103427112401Students14626507342591601Most of the time163134410392881801From time to time1351649123726101800Almost never/ Never12419529342592301Everyday134205110352582200Often/Sometimes1231353123222112101Never1451147123626111503Left114184810372892400Centre124195110342592100Right164185411332272200Interested11422489342792400Moderately interested134175210362592100Not interested1651352123420101502Interested13426509322282500Moderately interested134165110372692100Not interested1231051113827101602Interested114214893426112500Moderately interested134185310362582001Not interested174125213332361502Positive124195110362582200Negative1561245133323131701Less than 5 correct answers1241348123525121602Between 5 and 8 correct answers 134185010362792000More than 8 correct answers13424548332062800Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'13421539342582300Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'124185011362492100Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'1441548113527101901You alone do or did in the past135254613312172400A family member does or did in the past 14521477332792500Both you and a family member do or did in the past17426489292262900No124175110362592101Education (end of)Difficulties paying billsUse of the Internet Socio-professional categoryLeft-right political scaleIn your opinion, which of the following are the most influential in determining the status of a country or group of countries in the world? (MAX. 2 ANSWERS) (% - EU)GenderAgeScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyMedical discoveriesCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / SpiritualityWorked in research / science / innovative technology development 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Respondents were asked if they thought the overall influence of 
science and technology in society is positive or negative. Across the 
EU  almost  nine  in  ten  (86%)  respondents  think  the  overall 
influence is positive, with 21% saying it is ‘very positive’. Just over 
one  in  ten  (11%)  think  science  and  technology  has  a  negative 
influence, with 1% saying it is ‘very negative’. Fewer than one in 
twenty (3%) say they don’t know.

Opinion  is  more  positive  than  it  was  in  2013,  with  a  nine 
percentage point increase in the proportion who think science and 
technology has a positive influence on society. This has been driven 
by a decline in the proportion that say they don’t know (-10 pp), as 
the proportion that  think the influence is negative has remained 
stable (+1 pp). 

90 

 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

More  than  seven  in  ten  respondents  in  every  EU  Member  State 
think the overall influence of science and technology on society is 
positive, with proportions ranging from 99% in Portugal, and 96% 
in Estonia, Ireland and Sweden, to 72% in Romania, 76% in France 
and 80% in Austria. Romania is the only country where at least one 
in five respondents think the overall influence is negative. 

The proportion of respondents who think the overall influence is 
‘very positive’ is highest in Portugal (49%), Ireland and Lithuania 
(both 39%) and Spain (36%). 

More than three-quarters of respondents in every non-EU country 
also  think  the  overall  influence  of  science  and  technology  is 
positive. Almost all respondents in Iceland think this way (96%), as 
do 79% in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

In every Member State, opinion is more likely to be positive than it 
was  in  2013,  with  the  largest  increases  observed  in  Portugal  
(+30 pp), Czechia (+20 pp) and Malta (+19 pp). The proportion that 
thinks  the  overall  influence  of  science  and  technology  is  ‘very 
positive’ has increased considerably in Portugal (+40 pp), Czechia 
(+17 pp), Spain (+14 pp) and Belgium (+12 pp). 

Outside the EU, respondents in the United Kingdom are now much 
more likely to say the influence is positive than they were in 2013 
(+19 pp). 

91 

 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

92 

QA6Very positiveDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Fairly positiveDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Fairly negativeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Very negativeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Don't knowTotal 'Positive'Diff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Total 'Negative'Diff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013EU272146551011=3869111PT4940501016010993017CZ29176634101109520511MT20=70195=0=590195=LV217711184010921885IE395571243010961744HU153751491031901794LU2010743620=0941362PL2087147=012911271DE1727110811=3881291ES361454354213901173HR22763412=2218511142IT183648142123821115=BE261268254110941065SI21764311=2128510131DK3286314=0=19594=BG2126367211884883FI3186414211095751NL28=6665=11094661EE339634420=096542LT395551521=094462CY282636523219148=SK209635145211834166RO14258620135337242516EL33105976101292362SE3286410311109624=AT196614131433802174FR7=692176215762197TR50N/A41N/A7N/A2N/A091N/A9N/AMK29N/A59N/A9N/A2N/A188N/A11N/AAL14N/A71N/A13N/A2N/A085N/A15N/AME14N/A66N/A13N/A6N/A180N/A19N/ARS20N/A60N/A15N/A3N/A280N/A18N/AUK296671336110961947NO26N/A70N/A4N/A0N/A096N/A4N/ACH17N/A76N/A7N/A0N/A093N/A7N/AXK36N/A54N/A7N/A2N/A190N/A9N/ABA15N/A64N/A17N/A3N/A179N/A20N/AIS46N/A52N/A2N/A0N/A098N/A2N/ADo you think that the overall influence of science and technology on society is…?(%) 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Analysis also shows that the fewer difficulties a respondent has 
paying  household  bills,  the  more  likely  they  are  to  think  the 
influence of science and technology is positive: 89% of those who 
experience the least financial difficulties think this way, compared 
to 76% who experience difficulties most of the time; 

Respondents who answers more ‘science quiz’ questions correctly 
are also more likely to think that the overall influence of science 
and technology on society is positive: 95% of those who give eight 
or more correct answers say the influence is positive compared to 
76% of those who give less than five correct answers.  

The  socio-demographic  analysis  reveals  little  difference  based 
gender  (88%  of  men  agree  compared  to  85%  of  women),  but 
opinions do vary by the following characteristics:  

Similarly, there is little difference by age - respondents aged 55 
and over are less likely to agree that the influence of science and 
technology  is  positive  (83%)  than  younger  respondents  (88%  of 
those aged 15-24, 90% of those aged 25-39 and 87% of those 
aged 40-54); 

However, differences are more significant by education. The longer 
a  respondent  remained  in education,  the  more  likely  they  are  to 
think the influence of science and technology is positive: 92% of 
those who completed education aged 20 or older think this way, 
compared to 76% who completed aged 15 or younger; 

Looking at occupation, managers (92%), students (90%), the self-
employed  and  other  white-collar  workers  (both  89%)  are  more 
likely  than  other  occupation  groups,  especially  retired  people 
(82%), to think the influence is positive;

93 

 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

94 

QA6Very positiveFairly positiveFairly negativeVery negativeDon't knowTotal 'Positive'Total 'Negative'EU27216510138611Man24649128810Woman186710148511 15-2426629128810 25-392367811909 40-54226510128711 55+18651124831315-14621527761716-1916671223831420+2666611927Still studying3060712908Self-employed26638218910Managers2864602926Other white collars2069812899Manual workers176712228414House persons156414347917Unemployed226110348313Retired166611258213Students3060712908Most of the time185817347620From time to time196215228117Almost never/ Never2267713898Everyday2366812899Often/Sometimes146614248016Never106317377320Left2465812899Centre196810128711Right236310228612Interested2762812899Moderately interested19699128810Not interested136216367519Interested3359611927Moderately interested17719128810Not interested106218377221Interested2763712908Moderately interested186910128711Not interested135918377221Positive2476000100Negative0088120100Less than 5 correct answers136315367618Between 5 and 8 correct answers 206710128711More than 8 correct answers3164411954Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'2564812899Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'20679138710Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'176413248115You alone do or did in the past3260611927A family member does or did in the past 266210118811Both you and a family member do or did in the past3760210973No206610138611Education (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsDo you think that the overall influence of science and technology on society is…? (% - EU)GenderAgeUse of the Internet Left-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

2. 

Effects of new technologies on 
society 

Respondents were asked about the effect of different technologies 
being developed in the next 20 years on our way of life. 

Almost  all  respondents  think  solar  energy  (92%)  will  have  a 
positive effect, while 87% say this about wind energy22. More than 
eight  in  ten  think  vaccines  and  combatting  infectious  diseases23 
(86%) or information and communication technology24 (82%) will 
have a positive impact. 

Almost three-quarters (73%) of respondents think nanotechnology 
will have a positive impact on life in the next 20 years, while 71% 
say this about brain and cognitive enhancements25, 70% say this 
about  biotechnology  and  genetic  engineering,  and  69%  say  this 
about space exploration. 

Respondents are least likely to think new technologies in artificial 
intelligence26 (61%) or nuclear energy for energy production (46%) 
will have a positive impact. Nuclear energy is the only area where 
the  positive  view  does  not  have  a  majority  (46%  positive,  46% 
negative). 

Compared to 2005, respondents are now much more likely to say 
new technologies in nanotechnology (+25 pp) will have a positive 
effect. As a result, the positive view has gone from being a minority 
to a majority position. There has also been a 12-point increase in 
the  proportion  that  thinks  the  effect  will  be  ‘very  positive’. 
Conversely, respondents  are  now  less likely  to  be  positive  about 
nuclear energy for energy production (-7 pp).  

22 This item is a new item and was not asked in 2005. 
23 This item is a new item and was not asked in 2005. 
24 This item is a new item and was not asked in 2005. 

25 This item is a new item and was not asked in 2005. 
26 This item is a new item and was not asked in 2005. 

95 

 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

At  least  three-quarters  of  respondents  in  each  EU  country  think 
solar energy will have a positive effect on our way of life in the 
next 20 years. This view is almost universal in Malta and Portugal 
(99%)  and  Ireland  (98%).  By  contrast,  it  is  also  held  by  75%  in 
Romania, 86% in Poland and 90% in Latvia, Croatia and Czechia 
(countries  with  the  lowest  number  of respondents  agreeing  that 
solar energy will have a positive impact on our way of life). In 22 
countries more than half of respondents say solar will have a ‘very 
positive’ effect. 

The  majority  of  respondents  in  every  non-EU  country  also  think 
solar energy will have a positive effect, with proportions ranging 
from 97% in Switzerland and Iceland to 58% in Albania.

Compared  to  2005,  respondents  in  20  countries  are  now  more 
likely to think the influence of solar energy will be positive, with 
the largest increases seen in Greece (+23 pp), Lithuania (+20 pp) 
and  Cyprus  (+19  pp).  There  are  only  five  countries  where  the 
positive view has declined but the changes are small (1-3 pp), for 
instance Austria and Czechia (-2 pp) and France (-1 pp). There has 
been no change in opinion in Belgium and Slovenia. 

It is worth noting that there are 15 countries where the proportion 
that think the effect will be ‘very positive’ has increased by more 
than  10  points,  with  the  largest  increases  in  Portugal  (+46  pp), 
Ireland (+40 pp) and Cyprus (+39 pp). By contrast, this view has 
declined 19 percentage points in Czechia and 10 percentage points 
in France. 

In  the  four  non-EU  countries  included  in  both  2005  and  2021 
(United  Kingdom,  Turkey,  Norway,  Switzerland)  respondents  are 
now more likely to say the influence of new technologies in solar 
energy will be positive, with the largest increase in Turkey (+14 pp).  

96 

 
 
 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

97 

QA8a.1Very positive effectDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Fairly positive effectDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Fairly negative effectDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Very negative effectDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005No effectDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Don't knowTotal 'Positive effect'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Total 'Negative effect'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Total 'No effect'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005EU27574352411=1129225111EL661631711007012972311701LT562337332113=09320433=CY83391320251411096193911MT77302212050301199180801BG6123326210=04593172104IE82401623120=14098171214PT86461329120101099171301EE6019364121=21096152221LV46=4410521142090106142LU60437423110209783402SK511341533111139284411HU6610273511=0219376102HR53137563211119048411IT581133741211229146212ES691326102=1=0129533=01SE702026172=012109632121DK711325111=0=1229621=12FI651131911221209623112DE6243432=0=1=19612=1=NL676295311=0109614101BE6113512=111=096=311=SI5853553=1=32093=4=32FR3910529311=2=3911412=CZ3819521786111109029711AT616303651=1=1913751=PL47239110832011863131001RO376383161143124753201412TR711122342132=09314552=MK57N/A25N/A8N/A3N/A1N/A682N/A11N/A1N/AAL13N/A45N/A14N/A12N/A7N/A958N/A26N/A7N/AME42N/A42N/A10N/A5N/A0N/A184N/A15N/A0N/ARS52N/A37N/A5N/A2N/A1N/A389N/A7N/A1N/AIS72352520120=1101971512110UK72162411310=1209653112NO56339143011209524212CH688296210=1109722111XK46N/A26N/A6N/A2N/A2N/A1872N/A8N/A2N/ABA49N/A38N/A7N/A2N/A3N/A187N/A9N/A3N/AThe following is a list of areas where new technologies are currently being developed. For each of these, do you think it will have a positive, a negative or no effect on our way of life in the next 20 years?Solar energy (%) 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

More than three-quarters of respondents in every EU country think 
wind energy will have a positive effect, with proportions ranging 
from 99% of respondents in Portugal, 98% in Malta and 97% in 
Ireland, to 76% in France and Romania, and 84% in Poland. In 19 
countries at least half of all respondents think new technologies in 
wind energy will have a ‘very positive’ effect. 

In  each  non-EU  country,  the  majority  of  respondents  think  wind 
energy  will  have  a  positive  effect,  with  the  largest  proportion  in 
Iceland (96%) and the smallest in Albania (58%). 

98 

 
 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

At least two-thirds of respondents in every EU Member State think 
new technologies in vaccines and combatting infectious diseases 
will  have  a  positive  impact  in  the  next  20  years.  Almost  all 
respondents in Portugal (98%), Sweden (96%), Ireland and Finland 
(both 95%) think this way, as do 66% in Romania, 67% in Slovenia 
and  76%  in  Latvia  (which  have  the  lowest  proportion  of 
respondents agreeing that the impact will be positive). There are 
14  countries  where  at  least  half  of  respondents  think  new 
technologies for vaccines and combatting infectious diseases will 
have a ‘very positive’ effect. 

Outside  the  EU,  the  proportion  of  respondents  who  think  new 
technologies  in  vaccines  and  combatting  infection  diseases  will 
have a positive effect range from 98% in Iceland and 97% in the 
UK to 59% in Albania. 

99 

 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The  majority  of  respondents  in  every  EU  country  think  new 
technologies  in  information  and  communication  technology  will 
have a positive effect on life in the next 20 years. This opinion is 
most widespread in Portugal (98%), Malta (94%), and Ireland and 
Cyprus  (both  91%),  but  is  also  held  by  67%  in  France,  72%  in 
Romania and 80% in Slovenia, Poland and Hungary (the countries 
with the lowest proportion of respondents agreeing that the impact 
will be positive).

There are three countries where at least half of respondents think 
the effect will be ‘very positive’: Malta (60%), Cyprus (59%) and 
Portugal (57%). 

The majority of respondents in every non-EU country surveyed also 
think new technologies in this area will have a positive effect, with 
proportions  ranging  from  93%  in  Iceland  and  92%  in  the  UK  to 
58% in Albania. 

100 

 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In all but one EU country more than six in ten respondents think 
nanotechnology will have a positive effect on our way of life in the 
next 20 years, with respondents in Portugal (96%), Czechia (94%) 
and Estonia (92%) the most likely to think this way. At the other 
end  of  the  scale,  46%  in  Romania,  and  65%  in  Poland,  Austria, 
France and Bulgaria also think the effect will be positive.  

Czechia (62%) and Portugal (61%) are the only countries where at 
least half think the effect will be ‘very positive’. 

There is a broad range of opinion in non-EU countries, where the 
proportion  that  think  nanotechnology  will  have  a  positive  effect 
ranges  from  91%  of  respondents  in  Norway  to  38%  in  Kosovo. 
However,  in  spite  of  this  range  a  positive  effect  is  the  most 
common answer in all non-EU countries. 

Respondents  in  every  Member  State  are  now  more  likely  than 
those in 2005 to say nanotechnology will have a positive effect on 
our way of life. In fact, Romania (+4 pp) is the only country where 
the increase has been less than 15 percentage points. There are 
six countries where the positive view has increased by more than 
50 points, with the largest seen in Malta (+67 pp), Latvia (+63 pp) 
and Lithuania (+57 pp). In addition, the proportion that think the 
effect  will  be  ‘very  positive’  has  increased  by  more  than  10 
percentage points in 16 countries, with the largest increases seen 
in Portugal (+45 pp), Czechia (+41 pp) and Malta (+36 pp). 

This positive trend is also seen in non-EU countries, with increases 
in the proportion that think the effect will be positive of between 
61 points in Turkey and 37 points in Switzerland.  

101 

 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

102 

QA8a.8Very positive effectDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Fairly positive effectDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Fairly negative effectDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Very negative effectDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005No effectDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Don't knowTotal 'Positive effect'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Total 'Negative effect'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Total 'No effect'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005EU2730124313104423110732514631MT453637312221211282674321LV32245339942=420856311442LT42314526533352087578652PT61453511141=21096562421IE46294526422131091556331EE46334620411=3=09253513=SE42294716721=31089458231EL3216442593311=1176411221=NL362248188=21234844010123CZ6241323421=13094385213FI4131485561355089366955LU341455187=133=08932833=BG24941227521232465319623AT218442318572347653125334SK2915431484753110722915131BE37135114622=43088278243FR20945151284251146524161051HR246441813463637682419763SI255481912273523732419552DE277481512331228752215422HU2584214144531213672219712PL23942111286632146520181432ES41193116=32261772189226IT3164412117531387518161013CY371434372422216711711422DK27454119521414811511641RO15631102319995217464322852TR604328187=3=210886110=21MK19N/A24N/A9N/A9N/A6N/A3343N/A18N/A6N/AAL6N/A43N/A13N/A11N/A12N/A1549N/A24N/A12N/AME25N/A41N/A21N/A8N/A2N/A366N/A29N/A2N/ARS20N/A36N/A15N/A8N/A2N/A1956N/A23N/A2N/AIS3823502863214100885184410UK41254519741162086448362NO362055196=0131091396131CH241059271223=230833715223XK16N/A22N/A13N/A4N/A5N/A4038N/A17N/A5N/ABA20N/A45N/A18N/A5N/A5N/A765N/A23N/A5N/AThe following is a list of areas where new technologies are currently being developed. For each of these, do you think it will have a positive, a negative or no effect on our way of life in the next 20 years?Nanotechnology (%) 
 
 
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Opinion  is  more  varied  about  the  effect  of  new  technologies  in 
brain  and  cognitive  enhancement.  Almost  all  respondents  in 
Portugal (96%) think these will have a positive effect, as do 88% 
in Malta and 86% in Czechia, Estonia, Ireland and Finland. At the 
other  end  of  the  scale,  38%  in  Sweden  think  the  impact  will  be 
positive, as do 53% in Slovenia and 55% in Greece. 

Sweden is the only country where the majority think the effects of 
brain and cognitive enhancement will be negative (55%) – in fact 
17% say the effects will be ‘very negative’.  

Outside  the  EU,  the  view  that  the  effect  of  new  technologies  in 
brain  and  cognitive  enhancement  will  be  positive  is  dominant  in 
every country, although proportions range from 90% in Turkey to 
47% in Albania. 

103 

 
 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In every EU Member State the majority of respondents think the 
effect  of  new  technologies 
in  biotechnology  and  genetic 
engineering  will  be  positive.  Proportions  range  from  93%  in 
Portugal, 90% in Estonia, and 82% in Finland and Sweden, to 55% 
in Romania and Austria and 60% in Croatia.  

More than one in ten respondents in every country think the effects 
will be ‘very positive’. 

In  countries  outside  the  EU,  the  proportion  of  respondents  who 
think the effect will be positive ranges from 93% in Iceland to 40% 
in Serbia.  

Opinion has become more positive in 21 countries since 2005, with 
the largest increases observed in Portugal (+31 pp), Belgium (+23 
pp) and Malta (+21 pp). In fact, in six countries there has been an 
increase of at least ten points in the proportion that say the effect 
will  be  ‘very  positive’,  and  this  is  the  case  in  Portugal  (+28  pp), 
Estonia (+21 pp) and Finland (+15 pp). By contrast, the proportion 
that  think  biotechnology  and  genetic  engineering  will  have  a 
positive  effect  has  declined  in  six  countries,  and  particularly 
amongst respondents in Romania (-10 pp) and Denmark (-9 pp). 
The proportions that think the effect will be ‘very positive’ has also 
declined notably in Romania (-17 pp), Denmark and Luxembourg 
(both -11 pp). 

Outside  of  the  EU,  the  positive  view  has  increased  in  all  four 
countries that were included in both surveys, but the only notable 
increases are in Turkey (+23 pp) and the United Kingdom (+12 pp). 

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105 

QA8a.6Very positive effectDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Fairly positive effectDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Fairly negative effectDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Very negative effectDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005No effectDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Don't knowTotal 'Positive effect'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Total 'Negative effect'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Total 'No effect'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005EU272624421625=2=77042122=PT562837352111=09331631=BE2895314149362208123171522MT351239992421112742113411EE5021402612121090198=21IE33847111315=2=080191812=LT341046812542410801816741FI3015523138232318218151123EL25=431512=441115681516411LV18=5115198725206915261052AT16139142511472=455133962=SE27655613532210821216721CZ2625310162411=07982011=CY3014677141211176811221NL194514192532=47082452=LU221154181944111076723311PL2554421526211969721411IT3374211335112675618412ES43143497231121277510312BG224418116541720634161017FR1625261215=3=126841713=HR178431120110131760330231HU306424143611=77222041=SI19742521310153361231253SK22141217=9531863326531DE1964222667111561433711DK16114722266252463928852RO181737721138632135510291932TR561230118=42210862312221MK19N/A31N/A15N/A9N/A4N/A2250N/A24N/A4N/AAL5N/A44N/A15N/A12N/A11N/A1349N/A27N/A11N/AME21N/A42N/A21N/A12N/A1N/A363N/A33N/A1N/ARS10N/A30N/A21N/A23N/A3N/A1340N/A44N/A3N/AUK28549717642210771221421IS511042353011619375216CH171453316611=06243751=NO2725511452=21082116521XK23N/A26N/A11N/A3N/A3N/A3449N/A14N/A3N/ABA20N/A44N/A19N/A8N/A4N/A564N/A27N/A4N/AThe following is a list of areas where new technologies are currently being developed. For each of these, do you think it will have a positive, a negative or no effect on our way of life in the next 20 years?Biotechnology and genetic engineering (%) 
 
 
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More  than  half  of  respondents  in  every  EU  country  think  space 
exploration will have a positive effect on life in the next 20 years. 
This view is held by at least eight in ten respondents in Portugal 
(86%), Czechia (85%) and Bulgaria and Estonia (both 80%), and 
by 55% in Romania and 65% in Malta, Cyprus, France and Spain, 
which have the lowest proportion of respondents agreeing that the 
impact will be positive. 

In 16 countries at least one in five respondents think the effect of 
space exploration will be ‘very positive’, with the highest levels in 
Bulgaria (34%), Czechia (30%) and Portugal (29%).  

In each non-EU country, the majority of respondents think space 
exploration  will  have  a  positive  effect.  The  largest  proportion  is 
seen in Turkey (86%) and the smallest in Albania (56%). 

The  proportion  that  think  space  exploration  will  have  a  positive 
effect has increased in 17 countries since 2005, with the largest 
seen  in  Portugal  (+23  pp),  and  Ireland  and  the  Netherlands  
(+17 pp each). The positive view has declined in eight countries, 
and  particularly  amongst  respondents  in  Romania  (-17  pp), 
Slovenia  
(-11 pp) and Cyprus (-10 pp). There has been no change in opinion 
in Denmark or France.  

The positive view has also increased in all four non-EU countries 
surveyed in 2021 and 2005, with the largest in Turkey (+13 pp), 
the United Kingdom (+11 pp) and Switzerland (+10 pp). 

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107 

QA8a.7Very positive effectDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Fairly positive effectDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Fairly negative effectDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Very negative effectDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005No effectDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Don't knowTotal 'Positive effect'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Total 'Negative effect'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Total 'No effect'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005EU272214731334=83669217383PT2925721711362086238462IE2655112822213307717104133NL19950812625144369171411144EE27553116=111340801671134BG345468631=281180137328LV21252101032215607312121156FI197564842215307511106153LT27451595311030789126103AT19347121984269566923669BE1945511115221330747137133CZ3015586=118108577181EL244501110=416=67471416=SE1744931522=1740667172174LU1755111161341330686193133MT2014379421181186361131811DE19=4831743177667320377SK284481853=94476311594DK19=46=11342163465=155163FR1514811214=141763=161141IT2734711264261474416861HU2784541464233772418833HR2284631466392368520992ES27336312273811063619581PL22445315864339677211233CY23114019596103963101811103SI19124611127415626511186156RO16203932216975395517312353TR52134147=31410861310141MK27N/A30N/A13N/A7N/A6N/A1757N/A20N/A6N/AAL9N/A47N/A13N/A9N/A11N/A1156N/A22N/A11N/AME23N/A45N/A19N/A9N/A1N/A368N/A28N/A1N/ARS22N/A35N/A13N/A8N/A11N/A1157N/A21N/A11N/AIS2210511892111622173281011622UK22252131012314107411122141CH10148919=4119205810231192NO185493126221950678144195XK27N/A30N/A8N/A3N/A4N/A2857N/A11N/A4N/ABA16N/A44N/A17N/A4N/A15N/A460N/A21N/A15N/AThe following is a list of areas where new technologies are currently being developed. For each of these, do you think it will have a positive, a negative or no effect on our way of life in the next 20 years?Space exploration (%) 
 
 
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The majority of respondents in every Member State think artificial 
intelligence will have a positive effect on our way of life in the next 
20  years.  At  least  seven  in  ten  respondents  in  Malta  (79%), 
Portugal  (77%),  Belgium  and  Ireland  (both  70%)  think  this  way 
(highest proportions), as do 49% in Romania, 53% in Austria and 
54% in Slovakia (lowest proportions).  

The largest proportions of respondents who think there will be a 
‘very positive’ effect are seen in Malta (38%), Portugal (29%) and 
Italy and Cyprus (both 25%). 

The proportion of respondents in non-EU countries who think the 
effect of these new technologies will be positive varies from 76% 
in Iceland to 39% in Serbia. 

108 

 
 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

There  is  a  broad  range  of  opinions  about  the  effect  of  nuclear 
energy. In 20 countries the majority think the effect will be positive, 
with respondents in Czechia (79%), Bulgaria (69%) and Slovakia 
(66%) the most likely to do so. This compares to 25% in Germany, 
30% in Austria and 35% in Greece; in these three countries and in 
Luxembourg, Denmark and Portugal the majority think the effect 
will  be  negative,  while 
is  divided  
(positive 45%, negative 45%). 

in  France  opinion 

The largest proportions of respondents who think the effect will be 
‘very positive’ are seen in Czechia (31%), Malta (29%) and Sweden 
(28%). 

Opinion in countries outside the EU also varies considerably, with 
the proportion that think the effect will be positive ranging from 
70% in Turkey to 34% in Switzerland. The negative view is held by 
the majority in Switzerland (63%), Iceland (57%) and Serbia (55%), 
while  in  Montenegro  opinion  is  divided  (40%  positive,  40% 
negative). 

The trends since 2005 are mixed. In 15 countries the  proportion 
that thinks the effects of new technologies in nuclear energy will 
be  positive  has  increased, with  the  largest  seen  in  Czechia (+22 
pp), Estonia (+19 pp) and the Netherlands (+17 pp). On the other 
hand, in 12 countries respondents are now less likely to be positive, 
with the largest declines seen in Romania (-21 pp), Germany (-19 
pp) and Italy (-10 pp). The proportion that thinks the effect will be 
‘very  positive’  has  increased  by  ten  points  in  Finland,  but  has 
declined in Romania (-24 pp), Greece and Cyprus (-10 pp each). 

Outside  of  the  EU,  respondents  in  Norway  are  now  much  more 
likely to hold a positive view in general (+30 pp), and they are also 
more  likely  to  say  the  effects  of  new  technologies  in  nuclear 
energy will ‘very positive’ (+10 pp). 

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110 

QA8a.9Very positive effectDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Fairly positive effectDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Fairly negative effectDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Very negative effectDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005No effectDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Don't knowTotal 'Positive effect'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Total 'Negative effect'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Total 'No effect'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005EU27154313287185315467461231CZ3194813167362=0792219132=EE2184311252813=064193313=NL19837923314113245617371432LV1314015277142640531441564SE289381201111310661031=31HR153371224115553452939653MT293336157913=116292463=SK201469177822=76682592=DK15429326321255444747155SI153381024116852253740752IE2113872391612=05963982=FI21103942619241160635341PL18=4252141012=76053132=LU11530932523341041455241AT9121527639223230466823BG24745514742121269218912LT1634012815116530562392153HU203341246156235542391223BE16=34332314241050346541CY221031617=2110227534381022ES1912741922153=114654033=PT16730232202110110465533011FR933633041544=64564584=EL1010253278275328357541332IT22532524101672145410401721DE691910421327103232519692332RO182434327201182185221382821TR4272810156138210703281421MK17N/A23N/A18N/A22N/A8N/A1240N/A40N/A8N/AAL6N/A45N/A18N/A12N/A9N/A1051N/A30N/A9N/AME23N/A44N/A20N/A12N/A0N/A167N/A32N/A0N/ARS11N/A27N/A26N/A29N/A2N/A538N/A55N/A2N/ANO201044202248196=0643030236=IS1152612293287520137175710520UK2314122241133=06433373=CH1012413722633=03426353=XK19N/A25N/A12N/A9N/A5N/A3044N/A21N/A5N/ABA16N/A38N/A24N/A15N/A4N/A354N/A39N/A4N/AThe following is a list of areas where new technologies are currently being developed. For each of these, do you think it will have a positive, a negative or no effect on our way of life in the next 20 years?Nuclear energy for energy production (%) 
 
 
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The socio-demographic analysis shows a few patterns:  

Men are more likely than women to have a positive opinion about 
the  impact  of  several  technological  areas  on  life  in  the  next  20 
years. For example, 66% think the impact of artificial intelligence 
will be positive, compared to 57% of women. Other areas where 
men  are  more  likely  to  be  positive  are  nanotechnology  (77%  vs 
70%), biotechnology and genetic engineering (73% vs 67%), space 
exploration  (72%  vs  64%)  and  nuclear  energy  for  energy 
production (51% vs 43%). 

Respondents  aged  15-54  are  more  likely  than  their  older 
counterparts  to  think  there  will  be  a  positive  impact  from 
nanotechnology, brain and cognitive enhancements, biotechnology 
and genetic engineering, space exploration, artificial intelligence or 
nuclear energy for energy production. For example, 75% of those 
aged 15-39 and 72% of 40-54 year olds think new technologies 
in  biotechnology  and  genetic  engineering  will  have  a  positive 
impact, compared to 64% of those aged 55 and older. 

The  longer  a  respondent  remained  in  education,  the  more  likely 
they are to think each of these areas will have a positive impact 
on life in the next 20 years. The effect is most pronounced in the 
case of nanotechnology: 81% who stayed in education the longest 
think  new  technologies  in  this  area  will  have  a  positive  effect, 
compared to 55% who completed education aged 15 or younger.

The  fewer  the  difficulties  a  respondent  experiences  paying  bills, 
the more likely they are to think new technologies in each of these 
areas  will  have  a  positive  impact.  For  example,  46%  who 
experience  the  least  financial  difficulties  are  positive  about  the 
potential  impact  of  nuclear  energy  for  energy  production, 
compared to 39% of those who experience the most difficulties. 
The exception is space exploration, where there is little difference. 

The analysis also shows respondents who live in towns are more 
likely  to  be  positive  about  the  effect  of  new  technologies  in 
nanotechnology, brain and cognitive enhancements, biotechnology 
and genetic engineering, space exploration or artificial intelligence. 
For  instance,  64%  in  large  towns  think  the  effect  of  new 
technologies in artificial intelligence will be positive, compared to 
55% of those living in rural villages.  

Respondents  who  place  themselves  to  the  right  of  the  political 
spectrum  (58%)  much  more  likely  to  think  new  technologies  in 
nuclear  energy  will  be  positive, compared  to  those  in  the  centre 
(45%) or on the left (42%). The other technologies are generally 
favoured more by people who place themselves on the left of the 
political spectrum. 

Finally,  and  perhaps  not  surprisingly,  respondents  who  think  the 
influence  of  science  and  technology  is  positive  are  much  more 
likely to say new technologies in each of these areas will have a 
positive  impact,  compared  to  those  who  think  the  influence  is 
negative. 

111 

 
 
 
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112 

QA8aTSolar energy Wind energy Vaccines and combatting infectious diseasesInformation and communication TechnologyNanotechnologyBrain and cognitive enhancementBiotechnology and genetic engineeringSpace explorationArtificial IntelligenceNuclear energy for energy production EU2792878682737170696146Man93888783777273726651Woman92878581707067645743 15-2493898685787475796952 25-3992898584787375756650 40-5493908683757272696448 55+9185877967676461544315-8782847355635554453516-199287858270696767594820+94898984817376726949Still studying94918987817877807249Self-employed95918984777473726350Managers95908984847578747250Other white collars93908886807474746652Manual workers91868281706867685948House persons89848080606362575241Unemployed92878278707266675844Retired90838777636462605243Students94918987817877807249Most of the time86807772636356644839From time to time89848179696868695952Almost never/ Never94898983757171686346Rural village92858581696764645544Small/ mid size town92878681737271696347Large town94898884777374726450Everyday94898784787373726548Often/ Sometimes88818478626662625044Never82777966445049493736Left95918983767373706342Centre93888784747270686245Right90848481726970706258Interested95909185807776726648Moderately interested92888682737069696147Not interested86817472565556584945Interested94909186837880757251Moderately interested93888785757169696146Not interested86827770525653554441Interested96919084787374716541Moderately interested92878684737270706252Not interested81747268535653574748Positive94919086787475726649Negative78696256474944503334Less than 5 correct answers85817575566058604946Between 5 and 8 correct answers 93878683747371696248More than 8 correct answers96939686857476747244You alone do or did in the past89858580786978707052A family member does or did in the past 95879081847474746947Both you and a family member do or did in the past96879386807577717439No92888682717068686047Thefollowingisalistofareaswherenewtechnologiesarecurrentlybeingdeveloped.Foreachofthese,doyouthinkitwillhaveapositive,anegativeornoeffectonourwayoflifeinthenext20years? (% - Total 'Positive effect')GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsSubjective urbanisationUse of the Internet Left-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledge 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Respondents were provided with a list of areas and asked which 
they thought would be affected most by research and innovation 
in the coming years. 

Almost half of all respondents think health and medical care (47%) 
will be most affected by research and innovation. This is the most 
mentioned  area,  followed  by  the  fight  against  climate  change 
(40%) and the energy supply (32%). 

One  quarter  (25%)  think  protection  of  the  environment  will  be 
affected the most by research and innovation, while almost one in 
five  respondents  mention  the  availability  and  quality  of  food 
(19%),  education  and  skills  (19%),or  transport  and  transport 
infrastructure (17%).

More  than  one  in  ten  respondents  think  job  creation  (15%),  the 
security of citizens (12%) or the adaption of society to an ageing 
population (11%) will be most affected. Finally, fewer than one in 
ten  think  the  protection  of  personal  data  (9%),  a  reduction  of 
inequalities (8%) or quality of housing (7%) will be most affected 
by research and innovation in the coming years. 

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Across the EU, 47% of respondents think health and medical care 
will be most affected by research and innovation, but at a country 
level the proportions that think this way range from at least six in 
ten  in  Malta  (70%),  Czechia  (66%),  Greece  (61%)  and  Belgium 
(60%)  to  no  more  than  four  in  ten  in  Romania  (33%),  Slovenia 
(38%),  Spain  and  Denmark  (both  40%).  In  the  non-EU  countries 
surveyed the variation is even wider: from 64% of respondents in 
the UK to 17% in Albania. In the EU, this is the most mentioned 
area  by  respondents  in  20  countries  and  is  the  also  most 
mentioned  in  Slovenia  along  with  energy  supply,  and  in  France 
along with the fight against climate change. It is the second most 
mentioned  area  in  Portugal  and  Germany,  and  the  third  most 
mentioned in Finland, Sweden and Denmark.  

in  Sweden 

(62%),  Denmark 

Respondents 
(57%)  and  the 
Netherlands  (55%)  are  the  most  likely  to  say  the  fight  against 
climate change will be most affected, particularly when compared 
to those in Romania (13%), Greece (25%) and Spain (28%). This is 
the  most  mentioned  area  by  respondents  in  Denmark,  Portugal 
(52%),  France  (49%,  equal  to  health  and  medical  care)  and 
Germany  (47%).  It  is  the  second  most  mentioned  area  in  14 
countries, and the third most mentioned in seven others. Amongst 
the non-EU countries surveyed, respondents in Iceland (58%) are 
most likely to mention the fight against climate change, with those 
in Albania (6%) the least likely to do so. 

The proportion of respondents who think energy supply will be the 
most  affected  by  research  and  innovation  varies  considerably 
between  countries:  from  67%  in  Sweden  and  55%  in  the 
Netherlands and Belgium to 11% in Romania, 13% in Cyprus and 
14% in Spain. This is also the most mentioned area in Sweden and 
Finland (52%) and is the most mentioned in Slovenia along with 
health  and  medical  care  (both  38%).  It  is  the  second  most 
mentioned area in seven countries, and the third most mentioned 
in ten others. In the 11 non-EU countries surveyed, energy supply 
is most often mentioned by those in Norway (54%) and is least 
mentioned by those in Albania (5%). 

Only a minority of respondents in each country think protection of 
the environment will be most affected by research and innovation, 
with  the  highest  proportions  observed  in  France  (35%),  Czechia 
(34%)  and  Ireland  (31%).  At  the  other  end  of  the  scale  10%  of 
respondents  in  Sweden,  14%  in  the  Netherlands  and  17%  in 
Romania  mention  environmental  protection.  This  is  the  second 
most mentioned item in France and Czechia, and the third most 
mentioned in Slovenia and Slovakia. Except for Albania (4%), more 
than one in ten respondents in the other non-EU countries surveyed 
mention  protection  of  the  environment  as  being  most  affected, 
with the highest proportion seen in Iceland (33%). 

The  Netherlands  (27%)  is  the  only  country  where  at  least  one-
quarter think the availability and quality of food will be the most 
affected by research and innovation in the coming years, although 
24% in Hungary, Poland and Croatia also mention this area.  This 
contrasts with 8% of respondents in Malta and 12% in Lithuania 
who also mention this area. The results from non-EU countries fall 
within  a  similar  range,  with  the  highest  proportion  of  mentions 
observed in Turkey (24%) and the lowest in Albania  and Kosovo 
(both 6%).  

114 

Education and skills are most often mentioned by respondents in 
Cyprus and Greece (both 42%) and Czechia (32%), and least often 
mentioned  by  those  in  Sweden  (10%),  Belgium  and  Austria  
(both  15%).  This  is  the  second  most  mentioned  area  in  two 
countries, and the third most mentioned in three. The proportion of 
respondents in non-EU countries mentioning this area ranges from 
44% in Kosovo (the highest of any country surveyed) to 10% in 
Albania. 

More  than  one-quarter  of  respondents  in  Sweden  (36%),  Latvia 
(27%)  and  Germany  (26%)  think  transport  and  transport 
infrastructure will be the most affected by research and innovation 
in coming years. At the other end of the scale 3% in Cyprus, 10% 
in Greece and 11% in Croatia think the same way. Outside of the 
EU,  respondents  in  Switzerland  (27%)  are  the  most  likely  to 
mention  transport  and  transport  infrastructure,  while  those  in 
North Macedonia and Kosovo (both 4%) are the least likely to do 
so. 

Job  creation  is  most  often  mentioned  by  respondents  in  Cyprus 
(26%), and Greece and Romania (both 25%), and least mentioned 
by those in the Netherlands and Sweden (both 5%) and Denmark 
(6%). However, the largest proportion of respondents mentioning 
this are observed outside of the EU in Kosovo (36%), compared to 
6% in Switzerland. Within the EU this is the second most mentioned 
area  in  Romania,  and  the  third  most  mentioned  in  Greece  and 
Spain. 

Cyprus and Romania (both 22%) are the only EU countries where 
at least one in five mention the  security of citizens, followed by 
19% in Greece. This compares to 4% of respondents in Ireland and 
5% in Germany that also mention this area. This is the third most 
mentioned  area  in  Romania.  Amongst  non-EU  countries  the 
proportion of respondents mentioning security ranges from 24% 
in Albania to 4% in Switzerland. 

Portugal  (23%)  is  the  only  country  where  more  than  one  in  five 
think the adaption of society to an ageing population will be most 
affected  by  research  and  innovation,  followed  by  14%  of 
respondents in Slovenia, Malta, Estonia, Luxembourg and Belgium. 
At the other end of the scale, 6% of respondents in Bulgaria, 7% 
in Cyprus and 8% in Hungary and Sweden also mention this area. 
In  countries  outside  of  EU  adaption  of  society  to  an  ageing 
population  is  most  mentioned  by  respondents  in  Norway  and 
Iceland  
(17% each) and least mentioned by those in Albania (5%). 

The  proportion  of  respondents  who  mention  the  protection  of 
personal data ranges from 18% in Portugal, and 15% in Lithuania 
and Spain, to 5% in Sweden and Hungary, and 6% in Germany and 
Slovakia. In non-EU countries the proportion ranges from 18% of 
respondents in Turkey to 6% in Serbia. 

France (13%) and Romania (10%) are the only countries where at 
least one in ten thinks the  reduction of inequalities will be most 
affected  by  research  and  innovation.  This  compares  to  2%  of 
respondents  in  Sweden  and  Czechia.  The  highest  proportion  of 
respondents mentioning this area is actually found outside of the 
EU in Albania (29%). 

Finally,  quality  of  housing  is  mentioned  by  at  least  one  in  ten 
respondents in Austria (12%), Romania and Poland (both 11%) and 

 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

France (10%), but by only 2% in Sweden. In countries outside the 
EU  proportions  range  from  16%  in  North  Macedonia  to  3%  in 
Bosnia  and  Herzegovina,  the  United  Kingdom,  Norway  and 
Switzerland. 

115 

QA8bHealth and medical careFight against climate changeEnergy supplyProtection of the environmentAvailability and quality of foodEducation and skillsTransport and transport infrastructureJob creationSecurity of citizensAdaptation of society to an ageing populationProtection of personal dataReduction of inequalitiesQuality of housingOther (SPONTANEOUS)Don't knowEU274740322519191715121198702BE605455211815148714114401BG482924222126171214686615CZ662932341532241210972300DK40575029221717679105400DE46473930191826851266411EE593750231527171271495500IE5850513120161810413115400EL612518201742162519997402ES40281418151610241211158806FR494922352118141312129131000HR51392719241911201310109800IT4635372617161620181188502CY513113251742326227116502LV563231221920271181287500LT56363419121923171013157600LU565247291516198714107800HU493033222419201012859801MT704225268281323914104301NL565555142718135813116600AT443832262315241511101081212PL4329262124231315179881101PT48523225151815151223189300RO3313111718211225221212101105SI38343827221915161314125401SK563420292226211715965700FI474852192122171410976300SE4362671021103658852200TR45332922242516221391810600MK4228182419194232291591601AL176546101010245829800ME32232526161610262391713700RS513434272016813121066401NO3852542217142511517174300CH515053301612276414145300UK644947281616209815104300IS275834331629620517811501XK36141120644436234125700BA49252116172011171681163001st MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM2nd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM3r+A1:U46d MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEMIn the coming years, which of the following areas do you think will be affected most by research and innovation? (MAX. 3 ANSWERS)(%) 
 
 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The  socio-demographic  analysis  illustrates  that  men  are  more 
likely  than  women  to  mention  energy  supply  (34%  vs  29%)  or 
transport and transport infrastructure (20% vs 15%) as the most 
affected by research and innovation in coming years.  

It also shows that the older the respondent, the more likely they 
are to mention health and medical care, and the less likely they 
are to mention the protection of personal data, though the effect 
is not large. For example, 50% of those aged 50 and older mention 
health and medical care, compared to 43% of those aged 15-24. 

The  longer  a  respondent  remained  in  education,  the  more  likely 
they  are  to  mention  the  fight  against  climate  change,  energy 
supply or transport and transport infrastructure. For instance, 45% 
who  completed  education  aged  20  or  older  mention  climate 
change, compared to 32% who completed education aged 15 or 
younger. 

The  analysis  also  reveals  managers  (47%)  are  more  likely  to 
mention  the  fight  against  climate  change  than  those  in  other 
occupation groups. In addition, the fewer difficulties a respondent 
has in paying bills, the more likely they are to mention the fight 
against climate change or energy supply, and the less likely they 
are to mention job creation or the security of citizens. For example, 
34%  of  those  who  experience  the  least  financial  difficulties 
mention  energy  supply,  compared  to  24%  who  experience  the 
most difficulties. 

Respondents who think the influence of science and technology is 
positive  are  more  likely  than  those  who  think  the  influence  is 
negative to mention health and medical care (49% vs 36%), the 
fight against climate change (41% vs 29%) or energy supply (33% 
vs 22%), but less likely to mention the security of citizens (11% vs 
17%). Finally, respondents who place themselves on the left (45%) 
or in the centre (41%) of the political spectrum are more likely to 
mention the fight against climate change than those on the right 
(34%). 

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117 

QA8bFight against climate changeProtection of the environmentSecurity of citizensJob creationEnergy supplyHealth and medical careProtection of personal dataReduction of inequalitiesAdaptation of society to an ageing populationAvailability and quality of foodTransport and transport infrastructureEducation and skillsQuality of housingOther (SPONTANEOUS)Don't knowEU274025121532479811191719702Man3924121534459812192019601Woman4026121529489811191519702 15-2438281116334313108181922601 25-3941231114344611711191919701 40-544225111533469812201817601 55+382513152950771219161970315-322316192148871316121570616-19372514172947981120171880120+452691237499812201920501Still studying40281014364213910172123501Self-employed4227101636448910192317601Managers472691040489713202119501Other white collars4022111436498610191920701Manual workers38231417294510810211617701House persons3224152024459513171519904Unemployed36241321214415913201421701Retired3826131427517812201419703Students40281014364213910172123501Most of the time30211720244411812201520802From time to time35241718264511911201519802Almost never/ Never4126101334489711191819602Everyday42251114344710811201819601Often/Sometimes3528151622478811201517802Never2622191618455611181016907Left4526111334469912211818601Centre4127111531498712191719601Right34221516334510812191918701Interested4426101432509812201719601Moderately interested3926121533479811191819702Not interested27201718263910710191716805Interested452691336489812202020501Moderately interested4025121532489812201719701Not interested2922171923429710181416905Interested503081234469812201819501Moderately interested3523131531499711191819702Not interested201320212541108101716181015Positive4125111433499811191819601Negative292517162236129122015171102Less than 5 correct answers2823171820431289201219905Between 5 and 8 correct answers 3926131630489812191719701More than 8 correct answers51266944497712202318401Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'442691236479711202018601Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'38251316304710812201719702Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'3424151627479811181520803You alone do or did in the past4322812344591012221820501A family member does or did in the past 472681037429813222217501Both you and a family member do or did in the past5221711444414710222521500No3825131531489811191719702In the coming years, which of the following areas do you think will be affected most by research and innovation? (MAX. 3 ANSWERS) (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsUse of the Internet Left-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The  largest  share  of  respondents  who  agree  science  and 
technology do not really benefit people like them are observed in 
two  non-EU  countries:  Montenegro  (48%)  and  Kosovo  (43%).  By 
contrast,  6%  of  respondents  in  Iceland  and  Norway  also  agree. 
Disagreement is the majority view in Iceland (78%), Norway (79%) 
and Switzerland (66%), while in North Macedonia opinion is almost 
evenly divided (36% positive, 37% negative). 

3. 

Opinions on the benefits of 
science and technology 

Respondents  were  asked  how  strongly  they  agreed  or  disagreed 
with the statement “Science and technology do not really benefit 
people like you”.  

One  quarter  (25%)  of  respondents  agree  that  science  and 
technology do not really benefit people like them, but the majority 
(53%) disagree. One in five (20%) neither agree nor disagree, while 
2% say they ‘don’t know’.  

At a country level, the proportions that agree with this statement 
are  highest  in  Poland  and  Romania  (both  39%)  and  Italy (37%), 
and lowest in Sweden (5%), Ireland (7%), and Finland and Denmark 
(both 9%). It is worth noting that Romania and Bulgaria (34%) are 
the only countries where agreement is the dominant position, while 
in Poland the proportion that agree and disagree is the same (both 
39%). 

There  are  seven  countries  where  at  least  one  in  ten  ‘strongly 
agree’, with the largest proportions in Romania (16%), Bulgaria and 
Poland (both 12%). 

118 

 
 
 
 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The  socio-demographic  analysis  shows  no  notable  differences 
based  on  gender  or  age.  It  does,  however,  illustrate  some  other 
differences: 

Respondents who completed education younger are the most likely 
to  agree  with  the  statement.  For  instance,  36%  of  those  who 
finished education aged 15 or younger agree, compared to 18% of 
those who completed aged 20 or older.

The analysis shows managers (16%) are much less likely to agree 
than other occupation groups, in particular manual workers (31%). 
It  also  highlights  that  those  who  experience  more  financial 
difficulties  are  the  most  likely  to  agree:  around  one-third  who 
experience financial difficulties from time to time (34%) or most 
of the time (33%) agree, compared to 22% who rarely or never 
experience financial problems. 

Perhaps  not  surprisingly,  respondents  who  think  the  impact  of 
science and technology on society is negative are more likely to 
agree than those who think the influence is positive (39% vs 24%). 

119 

 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

120 

QA17.1Strongly agreeTend to agreeNeither agree nor disagreeTend to disagreeStrongly disagreeDon't knowTotal 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'EU2771820312222553Man71819302422554Woman71922311922650 15-2461520292822157 25-3971719332312456 40-5471919312312654 55+8202229183284715-11252425105363516-199232428142324220+51316363001866Still studying51317293421863Self-employed71917332312656Managers41214353411669Other white collars61820342112455Manual workers102123291523144House persons92024291532944Unemployed111823271922946Retired82122291642945Students51317293421863Most of the time122126261323339From time to time92525261323439Almost never/ Never61619322522257Everyday71719322412456Often/Sometimes82327281133139Never13282619774126Left61618322712259Centre71823311922550Right82120302012950Interested71517312912260Moderately interested61922321922551Not interested112525231153634Interested61215313511866Moderately interested62022331812651Not interested12262623853831Interested61416333012063Moderately interested72023311722748Not interested132526211053831Positive61819322322455Negative152427221023932Less than 5 correct answers13262820763927Between 5 and 8 correct answers 71922321912651More than 8 correct answers3811364111177Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'61418312922060Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'72021311922750Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'102122281633144You alone do or did in the past61414283802066A family member does or did in the past 51113343611670Both you and a family member do or did in the past45537481985No82022301822848How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Science and technology do not really benefit people like you (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsUse of the Internet Left-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

There are 10 countries where at least one in five ‘strongly agree’ 
with this statement, with the highest proportions in Cyprus (42%), 
and Spain and Slovenia (both 30%). 

In countries outside the EU, the proportions that agree range from 
73%  in  Montenegro  to  28%  in  Albania,  but  in  all  of  them 
respondents are more likely to agree than disagree.  

Respondents  were  asked  how  strongly  they  agreed  or  disagreed 
with  the  statement  “Science  and  technology  could  improve 
everyone's lives, but mostly improve the lives of people who are 
already better off”. 

The majority of respondents (57%) agree, with 20% saying they 
‘strongly agree’. One in five (20%) disagree, while 21% are neutral 
and 2% say they ‘don’t know’. 

In every country, respondents are most likely to agree science and 
technology could improve everyone’s lives but mostly improves the 
lives  of  people  who  are  already  better  off,  with  the  highest 
proportions  seen  in  Cyprus  (75%),  Hungary  (71%)  and  Bulgaria 
(70%). This compares to 41% of respondents in the Netherlands, 
42% in Belgium and 43% in Estonia. 

121 

 
 
 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The  socio-demographic  analysis  shows  next  to  no  difference  in 
agreement  based  on  gender  or  age  but  does  show  differences 
based  on  educational  level,  socio-professional  category,  and 
difficulty paying bills:  

More than six in ten respondents who completed education aged 
19 or younger agree (65% who ended education when they were 
15 or younger and 62% who ended education between the ages 
of 16 and 19), compared to 51% of those who finished aged 20 
or older.

Unemployed persons (64%) are the most likely to agree with this 
statement, particularly compared to managers (49%).  

Financial  situation  is  also  influential,  with  more  than  six  in  ten 
respondents who experience difficulties at least from time to time 
agreeing  (61%  from  time  to  time  and  65%  most  of  the  time), 
compared to 55% who rarely or never have difficulties paying bills.  

While opinion on the influence of science and technology seems to 
have  no  influence  on  responses  to  this  statement,  respondents 
who correctly answer less than five questions (61%) in the quiz are 
more likely to agree with the statement than those who answered 
more than eight questions correctly (50%). 

122 

 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

123 

QA17.2Strongly agreeTend to agreeNeither agree nor disagreeTend to disagreeStrongly disagreeDon't knowTotal 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'EU2720372114625720Man20372015715722Woman20372115525720 15-2418382214625620 25-3919372116615622 40-5421372015615821 55+2137201453581915-254019835651116-192339211142621520+16352020815128Still studying18362116725423Self-employed18382215615621Managers143518211114932Other white collars16382315625421Manual workers22392211426115House persons22362214335817Unemployed29351813326416Retired22382012536017Students18362116725423Most of the time26391912226514From time to time23382311326114Almost never/ Never19362016725523Everyday19372116615622Often/Sometimes2041249426113Never2337238276010Left21381915615921Centre19382213625719Right18372116715523Interested22351816815724Moderately interested18392214525719Not interested21372411345814Interested21341817915526Moderately interested19392214515819Not interested23372410246012Interested21351817815625Moderately interested18402213525818Not interested21342610365513Positive19382115615721Negative28302312435816Less than 5 correct answers2239229266111Between 5 and 8 correct answers 21372214515819More than 8 correct answers153518201115031Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'19342018815326Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'19392214515819Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'24382011436215You alone do or did in the past173219211014931A family member does or did in the past 182918231114734Both you and a family member do or did in the past16379241405338No20382213525818How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Science and technology could improve everyone's lives, but  mostly improve the lives of people who are already better off (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsUse of the Internet Left-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Across non-EU countries, Albania (29%) is the only country where 
fewer than six in ten respondents agree, but agreement is still the 
majority position (vs 19% who disagree).  

Respondents  were  asked  how  strongly  they  agreed  or  disagreed 
with the statement “Science and technology could improve living 
conditions  in  less  developed  countries,  but  they  mostly  improve 
living conditions in well-off countries”. 

Seven  in  ten  (70%)  respondents  agree  with  this  statement,  with 
27%  saying  they  ‘strongly  agree’.  Just  over  one  in  ten  (11%) 
disagree, while 17% are neutral and 2% say they ‘don’t know’. 

Echoing  the  EU-level  results,  a  majority  of  respondents  in  each 
country  also  agree  that  science  and  technology  could  improve 
living  conditions  in  less  developed  countries,  but  they  mostly 
improve living conditions in well-off countries. Proportions range 
from 82% of respondents in Portugal, 81% in Cyprus and 77% in 
Spain and Slovenia to 58% in Finland, 60% in Estonia, and 61% in 
Romania. It is worth noting that in 20 countries at least one in five 
respondents ‘strongly agree’. 

124 

 
 
 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The  socio-demographic  analysis  reveals  slight  differences  in 
opinion  based  on  age,  gender,  educational  level  and  financial 
situation.  

The  further  to  the  left  a  respondent  places  themselves  on  the 
political spectrum, the more likely they are to agree: 75% on the 
left do so, compared to 70% in the centre and 65% on the right. 

There  are  only  small  differences  based  on  occupation,  with 
unemployed  respondents  (75%)  the  most 
likely  to  agree, 
particularly when compared to the self-employed (68%). 

The  analysis  also  illustrates  that  respondents  who  think  the 
influence of science and technology is positive are more likely to 
agree (71% vs 63% who think the influence is negative).  

125 

QA17.3Strongly agreeTend to agreeNeither agree nor disagreeTend to disagreeStrongly disagreeDon't knowTotal 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'EU272743178327011Man2742169426913Woman2644178237010 15-242543178436812 25-392544179326912 40-542743179317012 55+274317823701015-28421762570816-1929431772272920+24451610416914Still studying2742169426913Self-employed2444189416813Managers21481412416916Other white collars2446178327011Manual workers2941188227010House persons2840188246810Unemployed334215622758Retired284217724709Students2742169426913Most of the time313918714708From time to time264221722689Almost never/ Never2644169327012Left3045148217510Centre2545187327010Right23421811426515Interested3142158317311Moderately interested2446178327011Not interested2439218356311Interested30411410417114Moderately interested2546178227110Not interested254021725659Interested3143139317412Moderately interested2445189226911Not interested2336257365910Positive2645168327111Negative3231229336312Less than 5 correct answers254019726669Between 5 and 8 correct answers 2844178317111More than 8 correct answers25461311417115Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'2742169426913Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'2545188227010Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'294317623728You alone do or did in the past28401710416814A family member does or did in the past 28401412516817Both you and a family member do or did in the past19421914426118No2644178327011How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Science and technology could improve living conditions in less developed countries, but they mostly improve living conditions in well-off countries (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Respondents  were  asked  how  strongly  they  agreed  or  disagreed 
with the statement “Science and technology could help improve the 
environment but they mostly help companies make money”. 

In the non-EU countries, Albania (30%) is the only country where 
fewer than half of all respondents agree, but this still represents a 
majority (vs 19% who disagree). 

Almost two-thirds (65%) of respondents in the EU agree, with 27% 
saying they ‘strongly agree’. Just over one in ten (13%) disagree, 
while 20% are neutral and 2% say they ‘don’t know’. 

In every EU country, respondents are most likely to agree with this 
statement,  although  proportions  range  from  78%  in  Cyprus  and 
74%  in  Spain  and  Slovenia  to  44%  in  Denmark,  49%  in  the 
Netherlands and  51% in  Finland.  In  17  countries  at  least  one  in 
five respondents ‘strongly agree’. 

126 

 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

As  with  the  other  statements  in  this  section,  the  socio-
demographic  analysis  shows  only  slight  differences  in  opinion 
based on gender or age.  There are however some differences in 
other socio-demographic groupings:  

There is a small difference based on education level, with those 
who finished education younger more likely to agree (68% vs 62% 
who finished aged 20+).  

Managers  (60%)  are  less  likely  to  agree  than  other  occupation 
groups, in particular the unemployed (68%).

The analysis also shows those who place themselves on the left 
(69%) or in the centre (65%) of the political spectrum are more 
likely to agree than those who place themselves on the right (59%). 

Perhaps  logically,  respondents who  are  very  interested  (67%) or 
moderately  interested  (65%)  in  environmental  problems  and 
climate  change  are  more  likely  to  agree  that  science  and 
technology  could  help  improve  the  environment  but  mostly  help 
companies make money than respondents who are not interested 
in environmental problems (58%).  

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

128 

QA17.4Strongly agreeTend to agreeNeither agree nor disagreeTend to disagreeStrongly disagreeDon't knowTotal 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'EU2727382010326513Man28371911326514Woman25392110236412 15-2425382111326314 25-3926382011326414 40-5427391910326613 55+2738201023651215-29391862668816-19284019823681020+25372014316217Still studying26372011426315Self-employed24411911326514Managers21392115316018Other white collars24412011226513Manual workers2938209226711House persons2837199256511Unemployed3434189236811Retired2838199246611Students26372011426315Most of the time343320724679From time to time2639229226511Almost never/ Never26391911326514Left29401710226912Centre26392110226512Right22372114425918Interested31361711326714Moderately interested24412110226512Not interested2437239256111Interested30351713416517Moderately interested25412010226612Not interested253822726639Interested31361712316715Moderately interested24412110226512Not interested2236267365810Positive25401911326514Negative3529239226411Less than 5 correct answers273821626658Between 5 and 8 correct answers 28391910226712More than 8 correct answers24371915416119Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'26362013326216Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'26402010226612Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'303819724689You alone do or did in the past26341917316020A family member does or did in the past 29331814516219Both you and a family member do or did in the past24291824505329No2739209236611How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Science and technology could help improve the environment but they mostly help companies make money (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
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Germany is the only country where more than half of respondents 
disagree (56%), but disagreement is the dominant opinion in six 
countries  overall.  In  Luxembourg,  the  proportion  that  agree  and 
disagree are the same (35% each). 

Opinion  in  non-EU  countries  is  also  extremely  variable,  ranging 
from 89% in Turkey who agree to 26% in Albania. Switzerland is 
the  only  country  where  respondents  are  more  likely  to  disagree  
(39% vs 27% who agree). 

Respondents  were  asked  whether  they  agreed  that  science  and 
technology can sort out any problem. Opinions are mixed, with little 
difference between the proportions that agree (38%) or disagree 
(35%)  with  this  statement.  One  quarter  (25%)  say  their  neither 
agree nor disagree.  

Confidence that science and technology can sort out any problem 
has  increased  considerably  since  2010.  The  proportion  of 
respondents who agree has increased 16 percentage points, with 
agreement  going  from  being  the  minority  view  in  2010  to  the 
majority opinion in 2021. 

There is considerable variation in opinion across Member States. 
Respondents  in  Portugal  (71%),  Lithuania  (68%)  and  Hungary 
(59%) are the most likely to agree science and technology can sort 
out  any  problem,  particularly  compared  to  those  in  Germany 
(21%), France (26%) and the Netherlands (27%). Agreement is the 
majority view in 20 countries, and in four countries at least one in 
five ‘strongly agrees’: Cyprus (25%), Romania (21%), Lithuania and 
Hungary  
(both 20%). 

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Comparing  the  current  country  results  with  those  from  2010 
shows  agreement  has  increased  in  every  Member  State  – 
sometimes  considerably.  For  example,  there  are  13  countries 
where agreement has increased by at least 20 percentage points, 
with the largest increases seen in Portugal (+43 pp), Sweden (+36 
pp)  and  Cyprus  (+34  pp).  The  smallest  increase  is  observed  in 
Croatia  
(+5 pp). It is worth noting that the proportion that strongly agrees 
has increased considerably in Cyprus (+20 pp), Hungary (+13 pp), 
Poland and Bulgaria (+11 pp each) and Lithuania (+10 pp).

Of the non-EU countries surveyed, the proportion that agrees has 
also increased considerably in each country, with the largest seen 
in Turkey (+26 pp), Norway (+25 pp) and Iceland (+24 pp). 

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131 

QA9.7Strongly agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Tend to agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Neither agree nor disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Tend to disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Strongly disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Don't knowTotal 'Agree'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Total 'Disagree'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010EU2795291125622111311238163522PT12959341312131737071431624SE5443322512198839048362747CY25202914184226518154342724FI873825211422171128046323345LT201048212357252806831933EE95402424102116622049292738MT953324258268323442292931LV94422430131425515051281940HU201339142521117412159271529IE6435202911249615041243024PL181138132571517212256241729DK642617291421121723132213835LU75281630142811721035213532SI1153114271018121217142193029BE3131173092710916034183626BG1711376251101137854171318FR54211324133071823226174830IT943913311131463248171917CZ613615273228911042163119NL53221332172791424027164133RO21933629312529354151414SK9432927122887241133015ES137304174226158343113714DE431772173010268221105618EL12431431519126214382514AT8421323326122042297468HR8130634131989803852816TR5415351187251508926310MK24N/A30N/A27N/A9N/A7N/A354N/A16N/AAL5N/A21N/A44N/A13N/A7N/A1026N/A20N/AME19N/A36N/A20N/A17N/A7N/A155N/A24N/ARS10N/A28N/A28N/A18N/A11N/A538N/A29N/ANO7436212916205836043252841IS54312032192320923036243243UK52311634182413621036183034CH31241434222491528027153937XK28N/A32N/A22N/A9N/A4N/A560N/A13N/ABA13N/A39N/A26N/A15N/A6N/A152N/A21N/AThe following are some statements that people have made about science or technology. For each statement, please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree.Science and technology can sort out any problem (%) 
 
 
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The socio-demographic analysis illustrates a few differences:  

The younger the respondent, the more likely they are to agree that 
science and technology can sort out any problem: 43% of those 
aged 15-24 think this way, compared to 36% of those aged 55 
and older.  

The  analysis  also  shows  students  (44%),  the  self-employed  and 
other  white-collar  workers  (both  43%)  are  more  likely  to  agree, 
particularly  compared  to  housepersons  and  retired  persons  
(both 35%). 

Finally, respondents who place themselves on the right (46%) of 
the political spectrum are more likely to agree than those in the 
centre (37%) or on the left (38%). 

Respondents  who  think  that  the  influence  of  science  and 
technology  is  positive  (42%)  are  also  more  likely  to  agree  that 
science and technology can sort out any problem than those who 
see its influence as negative (25%).  

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133 

QA9.7Strongly agreeTend to agreeNeither agree nor disagreeTend to disagreeStrongly disagreeDon't knowTotal 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'EU2792925221323835Man113024211314134Woman82925231323736 15-24123122221124333 25-39113125211204233 40-5492926211323834 55+8282423143363715-8262522145343616-199312521122403320+92924231413837Still studying133122211214433Self-employed103324191314332Managers83024251303838Other white collars103327191014329Manual workers102926201323933House persons92629201333533Unemployed82923251323738Retired82724241433538Students133122211214433Most of the time102925231123934From time to time103128191024129Almost never/ Never92924221423836Left92924231413837Centre92826221323735Right12342420914629Interested123022221314235Moderately interested83026221223834Not interested102826191433833Interested123222211214433Moderately interested82926231313736Not interested82626211453435Interested102722241613740Moderately interested93227201024130Not interested102626211253633Positive103225211114232Negative71826252222547Less than 5 correct answers112928171054027Between 5 and 8 correct answers 103125211214133More than 8 correct answers72821271613543Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'82823251513640Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'103226201024230Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'112924191524034You alone do or did in the past122921231414137A family member does or did in the past 73025231413737Both you and a family member do or did in the past93214331204145No93025211323934The following are some statements that people have made about science or technology. For each statement, please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree. Science and technology can sort out any problem (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Respondents were asked about the extent to which they agreed or 
disagreed  with 
to  scientific  and 
technological  advances,  the  Earth’s  natural  resources  will  be 
inexhaustible”.  

the  statement 

“Thanks 

In non-EU countries, agreement is highest amongst respondents in 
Kosovo (59%) and lowest in Switzerland and the United Kingdom 
(both  14%).  There  are  four  countries  where  disagreement 
outweighs agreement: the UK, Switzerland, Norway and Serbia.  

Just  over  one-quarter  (26%) agree,  with  7%  saying  they  ‘totally 
agree’.  The  majority  (51%)  disagree,  while  20%  are  neutral  and 
3% say they don’t know. Respondents are now more likely to agree 
with this statement than they were in 2013 (+5 pp). 

Although fewer than half of the respondents in each country agree 
that  thanks  to  scientific  and  technological  advances,  the  Earth’s 
natural resources will be inexhaustible, this is the most common 
opinion in six countries: Hungary (45%), Poland (44%), Italy (42%), 
Greece and Romania (both 38%) and Bulgaria (36%). By contrast, 
11%  of  respondents  in  Sweden,  13%  in  Belgium  and  14%  in 
Germany  and  Luxembourg  agree.  The  largest  proportions  of 
respondents who disagree are observed in Portugal (74%), Sweden 
(68%), and Belgium and Germany (both 67%);  

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

 Respondents  in  12  countries  are  now  more  likely  to  agree  than 
they were in 2013, with the largest increases seen amongst those 
in  Poland  (23%) and  Hungary  (22%).  In  14  countries agreement 
has declined, with the largest decrease seen in Luxembourg (-9 pp) 
and Portugal (-8 pp). There has been no change in Slovakia.

Agreement has increased in four non-EU countries, with the largest 
in Iceland (+13 pp). In contrast agreement has declined slightly in 
Switzerland (-4 pp). 

135 

QA10.4Totally agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Tend to agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Neither agree nor disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Tend to disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Totally disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Don't knowTotal 'Agree'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Total 'Disagree'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010EU27721932022642513265515PL1393114233181699644232725HU15930132251791319345223028CY116218192253188632144311IT11631729317997342132616MT511992111374111272410488FI3118922133242518021105722EL10128830518119453892715LT93226321328591203193717RO1232662651931067389299LV612073014315131402684419ES10620113125=2735307523FR3=14513124104462175684SK62202264255202326=453BG11425525216=9214361252SI821932982172122271425SE219=2163163790111683CZ3=12220=4382250152653DE2212=1623043783142674HR552532742132022302411NL331312263612432162604BE211132013832920134675IE311331953914261501646529AT82186145256331822645812DK231322123213022155623EE5114518242122130196639PT2=13811123910352001587430LU3111823233530701496312TR291278278122560567174MK18N/A29N/A25N/A11N/A10N/A747N/A21N/AAL7N/A24N/A41N/A12N/A6N/A1031N/A18N/AME20N/A32N/A26N/A17N/A3N/A252N/A20N/ARS7N/A22N/A25N/A18N/A20N/A829N/A38N/AIS13539831=13745052131712NO421312473332690171596CH2=124208395275014466=UK2312524637102510148629XK27N/A32N/A21N/A7N/A4N/A959N/A11N/ABA9N/A34N/A32N/A15N/A9N/A143N/A24N/AThe following are some statements that people have made about science and technology. For each statement, please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree.Thanks to scientific and technological advances, the Earth’s natural resources will be inexhaustible (%) 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In  addition,  respondents  who  think  the  influence  of  science  and 
technology is positive are more likely to agree than those who think 
the influence is negative (27% vs 19%).  

Respondents  who  do  better  on  the  quiz  questions  or  have  some 
involvement  in  research  and  innovative  technology  development 
are less likely to agree with the statement that the earth’s natural 
resources  will  be 
to  scientific  and 
technological advances.  

inexhaustible 

thanks 

The socio-demographic analysis shows no notable differences in 
opinion  based  on  gender,  educational  level,  occupation  or  age, 
although those aged 55 and older are slightly less likely to agree. 
However some differences can be seen in other grouping: 

Respondents  who  place  themselves  on  the  right  of  the  political 
spectrum (31%) are more likely to agree than those in the centre 
(25%) or on the left (24%).  

136 

QA10.4Totally agreeTend to agreeNeither agree nor disagreeTend to disagreeTotally disagreeDon't knowTotal 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'EU2771920262532651Man72018262632752Woman61921252542550 15-2482120262232948 25-3982020262422850 40-5472019262622752 55+5182025275235215-6202124227264616-198222223223304520+61717283022358Still studying81920252532750Self-employed62319252612951Managers51717293112260Other white collars72221262132947Manual workers92020242432948House persons81924242142745Unemployed62119242732751Retired51820252662351Students81920252532750Most of the time81820272342650From time to time92424221833340Almost never/ Never61818272832455Left61817263122457Centre61921272432551Right92222252023145Interested81718262922555Moderately interested62021262432650Not interested62322232062943Interested81717263022556Moderately interested62021262522651Not interested62123222082742Interested71516263422260Moderately interested72222262032946Not interested82324211773138Positive72020262432750Negative51423243221956Less than 5 correct answers92327181493232Between 5 and 8 correct answers 72120262422850More than 8 correct answers41313313811769Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'51516293322062Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'72222242232946Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'82222222153043You alone do or did in the past51818283012358A family member does or did in the past 51514293522064Both you and a family member do or did in the past21413244611670No72021252432749The following are some statements that people have made about science and technology. For each statement, please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree. Thanks to scientific and technological advances, the Earth’s natural resources will be inexhaustible (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Across non-EU countries there are also a wide range of opinions, 
with the proportions that agree highest in Turkey (84%) and North 
Macedonia (67%) and lowest in Norway and Albania (both 27%). 
In Norway, Albania and the United Kingdom disagreement is the 
dominant position, while in Iceland opinion is almost evenly split 
(41% agree, 42% disagree). 

Respondents were asked about the extent to which they agreed or 
disagreed that “New inventions will always be found to counteract 
any  harmful  consequences  of  scientific  and  technological 
development”. 

The majority (56%) agree, with 15% saying they ‘strongly agree’. 
Almost one in five (17%) disagree (5% do so strongly), while 24% 
are  neutral.  There  has  been  little  change  since  2010,  with  the 
proportion that agree increasing by five points. 

There is considerable variation in opinion at the country level. The 
proportion of respondents who agree ranges from 75% in Cyprus, 
70% in Hungary and 69% in Bulgaria to 34% in Croatia and Ireland, 
and 38% in Estonia. However, it is worth noting that in 24 countries 
agreement is the dominant position. In two more countries (Estonia 
and Croatia) respondents are most likely to agree, but opinion is 
more  evenly  divided  between  agreement  and  being  neutral. 
Respondents  are  most  likely  to  disagree  (36%)  in  Ireland,  but 
almost as many respondents agree (34%) or are neutral (30%). 

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Since  2010  there  have  been  some  large  changes  in  opinion  at 
country  level.  Agreement  overall  has  increased  in  17  countries, 
with the largest seen in  Finland (+40 pp), Portugal (+22 pp) and 
Bulgaria  (+19  pp).  By  contrast,  respondents  in  Croatia  (-23  pp), 
Belgium and Lithuania (-11 pp each) are now less likely to agree. 

In  addition,  the  proportion  that  ‘strongly  agree’  has  increased 
considerably  in  Cyprus  (+17  pp),  Finland  (+12  pp),  Hungary  and 
Bulgaria (+11 pp each), but has declined by 10 points in Croatia. 

Outside of the EU, the  proportion that agree new inventions will 
always  be  found  to  counteract  any  harmful  consequences  of 
scientific and technological development has increased in Turkey 
(+19 pp) but has declined in Norway (-19 pp) and Iceland (-10 pp). 

138 

QA9.9Strongly agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Tend to agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Neither agree nor disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Tend to disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Strongly disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Don't knowTotal 'Agree'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Total 'Disagree'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010EU27153412242123513565174FI15125028271373311906540852PT127481517122033=06022233BG25114481663714116919411DK137331128418665246182411CY391736=165542=2751774IT146456263864135912127SI18734526415667152122113HU261144121165211701086EL18645224178135638811RO17336530511=125538122SE10=418321214531005181715SK102434284114315536143AT135441215111754574184LV144487279105130623118FR10234=2132031213442322ES197366203122617551181PL213472225711=268181IE62282304291373034=3616NL1924812388412167196LU103361251216820464298DE16141424=112424575154EE5433137122025=0385252CZ1264722751361=0598146MT15139724151274=6548167BE9439722222783048113010LT14440731141342=05411154HR7102713339221385334233018TR475371411533220841955MK24N/A34N/A25N/A6N/A6N/A558N/A12N/AAL6N/A21N/A43N/A14N/A5N/A1127N/A19N/AME19N/A48N/A23N/A8N/A1N/A167N/A9N/ARS11N/A34N/A28N/A13N/A7N/A745N/A20N/ACH764642710141610532202UK6=253381426=540313314IS6135942111413104110172NO382411421725106102719319XK21N/A34N/A21N/A5N/A4N/A1555N/A9N/ABA12N/A42N/A33N/A8N/A3N/A254N/A11N/AThe following are some statements that people have made about science or technology. For each statement, please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree.New inventions will always be found to counteract any harmful consequences of scientific and technological development (%) 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Results from the socio-demographic analysis once again show no 
marked differences in opinion based on age, gender or education 
level, and no strong differences based on occupation group. 

The  analysis  does  show  that  the  fewer  financial  difficulties  a 
respondent  experiences,  the  more  likely  they  are  to  agree:  58% 
who have the least difficulties paying bills agree, compared to 50% 
who experience difficulties most of the time.  

139 

QA9.9Strongly agreeTend to agreeNeither agree nor disagreeTend to disagreeStrongly disagreeDon't knowTotal 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'EU2715412412535617Man17412312525817Woman14412412545517 15-2416422411435815 25-3916412313525718 40-5416392413535518 55+1442231155561615-144025948541316-191642251043581420+15402215625521Still studying16422212535817Self-employed16422213435817Managers15402215715522Other white collars16462310326213Manual workers16392513435517House persons1239299565114Unemployed17402311545716Retired15412311465615Students16422212535817Most of the time12382515555020From time to time15402710445514Almost never/ Never16422212535817Left15402215625521Centre16412412435716Right16432510335913Interested20412112426116Moderately interested13412612535417Not interested13412410575415Interested21402013516118Moderately interested13432512435616Not interested1238279595014Interested18392114625720Moderately interested13452511335814Not interested1434319574814Positive16432312425916Negative113228151044325Less than 5 correct answers1339298385211Between 5 and 8 correct answers 17422311435915More than 8 correct answers14392117725324Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'15392314635420Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'15432411435815Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'15402411555516You alone do or did in the past16392216615522A family member does or did in the past 17372314815422Both you and a family member do or did in the past14362619415023No15422411445715The following are some statements that people have made about science or technology. For each statement, please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree. New inventions will always be found to counteract any harmful consequences of scientific and technological development  (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
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Outside  the  EU,  respondents  in  Turkey  (56%) and  Kosovo  (49%) 
are the most likely to agree, particularly compared to those in the 
United  Kingdom 
(21%).  Turkey, 
(18%)  and  Switzerland 
Montenegro,  Albania  and  Kosovo  are  the  only  countries  in  this 
group where respondents are more likely to agree than disagree. 

Respondents  were  asked  the  extent  to  which  they  agree  or 
disagree  that  “Artificial  intelligence  and  automation  will  create 
more jobs than they will eliminate”. 

Only a minority of respondents (29%) agree, with fewer than one 
in  ten  (8%)  ‘totally  agreeing’.  The  majority  (40%)  disagree,  and 
15%  do  so  strongly.  Just  over  one-quarter  (26%)  are  neutral 
(neither agree nor disagree) and 5% say they don’t know. 

Although fewer than half of the respondents in any country agree 
that  artificial  intelligence  and  automation  will  create  more  jobs 
than they will eliminate, this is the most common opinion in five 
countries:  Italy  (44%),  Poland  (41%),  Hungary  (39%),  Denmark 
(36%)  and  Bulgaria  (32%),  while  in  Denmark  respondents  are 
equally likely to agree or be neutral (both 36%). At the other end 
of  the  scale  respondents  in  Sweden  (17%),  Latvia  (19%)  and 
France  (20%)  are  the  least  likely  to  agree.  Overall,  there are  22 
countries where respondents are most likely to disagree. 

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No notable differences in opinion based on gender, age, education 
level,  occupation  or  household  income  appear  in  the  socio-
demographic analysis. 

However,  respondents  who  think  science  and  technology  has  a 
positive influence are more likely to agree than those who think it 
has a negative influence (30% vs 21%). 

141 

QA10.6Totally agreeTend to agreeNeither agree nor disagreeTend to disagreeTotally disagreeDon't knowTotal 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'EU2782126251552940Man92225251633141Woman72026261562741 15-2492125271443041 25-39102227241433238 40-5472126261642842 55+7212524167284015-72024221710273916-199212524174304120+82128261432940Still studying92324281333241Self-employed102227231533238Managers72229271322940Other white collars82329261133137Manual workers92124241843042House persons52128261192637Unemployed81722252532550Retired72025241682740Students92324281333241Most of the time101721212652747From time to time92426221453336Almost never/ Never72126261552841Left82125271542942Centre82127251542940Right92326251343238Interested91926261642842Moderately interested72326261443040Not interested92225211673137Interested102026251633041Moderately interested72226271442941Not interested72124221792839Interested81925271742744Moderately interested72326251453039Not interested92127181693034Positive82227261343039Negative61522252842153Less than 5 correct answers82325191693135Between 5 and 8 correct answers 82125261642942More than 8 correct answers72029281332741Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'71925281742645Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'82427241343237Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'82125231672939You alone do or did in the past82430231323236A family member does or did in the past 92026261632942Both you and a family member do or did in the past111237221532337No82126251552940The following are some statements that people have made about science and technology. For each statement, please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree. Artificial intelligence and automation will create more jobs than they will eliminate  (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Respondents were randomly split into two different samples and 
asked about the extent to which they agreed or disagreed with the 
following statements: 

Just one in ten (10%) disagrees, while 20% are neutral and  1% 
say  they  don’t  know.  There  has  been  little  change  in  agreement 
since 2013 (+3 pp). 

  “Science and technology make our lives easier, healthier and 

more comfortable;” 

  “Science and technology make our lives healthier”27. 

Across the EU almost seven in ten (69%) respondents agree that 
science and technology make our lives easier, healthier and more 
comfortable, and 20% do so ‘totally’. 

The majority (57%) agree science and technology make our lives 
healthier, with 15% saying they ‘totally agree’. More than one in 
ten (14%) disagree, while 27% are neutral and 2% say they don’t 
know. Agreement has increased by seven points since 2013. 

27 Respondents were randomly split into two samples, with half asked the first 
statement “Science and technology make our lives easier, healthier and more 
comfortable” and the other “Science and technology make our lives healthier”. 

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The majority of respondents in each country agree that science and 
technology make our lives easier, healthier and more comfortable, 
with proportions ranging from 81% in Estonia, Ireland and Spain, 
to 51% in Romania, 57% in Austria and 59% in Slovenia. There are 
only five countries where at least one in ten disagrees: Romania 
(16%), Slovenia (15%), France (14%), Austria and Germany (both 
13%).  

Compared  to  2013,  respondents  in  19  countries  are  now  more 
likely to agree, with the largest increases seen in Denmark (+19 
pp),  Czechia  (+15  pp)  and  Portugal  (+13  pp).  By  contrast, 
respondents in Romania (-17 pp), Bulgaria (-9 pp) and five other 
countries  are  now  less  likely  to  agree.  In  fact,  in  Bulgaria  the 
proportion that ‘totally agrees’ has declined 15 points. There has 
been no change in opinion in Malta. 

The  majority  of  respondents  in  all  but  one  non-EU  country  also 
agree with this statement, with the highest levels seen in Turkey 
(85%)  and  Iceland  (84%).  The  exception  is  Albania,  where  30% 
agree, but even here agreement is the most common opinion.

Outside of the EU, agreement has increased by eight points in the 
United Kingdom. 

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144 

QA10.1Totally agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Tend to agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Neither agree nor disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Tend to disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Totally disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Don't knowTotal 'Agree'Diff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Total 'Disagree'Diff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013EU27202495202812=1693101DK2865113161037111791948CZ2115616181142110771553PT20458917551010781352EE261551312852210811273FI2026013125761=0801186NL211541121444010751045BE16161101834411077955IE2355814133511=081961IT1815491866=21272881DE1514572659141160613=FR16=4961941113=2656141LV192508231652=069685LU2025641815213076665SI18341825410=5=159515=LT29445=201521=074462ES38243=11=6112181271CY40236=1556121176282SK19=442291611=163271PL222523173720=274172MT288508152420=378=42EL202481242611=168171HR1584972867211064183HU21=4522864311166254SE172584183710=075271AT1714032839242257413=BG22154662274=11568951RO19932830913931351171610TR49N/A36N/A12N/A2N/A1N/A085N/A3N/AMK24N/A36N/A26N/A9N/A3N/A260N/A12N/AAL7N/A23N/A41N/A10N/A7N/A1230N/A17N/AME20N/A41N/A23N/A12N/A2N/A261N/A14N/ARS16N/A38N/A29N/A9N/A5N/A354N/A14N/AUK2255713173321=079842IS20N/A64N/A14N/A2N/A0N/A084N/A2N/ANO17N/A52N/A22N/A8N/A1N/A069N/A9N/ACH7N/A54N/A26N/A11N/A2N/A061N/A13N/AXK32N/A38N/A18N/A7N/A2N/A370N/A9N/ABA13N/A46N/A27N/A11N/A2N/A159N/A13N/AThe following are some statements that people have made about science and technology. For each statement, please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree.Science and technology make our lives easier, healthier and more comfortable (%) 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The socio-demographic analysis shows that men are more likely 
than women to agree that science and technology make our lives 
easier, healthier and more comfortable (73% vs 65%). In addition, 
the younger the respondent, the more likely they are to agree, with 
75% of those aged 15-24 in agreement compared to 65% of those 
aged 55 and older.  

Educational  level  is  also  influential.  The  longer  a  respondent 
remained in education, the more likely they are to agree: 75% who 
completed education aged 20 or older agree, compared to 57% of 
those who completed aged 15 or younger. 

Students (78%) and managers (75%) are the most likely to agree 
with  this  statement,  particularly  compared  to  retired  persons 
(64%).  Agreement  is  higher  amongst  those  who  rarely  or  never 
have difficulties paying their bills (71%), compared to those who 
experience difficulties most of the time (60%). 

Respondents who are positive about the influence of science and 
technology are much more likely to agree than those who think the 
influence is negative (74% vs 40%), as are those who do better in 
the quiz (79% who get eight or more answers right vs 55% who 
get five or less right).  

145 

QA10.1Totally agreeTend to agreeNeither agree nor disagreeTend to disagreeTotally disagreeDon't knowTotal 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'EU272049208216910Man235018621738Woman1748229316512 15-24255017611757 25-39224919721719 40-541949218216810 55+184722832651115-1740231154571616-19184722931651220+235218610757Still studying265216510786Self-employed224921530718Managers225317710758Other white collars205119811719Manual workers1946228326511House persons155124712668Unemployed2047209316712Retired1846228336411Students265216510786Most of the time17432312416016From time to time1746249316312Almost never/ Never215019721719Everyday215019721719Often/Sometimes18402214425818Never12422711445415Left225019621728Centre1948218316711Right205119811719Interested254818720739Moderately interested185022721689Not interested14442311535816Interested294816610777Moderately interested175221721699Not interested12422611545416Interested244818721729Moderately interested175221721699Not interested16392511545516Positive225219511746Negative9312822914031Less than 5 correct answers14412710445514Between 5 and 8 correct answers 2049208216910More than 8 correct answers255415510796Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'225118621738Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'2048218216810Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'1745239426213You alone do or did in the past2748158207510A family member does or did in the past 264717721739Both you and a family member do or did in the past354910600846No1949218216810The following are some statements that people have made about science and technology. For each statement, please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree. Science and technology make our lives easier, healthier and more comfortable (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsUse of the Internet Left-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Respondents in every country are most likely to agree that science 
and  technology  make  our  lives  healthier,  though  there  is 
considerable variation, with the highest proportions seen in Spain 
and Portugal (each 70%) and Finland (68%). Although it is still the 
most common position, agreement is least widespread in Romania 
(42%), Slovakia, and Austria, Latvia and Germany (45% each). In 
all but six countries at least one in ten respondents disagree that 
science and technology make our lives healthier. 

Opinions also vary widely in countries outside the EU. Almost eight 
in  ten  (79%)  respondents  in  Turkey  agree,  compared  to  33%  in 
Albania.  In  spite  of  this,  agreement  is  still  the  most  common 
opinion in every non-EU country. 

In 24 Member States, respondents are now more likely to agree 
than they were in 2013. In fact, in ten countries the increase is by 
more than ten percentage points, and this is particularly the case 
in Estonia (+20 pp), the Netherlands (+17 pp) and Germany, Latvia 
and Portugal (+16 pp each). By contrast, agreement has declined 
in Romania (-15 pp), Malta (-7 pp) and Ireland (-3 pp); in Malta the 
proportion that ‘totally agree’ has declined 21 points since 2013. 

In countries outside the EU the proportion that agree has increased 
slightly in the United Kingdom (+3 pp). 

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147 

QA10.2Totally agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Tend to agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Neither agree nor disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Tend to disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Totally disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Don't knowTotal 'Agree'Diff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Total 'Disagree'Diff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013EU27151426271114312577145EE145491524512714063201311NL1664511308762=0611796DE93361334314115=245161911LV943612362161036045161916PT141561521793020701691CZ124391134=13824051151512IT12=5214268633=1641493SK1363272991846=24513244BE17447829=691206412711ES3074051719525270121110PL16543726=1272215912149LT141391031413932053111611SE13=52112341062=06511126SI13233732=172461469218FI1415410222981206891010EL15240532195410557134HR11=367322151610477212LU9753142788123106271113DK14=43530194232575117FR183452201113521635161BG14436626313151650218=CY29328123315=4=157219=HU16440233191121562101AT11134=331145632451202IE1864932468211067391MT162149142511620=465762RO14728834817743342152110TR39N/A40N/A15N/A6N/A0N/A079N/A6N/AMK16N/A28N/A30N/A16N/A8N/A244N/A24N/AAL9N/A24N/A40N/A14N/A5N/A833N/A19N/AME15N/A35N/A28N/A17N/A4N/A150N/A21N/ARS9N/A25N/A33N/A18N/A12N/A334N/A30N/AUK1534862867621063397IS19N/A49N/A27N/A5N/A0N/A068N/A5N/ANO11N/A41N/A38N/A9N/A1N/A052N/A10N/ACH6N/A43N/A38N/A11N/A2N/A049N/A13N/AXK23N/A33N/A21N/A12N/A7N/A456N/A19N/ABA8N/A29N/A35N/A20N/A8N/A037N/A28N/AThe following are some statements that people have made about science and technology. For each statement, please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree.Science and technology make our lives healthier (%) 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The socio-demographic analysis shows next to no variation based 
on age, but it does highlight some other differences: 

Men are more likely to agree than women (60% vs 55%).  

Those who completed education aged 20 or older (62%) are more 
likely to agree than those who completed education at a younger 
age (53%).  

Looking at occupation shows managers (65%), students (63%) and 
other  white-collar  workers  (62%)  are  the  most  likely  to  agree, 
particularly compared to the unemployed (49%).  

Respondents  who  experience  the  most  financial  difficulty  (49%) 
are less likely to agree than those who experience difficulties from 
time to time (57%) or rarely/never (59%).

The analysis also shows that the more urbanised a respondent’s 
environment, the more likely they are to agree: 61% living in large 
towns do so, compared to 54% living in rural areas.  

Respondents who get eight or more answers right at the quiz are 
also more likely to agree with the statement than those who got 
five or less correct answers (68% vs 47%). 

Finally,  and  not  surprisingly,  those  who  think  the  influence  of 
science and technology is positive are much more likely to agree 
(62% vs 35% who think the influence is negative).  

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149 

QA10.2Totally agreeTend to agreeNeither agree nor disagreeTend to disagreeTotally disagreeDon't knowTotal 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'EU2715422711325714Man17432610316013Woman13422811425515 15-2416432610415914 25-391644279316012 40-5414432711415715 55+1641271132571415-1439281144531516-191441291141551520+17452510216212Still studying1944249316312Self-employed18412712205914Managers1748248216510Other white collars1547269216211Manual workers13422812415516House persons15363012435116Unemployed14352814634920Retired15402911325514Students1944249316312Most of the time15342417644923From time to time14432711325714Almost never/ Never16432710315913Rural village16382812425416Small/ mid size town14442810315813Large town16452411316114Left16432710315913Centre14432810325713Right18432511216113Interested2142249316312Moderately interested12452910315713Not interested13352815544820Interested2344228216710Moderately interested12442911315614Not interested11353014644620Interested1943259316212Moderately interested13442811315714Not interested13342914554719Positive1745269216211Negative92630231113534Less than 5 correct answers11363212544717Between 5 and 8 correct answers 16422711315814More than 8 correct answers194922811689Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'17442411316114Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'15432910215812Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'14392712625318You alone do or did in the past2047238206710A family member does or did in the past 2342248306511Both you and a family member do or did in the past23422112206514No14422811325614The following are some statements that people have made about science and technology. For each statement, please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree. Science and technology make our lives healthier (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsSubjective urbanisationLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The majority (57%) of respondents in the EU agree  that science 
makes our ways of life change too fast. Just over one in five (21%) 
disagree,  while  the  same  proportion  is  neutral  and  1%  say  they 
don’t  know.  Respondents  are  now  less  likely  to  agree  than  they 
were in 2013 (-5 pp). 

Just over half (52%) of respondents agree that the applications of 
science and technology can threaten human rights. Slightly more 
than one in five (22%) disagree, while 23% are neutral and 3% 
say  they  don’t  know.  There  has  been  little  change  in  agreement 
since 2013 (-2 pp), but the proportion that disagrees has increased  
(+ 5 pp).

A minority (32%) of respondents in the EU agree that we depend 
too much on science and not enough on faith. Four in ten (40%) 
disagree,  25%  are  neutral  and  3%  say  they  don’t  know.  The 
proportion of respondents who agree has declined by seven points 
since 2013, with agreement going from being the majority view in 
that survey to the minority view in 2021.  

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Almost one-third of respondents agree that we depend too much 
on  science  and  not  enough  on  faith,  but  there  are  considerable 
differences at a country level. In six countries at least half agree 
that we depend too much on science and not enough on faith, with 
the largest proportions seen in Cyprus (68%), Bulgaria (59%) and 
Greece (56%). At the other end of the scale 13% in Finland and 
Belgium and 15% in Sweden and Ireland think the same way. 

In countries outside the EU there is a similar variation in opinion, 
with proportions ranging from 64% of respondents in Montenegro 
who agree to just 11% in Iceland. In four countries, respondents 
are more likely to disagree than agree: Iceland, Norway, the United 
Kingdom and Switzerland. 

In  24  countries,  respondents  are  now  less  likely  to  agree  we 
depend too much on science and not enough on faith than those 
in 2013. In 12 Member States the decline is at least ten points with 
the largest in Finland (-25 pp), Estonia (-23 pp) and Ireland (-22 
pp). The exceptions are France, Cyprus and Romania where there 
have been minor increases in agreement (+2 pp each). 

In the United Kingdom the proportion that agrees has also declined 
significantly since 2013 (-23 pp). 

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152 

QA10.7Totally agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Tend to agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Neither agree nor disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Tend to disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Totally disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Don't knowTotal 'Agree'Diff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Total 'Disagree'Diff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013EU2710422325=1912173327408FR8=1922521832426272425CY428266139111751682186RO20130332112=313502151SI10116221424627522615111ES2042522031711513452322AT12=2722531971354392322SK161321282141733482214IT112281312192922393284HU161342304131621503191PL9228228=2121153374327EL194372254154410566195NL64112185202441211766414BG22437323171328597103DK51117204211421411686313HR13426433517410=1398274MT2323182361474255410189CZ9926227=2141710035113814LT11321103810173137032133010DE651692222233116322145319BE35101123=2114319013166418SE35121219=20=4618015176618LV6721123712195179027193614LU57161319=2643420021206024PT8821122832292116029204325IE5710152032773824015226531EE6913142342483424019235832FI3610192332244221013256425TR19N/A25N/A21N/A16N/A19N/A044N/A35N/AMK27N/A31N/A22N/A10N/A6N/A458N/A16N/AIS3N/A8N/A19N/A24N/A46N/A011N/A70N/AAL7N/A23N/A44N/A10N/A6N/A1030N/A16N/AME21N/A43N/A23N/A11N/A1N/A164N/A12N/ARS15N/A28N/A29N/A17N/A7N/A443N/A24N/AUK312111125327103419014236129IS3N/A8N/A19N/A24N/A46N/A011N/A70N/ANO3N/A9N/A21N/A22N/A45N/A012N/A67N/ACH5N/A14N/A26N/A23N/A32N/A019N/A55N/AXK25N/A31N/A21N/A8N/A9N/A656N/A17N/ABA11N/A33N/A40N/A11N/A4N/A144N/A15N/AThe following are some statements that people have made about science and technology. For each statement, please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree.We depend too much on science and not enough on faith (%) 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The  socio-demographic  analysis  shows  no  difference  within  the 
younger age groups, but does show that those aged 55+ (37%) are 
the most likely to agree, particularly compared to those aged 15-
24 (27%).  

The analysis also shows that: 

The earlier a respondent completed education, the more likely they 
are to agree that we depend too much on science and not enough 
on faith: 46% who completed education aged 15 or younger agree, 
compared to 25% of those aged 20 or older. 

Opinions  also  vary  by  occupation  group.  For  example, 
housepersons  (40%)  are  the  most  likely  to  agree,  particularly 
compared to managers (22%). 

Those with the least financial difficulties (20%) are less likely to 
agree 
difficulties.  
(29% who never/almost never have difficulty paying bills vs 45% 
who have difficulty paying bills most of the time).  

have  more 

those 

than 

who 

The analysis also shows that the further to the right a respondent 
places themselves on the political spectrum, the more likely they 
are to agree: 38% on the right do so compared to 28% on the left. 

Finally, those who think the influence of science and technology is 
negative are more likely to agree  with the statement than those 
who think the influence is positive (43% vs 31%), as are those who 
answer  less  than  five  answers  correctly  during  the  quiz  (49%) 
compared to those who answer eight or more questions correctly 
(16%). 

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154 

QA10.7Totally agreeTend to agreeNeither agree nor disagreeTend to disagreeTotally disagreeDon't knowTotal 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'EU27102225192133240Man102223192333242Woman112227191833337 15-2481925192632745 25-39102023202523045 40-5492226192133140 55+12252518164373415-1828261585462316-1912262718143383220+71823212922550Still studying81623203122451Self-employed102325192123340Managers61623233022253Other white collars92126202223042Manual workers122626161733833House persons142628191034029Unemployed122326162033536Retired132525181543833Students81623203122451Most of the time172823151434529From time to time132730161224028Almost never/ Never92024202432944Left91921183122849Centre102228201733237Right122625191623835Interested112023192523144Moderately interested92326201933239Not interested132627161443930Interested91821203022750Moderately interested92327201833238Not interested15282914954323Interested101923192722946Moderately interested92427201733337Not interested152627141354127Positive92225202223142Negative172629131234325Less than 5 correct answers17322712754919Between 5 and 8 correct answers 112328191633435More than 8 correct answers41217244121665Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'61417204032060Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'92431211233333Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'22332513525518You alone do or did in the past81719203422554A family member does or did in the past 91720203312653Both you and a family member do or did in the past8617254311468No112326191833437The following are some statements that people have made about science and technology. For each statement, please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree. We depend too much on science and not enough on faith (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The proportion of respondents who agree that the applications of 
science  and  technology  can  threaten  human  rights  varies 
considerably  between  countries.  Proportions  range  from  76%  in 
Cyprus, 65% in Greece and 63% in Spain to 34% in Estonia, 35% 
in Denmark and 37% in Latvia. However, it is worth noting that in 
all  but  two  countries  respondents  are  more  likely  to  agree.  The 
exceptions are Estonia and Denmark, where respondents are most 
likely to disagree – although in the case of Denmark this is by one 
percentage point. 

In the non-EU countries, respondents in Montenegro (66%) are the 
most  likely  to  agree,  particularly  compared  to  those  in  Albania 
(28%). In spite of this range, agreement is still the majority view 
in each country. 

Compared to 2013, respondents in 23 countries are now less likely 
to  agree  that  the  applications  of  science  and  technology  can 
threaten  human  rights,  with  the  largest  declines  seen  in  Estonia  
(-19  pp),  Luxembourg  (-18  pp)  and  Latvia  (-15  pp).  By  contrast, 
respondents  in  Hungary  (+8  pp),  France  (+7  pp)  and  Romania  
(+6 pp) are now more likely to agree. There has been no change in 
opinion in Spain. 

It is worth noting there have been large declines in the proportions 
that totally agree amongst respondents in Sweden (-11 pp), Malta 
and Slovenia (-10 pp each).  

Outside  of the  EU,  the  proportion  of  respondents  in  the  UK  that 
agrees has declined (-13 pp). 

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

156 

QA10.8Totally agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Tend to agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Neither agree nor disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Tend to disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Totally disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Don't knowTotal 'Agree'Diff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Total 'Disagree'Diff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013EU2715237=23=163623522225HU1633552441525=5518202FR17144618=124514617175RO214312283121216526142ES25=38=14113451563=183CY39637512=61432761102SK163364292122433521161EL213446234712=365391IT105402281156413503197BE13237232615131050418=MT1610385235135218545156AT11=355243182963465278DE12531123=2131162436329NL145361264184412506225FI1233932611667405162310BG1663212311344112487175CZ9429326329117303873614PT9539421225166404893120SI2210391215125511619176DK9226827422414323510367HR17639429101232115610142PL1123782561846434810248IE96336288251251042123013LT115287351020962039122611SE111141128111535=05212203LV9728834132485=03715298LU128361031181873104818216EE8626132533016116034194122TR19N/A32N/A25N/A14N/A10N/A051N/A24N/AMK20N/A31N/A28N/A10N/A7N/A451N/A17N/AAL6N/A22N/A43N/A12N/A6N/A1128N/A18N/AME23N/A43N/A23N/A8N/A1N/A266N/A9N/ARS20N/A35N/A25N/A14N/A2N/A455N/A16N/AUK610303381022104103613269IS7N/A30N/A34N/A23N/A6N/A037N/A29N/ANO8N/A29N/A33N/A22N/A8N/A037N/A30N/ACH11N/A35N/A31N/A16N/A7N/A046N/A23N/AXK21N/A29N/A25N/A9N/A6N/A1050N/A15N/ABA15N/A42N/A29N/A11N/A3N/A057N/A14N/AThe following are some statements that people have made about science and technology. For each statement, please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree.The applications of science and technology can threaten human rights (%) 
 
 
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There  are  no  notable  differences  in  opinion  based  on  gender, 
educational  level  or  occupation,  but  the  socio-demographic 
analysis does show that those aged 15-24 (45%) are the only age 
group where fewer than half of respondents agree. The analysis 
also  highlights  that  the  more  financial  difficulties  a  respondent 
experiences, the more likely they are to agree: 61% who experience 
the  most  difficulties  do  so,  compared  to  50%  of  those  who 
experience the fewest difficulties. 

Finally,  respondents  who  think  the  influence  of  science  and 
technology  is  negative  are  more  likely  to  agree  than  those  who 
think the influence is positive (61% vs 50%). 

157 

QA10.8Totally agreeTend to agreeNeither agree nor disagreeTend to disagreeTotally disagreeDon't knowTotal 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'EU2715372316635222Man16372117725324Woman14362516545021 15-2412332619734526 25-3915362417625123 40-5415382316625322 55+1537221565522115-1737211249541616-191438241563522120+15372218715225Still studying13322520734527Self- employed15372416535221Managers13372120725027Other white collars12372717524922Manual workers16372315635321House persons13382614455118Unemployed17392113645619Retired15372114765221Students13322520734527Most of the time19422010456114From time to time15392613435417Almost never/ Never14362318635024Left15362218725125Centre14372515635121Right14382318525223Interested17342118825126Moderately interested13392416535221Not interested14352513674919Interested17342019915128Moderately interested13392416535221Not interested16352612475116Interested17362017825325Moderately interested12382517535022Not interested15342612674918Positive13372417725024Negative26352112336115Less than 5 correct answers16372510485314Between 5 and 8 correct answers 15372416625222More than 8 correct answers12352122914731Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'13342319924728Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'14372417535122Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'19392112455816You alone do or did in the past16352317815125A family member does or did in the past 17341921725128Both you and a family member do or did in the past213416171205529No14372416635122The following are some statements that people have made about science and technology. For each statement, please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree. The applications of science and technology can threaten human rights (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Although  the  proportion  of  respondents  who  agree  that  science 
makes our ways of life change too fast varies by 64 percentage 
points across countries, agreement is the most common opinion in 
24 countries, with the highest levels seen in Cyprus (94%), Greece 
(86%)  and  Spain  (83%).  By  contrast,  30%  of  respondents  in 
Ireland, 33% in Denmark and 35% in the Netherlands also agree; 
in  these  three  countries respondents  are  most  likely  to  disagree 
with this statement, although Ireland is the only country where the 
four  percentage  points  
than 
is  by  more 
difference 
(agree: 30%, disagree: 45%). 

Across  non-EU  countries  agreement  ranges  from  81%  of 
respondents in Turkey to 27% in the United Kingdom. Iceland and 
the United Kingdom are the only countries where respondents are 
more likely to disagree than to agree. 

Since 2013, agreement that science makes our ways of life change 
too fast has declined in 24 countries, with the largest drops seen 
in  Estonia  (-26  pp),  Luxembourg  (-24  pp)  and  Ireland  (-21  pp). 
Overall, there are 14 countries where the decline has been at least  
10 percentage points. In addition, there are nine countries where 
the  proportion  that  ‘totally  agrees’  has  dropped  by  at  least  10 
points, with the largest decreases seen in Estonia (-19 pp), Malta 
(-18 pp) and Slovenia (-16 pp). The only increases in agreement 
are recorded in Spain (+5 pp) and Cyprus (+1 pp), while there has 
been no change in Bulgaria. 

Respondents  in  the  United  Kingdom  are  now  much  less  likely  to 
agree  than  they  were  in  2013  (-26  pp),  and  the  proportion  that 
‘totally agrees’ has declined by 16 points. 

158 

 
 
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159 

QA10.9Totally agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Tend to agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Neither agree nor disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Tend to disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Totally disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Don't knowTotal 'Agree'Diff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Total 'Disagree'Diff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013EU27213362213163511575214ES4443999=542=183574CY73221133210=194121BG39343392531=382=63FR19136319319252255224=HU293405212712116929=MT241854161346401378263EL441424113310=086331HR3154411975=11075461IT163431264101312594132PT17548=16116113106551912RO315321024593113635102AT165393213151752558224PL217462195114211679135NL1062542652949113510385SK30643418651222731073DK7526729620=17613312376LV121340=27101754=05213215CZ1615401202201142056142413DE124271023=269117139143716SI27163722181054116414146LT131235329121756204815237SE10936630111965=04615246BE893472992465204216298FI71031927112679103819358IE5102511257361791030214518LU101534928162048504424289EE919327237281685041263621TR48N/A33N/A13N/A4N/A2N/A081N/A6N/AMK48N/A32N/A13N/A3N/A2N/A280N/A5N/AAL9N/A23N/A42N/A10N/A5N/A1132N/A15N/AME31N/A44N/A17N/A7N/A0N/A175N/A7N/ARS34N/A41N/A15N/A7N/A2N/A175N/A9N/AUK51622103515321461027263813IS7N/A21N/A34N/A30N/A8N/A028N/A38N/ANO7N/A29N/A33N/A23N/A8N/A036N/A31N/ACH6N/A32N/A30N/A24N/A8N/A038N/A32N/AXK37N/A41N/A13N/A3N/A2N/A478N/A5N/ABA32N/A40N/A21N/A4N/A3N/A072N/A7N/AThe following are some statements that people have made about science and technology. For each statement, please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree.Science makes our ways of life change too fast (%) 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The socio-demographic analysis shows little difference in opinion 
based on gender, but does highlight that: 

The  older  the  respondent,  the  more  likely  they  are  to agree.  For 
example, 62% of the oldest respondents agree science makes our 
ways of life change too fast, compared to 49% of those aged 15-
24. 

The analysis also shows that the earlier a respondent completed 
education, the more likely they are to agree. Almost seven in ten 
(69%)  of  those  who  completed  education  aged  15  or  younger 
agree  with  the  statement,  compared  to  52%  of  those  who 
completed education aged 20 or older.  

Opinion also varies by occupation group, with manual workers the 
most 
likely  to  agree,  particularly  compared  to  managers  
(63% vs 47%).

Respondents who experience greater financial difficulty are more 
likely to agree than those who rarely or never have trouble paying 
bills (55%).  

The analysis also shows that respondents who place themselves 
on the right (61%) or in the centre (58%) of the political spectrum 
are more likely to agree than those who place themselves on the 
left (52%). 

Finally,  respondents  who  think  the  influence  of  science  and 
technology is negative are more likely to agree (64%) compared to 
those who think the influence is positive (56%), as are those who 
answer  five  or  less  of  the  quiz  questions  correctly  compared  to 
those who get eight or more of the questions right (68% vs 42% 
respectively). 

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

161 

QA10.9Totally agreeTend to agreeNeither agree nor disagreeTend to disagreeTotally disagreeDon't knowTotal 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'EU2721362116515721Man21352017615623Woman21372115515820 15-2416332320714927 25-3920342118615424 40-5420372116515721 55+2339191342621715-303917833691116-192239211242611620+18342021705228Still studying15332122814830Self- employed20362314615620Managers14332124804732Other white collars18382215615621Manual workers25382013316316House persons21402311326114Unemployed26351716426120Retired24371913526118Students15332122814830Most of the time29331914326217From time to time24392211316314Almost never/ Never19362018615524Left18342119715226Centre20382115515820Right22391915416119Interested22331919615525Moderately interested19392115515820Not interested23362311435915Interested20311921905130Moderately interested19392215415819Not interested2738228236510Interested21321919815327Moderately interested20402114416018Not interested23362510335913Positive19372116615622Negative28362112216414Less than 5 correct answers264220723689Between 5 and 8 correct answers 22382114416018More than 8 correct answers132920271104238Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'16332022814930Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'20392214415918Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'29381910226712You alone do or did in the past162919261004536A family member does or did in the past 153119241014634Both you and a family member do or did in the past152525191604035No22382114416018The following are some statements that people have made about science and technology. For each statement, please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree. Science makes our ways of life change too fast (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
III.  VIEWS ON THE GOVERNANCE OF 
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 

162 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In countries outside the EU, the proportions that agree range from 
58%  in  Bosnia  Herzegovina  to  28%  in  Albania.  However, 
Switzerland is the only country where the majority disagrees (43% 
vs 33% agree). 

1. 

Governance of science and 
technology 

Respondents  were  asked  how  strongly  they  agreed  or  disagreed 
that “We have no option but to trust those governing science and 
technology”.  

A  small  majority  (52%)  agree,  with  16%  saying  they  ‘strongly 
‘strongly 
agree’.  One  quarter 
disagreeing’. Just over one in five (21%) are neutral, while 2% say 
they don’t know. 

(25%)  disagrees,  with  8% 

At least half of all respondents in 18 countries agree that we have 
no option but to trust those governing science and technology, with 
the largest proportions seen in Hungary (68%), Bulgaria (66%) and 
Poland (65%). At the other end of the scale, 31% in Sweden, 36% 
in  Ireland  and  37%  in  Denmark  say  the  same.  There  are  four 
countries where at least one in five respondents strongly agrees: 
Spain (32%), Cyprus (31%), Hungary (29%) and Bulgaria (24%). 

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The socio-demographic analysis shows little difference in opinion 
based on gender, but does illustrate that the older the respondent 
the more likely they are to agree. More than half (55%) of those 
aged 55 or over agree, compared to 47% aged 15-24. In addition, 
the earlier a respondent finished education, the more likely they 
are to agree: 61% who completed prior to age 16 agree, compared 
to 46% of those aged 20 or older. 

The analysis also shows housepersons (58%) are the most likely 
to agree; this compares to 43% of managers and 45% of students. 
Those who think the influence of science and technology is positive 
are  more  likely  to  agree  than  those  who  think  the  influence  is 
negative (53% vs 42%), as are those who place themselves on the 
right  of  the  political  scale  (54%  vs  49%  of  those  who  place 
themselves on the left).  

164 

QA17.8Strongly agreeTend to agreeNeither agree nor disagreeTend to disagreeStrongly disagreeDon't knowTotal 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'EU2716362117825225Man16352118915127Woman15382117725324 15-2413342320824728 25-3914342320814828 40-54153620171115128 55+1738201573552215-214019965611516-191839211462572020+123420221114633Still studying12332222924531Self-employed153523151115026Managers113220231314336Other white collars13402216725323Manual workers18362216715423House persons17412112635818Unemployed19341918915327Retired17392014735621Students12332222924531Most of the time17362115925324From time to time15392414625420Almost never/ Never15362018925127Everyday15362118915127Often/Sometimes17402213625719Never2040209566014Left143520201014930Centre16372216725323Right16382117715424Interested193319181015228Moderately interested13382218815126Not interested13382413845121Interested183119201114931Moderately interested14392217715324Not interested15402212745519Interested173218211114932Moderately interested15402315615521Not interested14382511755218Positive15382117815325Negative132923191424233Less than 5 correct answers15392412555417Between 5 and 8 correct answers 18372115815523More than 8 correct answers103219251314238Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'143420211014831Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'16382216715423Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'17382113835521You alone do or did in the past142920231404337A family member does or did in the past 153119211314634Both you and a family member do or did in the past102419291713446No16382116725423How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements? We have no option but to trust those governing science and technology (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsUse of the Internet Left-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In  all  but  three  of  the  non-EU  countries  studied  the  dominant 
opinion is that science and technology should be tightly regulated 
by  the  government,  with  this  view  most  widely  held  in  Albania 
(75%).  The  exceptions  are  Switzerland  (58%),  Turkey  (58%)  and 
Iceland  (55%)  where  the  majority  prefers  the  free-market 
approach. 

Respondents  were  asked  which  of the  following two  statements 
came closest to their point of view: 

  “Science  and  technology  should  be  tightly  regulated  by  the 

government” 

  “Science and technology should be allowed to operate freely in 

the marketplace like a business” 

Opinion is divided on the regulation of science and technology. Half 
(50%) think science and technology should be tightly regulated by 
the government, while almost as many (48%) think it  should be 
allowed to operate freely in the marketplace like a business. Just 
2% say they don’t know. 

At  a  country  level,  the  majority  of  respondents  in  11  Member 
States say science and technology should be tightly regulated by 
the  government,  with  the  highest  proportions  in  Italy  (64%), 
Bulgaria  and  Spain  (both  59%).  In  the  other  16  countries  the 
majority opinion is that science and technology should be allowed 
to operate freely in the marketplace like a business, with those in 
Czechia (81%), Estonia (79%) and Finland (78%) the most likely to 
think this way. 

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The socio-demographic analysis shows a few differences:  

Women  are  slightly  more  likely  to  say  science  and  technology 
should be tightly regulated than operate freely in the market (51% 
vs 46%). By contrast, opinion is almost evenly divided for men.  

Respondents  aged  15-39  are  most  likely  to  say  science  and 
technology should be allowed to operate freely, while those aged 
40  and  older  are  most  likely  to  favour  tight  regulation  by 
government. The gap is widest for respondents aged 15-24, with 
55% in favour of a free-market approach and 43% in favour of 
tight government regulation.  

The  longer  a  respondent  remained  in  education,  the  more  likely 
they are to be in favour of a free-market approach, and for those 
who  completed  education  aged  20  or  older  the  free-market 
approach  is  the  dominant  opinion  (53%  vs  45%  for  tight 
regulation). By contrast, 63% of those who completed education 
aged 15 or younger are in favour of tight government regulation 
and 33% are in favour of a free-market approach. 

Across  occupational  groups,  students,  managers  and  the  self-
employed are most likely to favour a free-market approach, while 
housepersons, the unemployed and retired persons are most likely 
to favour tight government regulation. 

The  analysis  also  shows  those  who  experience  greater  financial 
difficulty are more likely to favour tight government regulation. 

Finally, those who think the influence of science and technology is 
negative  are  more  likely  to  favour  tight  government  regulation 
(54% vs 43% for the free market approach). Opinion is evenly split 
amongst those who think the influence is positive (both 49%). 

166 

QA13BScience and technology should be tightly regulated by the governmentScience and technology should be allowed to operate freely in the marketplace like a businessDon't knowEU2750482Man48502Woman51463 15-2443552 25-3947521 40-5451472 55+5245315-6333416-195247120+45532Still studying42562Self- employed47512Managers46522Other white collars50491Manual workers51481House persons57403Unemployed53452Retired52453Students42562Most of the time54424From time to time58411Almost never/ Never47512Left52462Centre48502Right46531Interested47512Moderately interested51472Not interested52453Interested42562Moderately interested51472Not interested57394Interested49492Moderately interested50482Not interested50464Positive49492Negative54433Less than 5 correct answers54424Between 5 and 8 correct answers 49492More than 8 correct answers45532Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'43552Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'52462Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'56413You alone do or did in the past35632A family member does or did in the past 42562Both you and a family member do or did in the past41581No52462Belowareaseriesofquestionswithtwostatementseach.Foreachpair,pleaseselectthestatementwhich comes closest to your point of view. Please select one (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Respondents  were  asked  the  extent  to  which  they  agreed  or 
disagreed that “There should be no limit to what science is allowed 
to investigate.” 

There  are  seven  Member  States  where  at  least  one  in  five 
respondents totally agree, with the highest proportions in Finland 
(27%), Hungary (26%) and Cyprus (23%). 

Across the non-EU countries studied, agreement levels range from 
74%  in  Turkey  to  20%  in  Albania.  Disagreement  is  the  majority 
position in Albania, Switzerland and Iceland, while in Serbia opinion 
is divided (36% agree, 36% disagree). 

The  results  reveal  that  there  is  no  clear  consensus  amongst 
respondents. Just over four in ten (41%) agree with this statement, 
but almost as many (38%) disagree.  In addition, the proportions 
that strongly agree (14%) and strongly disagree (16%) are similar. 
Almost one in five (19%) say they neither agree nor disagree. 

Analysis of the trend since 2010 shows that while opinions are still 
divided,  agreement  has  gone  from  being the  minority  opinion  in 
2010  to  being  the  majority  view  in  2021  (+6  pp),  although  the 
majority is slim. 

There is wide  variation across Member States. The proportion of 
respondents who agree there should be no limit to what science is 
allowed to investigate is highest in Finland (68%), Estonia (64%), 
Hungary and Portugal (both 62%), and lowest in Germany (25%), 
Austria  and  the  Netherlands  (both  31%).  Overall,  there  are  17 
countries  where  respondents  are  most  likely  to  agree,  and  10 
where they are most likely to disagree. 

167 

 
 
 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Compared  to  2010,  respondents  in  20  Member  States  are  now 
more  likely  to  agree  there  should  be  no  limit  to  what  science  is 
allowed  to  investigate,  with  the  largest  increases  in  Finland  
(+39 pp), Portugal (+25 pp) and Malta and Poland (+18 pp each). 
In Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, Poland and Finland agreement has gone 
from being the minority position in 2010, to the majority position 
in 2021.

The  proportion  of  respondents  who  ‘strongly  agree’  with  this 
statement  has  increased  most  in  Finland  (+20  pp)  and  Cyprus  
(+10 pp) and has declined most in Latvia (-12 pp). 

Outside  the  EU,  respondents  in  Norway  (+23  pp)  and  Turkey  
(+21  pp)  are  now  much  more  likely  to  agree,  while  those  in 
Switzerland (-6 pp) are slightly less likely to do so. 

168 

 
 
 
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169 

QA9.8Strongly agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Tend to agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Neither agree nor disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Tend to disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Strongly disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Don't knowTotal 'Agree'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Total 'Disagree'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010EU2714327319122616=2416386FI272041191741227216168391443PT19943168152218206225301MT195351319418448554182212PL1863612246161438354181922CY231024718425381124717338IE13533916428310204614381RO16532931713639548141615IT14439926113962253131911LT21336102511151435057131819HR172361327614856153111914HU26936=25=95331629128SE1023111155331111104194412EL15327423322611524273311BG223322213925111545143EE234419177166320645198DE9116315=3032911254594LU1242511733141520373462SK9327=2412621232363385ES14223=15=2252244372441NL11=20217332519=1312515DK11322318728819=233=478BE1132712112811320382411SI17130224618=1011473281AT13418817628423613145110FR1122141632632462326503CZ13231518929129404473816LV201239=2291653=05912195TR4615286163743507421109MK28N/A28N/A22N/A11N/A8N/A356N/A19N/AAL6N/A14N/A44N/A18N/A8N/A1020N/A26N/AME20N/A32N/A20N/A19N/A8N/A152N/A27N/ARS10N/A26N/A24N/A20N/A16N/A436N/A36N/ANO17537181912218626054232734UK121316174311970435406IS6525322113261530312479CH752111653552130286562XK30N/A27N/A22N/A8N/A4N/A957N/A12N/ABA16N/A34N/A25N/A17N/A7N/A150N/A24N/AThe following are some statements that people have made about science or technology. For each statement, please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree.There should be no limit to what science is allowed to investigate (%) 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The  socio-demographic  analysis  illustrates  that  men  are  more 
likely than women to agree there should be no limit to what science 
is allowed to investigate (43% vs 38%).  

In addition, the younger the respondent, the more likely they are to 
agree: 46% of 15–24-year-olds do so, compared to 37% of those 
aged 55 and older.

Respondents who completed education aged 15 or younger (34%) 
are  less  likely  to  agree  than  those  who  completed  aged  16  or 
above and the same pattern applies comparing those who live in 
towns with those living in rural villages. Students and other white-
collar workers (both 46%) are the most likely to agree, compared 
to retired persons (35%). 

Not  surprisingly,  those  who  think  the  influence  of  science  and 
technology is positive are more likely to agree than those who think 
the influence is negative (42% vs 32%). 

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171 

QA9.8Strongly agreeTend to agreeNeither agree nor disagreeTend to disagreeStrongly disagreeDon't knowTotal 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'EU27142719221624138Man152819211524336Woman122620241623840 15-24172918221224634 25-39142919221514337 40-54132818231714140 55+12252023173374015-11232222166343816-1913292121142423520+132617251813943Still studying172917221324635Self-employed142819191824237Managers122616261913845Other white collars153120201314633Manual workers142920211514336House persons112522231633639Unemployed132919231514238Retired122321241643540Students172917221324635Most of the time132519231733840From time to time143123181134529Almost never/ Never132618241723941Rural village122519231833741Small/ mid size town142819221524237Large town142919221424336Everyday142818231614239Often/ Sometimes112523231623639Never102426191383432Left132717241814042Centre132620231623939Right153120211124632Interested172516231814241Moderately interested112822231423937Not interested122922181454132Interested182615231714440Moderately interested112820241523939Not interested112625191453733Interested142415262013846Moderately interested123022211324234Not interested142525171363930Positive142819231514238Negative92322232123244Less than 5 correct answers123025151264227Between 5 and 8 correct answers 142820221514237More than 8 correct answers122414292013649Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'142616241824042Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'132822221324135Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'132719211644037You alone do or did in the past162416271704044A family member does or did in the past 142515242113945Both you and a family member do or did in the past141720301903149No132820221524137The following are some statements that people have made about science or technology. For each statement, please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree. There should be no limit to what science is allowed to investigate  (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsSubjective urbanisationUse of the Internet Left-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In all but three countries outside the EU, the most common view is 
that  decisions  about  science  and  technology  should  be  based 
primarily  on  the  moral  and  ethical  issues  concerned.  Iceland, 
Turkey  and  Kosovo  are  the  only  country  where  respondents  are 
more likely to think these decisions should be based primarily on 
the potential to make new scientific discoveries and develop new 
technologies. 

Respondents  were  asked  which  of the  following two  statements 
came closest to their point of view: 

  “Decisions  about  science  and  technology  should  be  based 

primarily on the moral and ethical issues concerned”; 

  “Decisions  about  science  and  technology  should  be  based 
primarily  on  the  potential  to  make  new  scientific  discoveries 
and develop new technologies”.  

Respondents are more likely to agree decisions about science and 
technology  should  be  based  primarily  on  the  moral  and  ethical 
issues  concerned  (55%)  than  to  say  these  decisions  should  be 
based primarily on the potential to make new scientific discoveries 
and develop new technologies (43%). Just 2% say they don’t know. 

In  19  countries,  a  majority  of  respondents  say  decisions  about 
science and technology should be based primarily on the moral and 
ethical  issues  concerned,  with  the  highest  proportions  seen  in 
Greece (68%), Austria (66%), Bulgaria and Germany (both 63%). 
In seven countries the most common view is that decisions about 
science and technology should be based primarily on the potential 
to make new scientific discoveries and develop new technologies, 
with the highest proportions in Estonia (64%), Finland (61%) and 
the Netherlands (59%). Opinion in Ireland is evenly divided. 

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The socio-demographic analysis shows that both men and women 
are more likely to favour decisions based primarily on the moral 
and ethical issues concerned, but the preference for this view is 
much stronger amongst women (57% vs 41%).  

The analysis also shows that respondents who place themselves 
on the left of the political scale are more likely to say decisions 
should  primarily  be  based  on ethics  and  morals  than  those who 
place themselves on the right (59% vs 50% respectively).  

In addition, the youngest age group is the only one where opinion 
is divided (49% vs 50%), with respondents aged 25 and older being 
much more likely to prefer decisions to be made based primarily 
on the moral and ethical issues concerned. 

The analysis also shows that across all education levels there is a 
preference for decisions based primarily on the moral and ethical 
issues  concerned,  but  the  skew  is  strongest  amongst  those  who 
finished education aged 15 or younger (59% vs 37%).

Likewise, those who describe themselves as ‘quite or very spiritual 
or religious’ are more likely to favour decisions being based on the 
moral  and  ethical  issues  concerned  than  those  who  describe 
themselves as ‘not very or not spiritual or religious’ (61% vs 51% 
respectively). 

Respondents who think the influence of science and technology is 
negative  are  more  strongly  skewed  towards  decisions  based 
primarily on the moral and ethical issues concerned (60% vs 39%) 
than those who think the influence is positive (55% vs 44%). 

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174 

QA13CDecisions about science and technology should be based primarily on the moral and ethical issues concernedDecisions about science and technology should be based primarily on the potential to make new scientific discoveries and develop new technologiesDon't knowEU2755432Man53461Woman57412 15-2449501 25-3955441 40-5454451 55+5840215-5937416-195643120+55441Still studying50491Self-employed52471Managers56431Other white collars53470Manual workers55441House persons56413Unemployed57412Retired59383Students50491Most of the time58384From time to time56431Almost never/ Never55441Left59401Centre55432Right50491Interested54451Moderately interested56431Not interested56413Interested51481Moderately interested56431Not interested59374Interested58411Moderately interested54451Not interested53434Positive55441Negative60391Less than 5 correct answers55414Between 5 and 8 correct answers 55441More than 8 correct answers56431Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'51481Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'56431Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'61372You alone do or did in the past50482A family member does or did in the past 53461Both you and a family member do or did in the past56431No56431Belowareaseriesofquestionswithtwostatementseach.Foreachpair,pleaseselectthestatementwhich comes closest to your point of view. Please select one (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In  all  but  one  non-EU  country  more  than  six  in  ten  respondents 
agree,  with  the  highest  proportions  in  the  United  Kingdom  and 
Turkey (both 90%). The exception is Albania, where just 30% agree. 
However, in each country respondents are more likely to agree than 
to disagree.  

2. 

Public access to research results 

Respondents  were  asked  the  extent  to  which  they  agreed  or 
disagreed that “The results of publicly funded research should be 
made available online free of charge”. 

A  large  majority  (79%)  agree,  with  43%  saying  they  ‘strongly 
agree’. Just 5% disagree, while 13% are neutral. 

At  a  country  level  more  than  six  in  ten  respondents  in  every 
Member State agree that the results of publicly funded research 
should be freely available online. Proportions range from 96% of 
respondents  in  Portugal,  93%  in  Ireland  and  91%  in  Czechia  to 
62%  in  Romania,  65%  in  Bulgaria,  and  68%  in  Hungary.  In  12 
countries more than half of all respondents ‘strongly agree’, with 
the  largest  proportions  in  Cyprus  (69%),  Portugal  (68%),  Ireland 
and Sweden (both 58%). 

Austria is the only country where at least one in ten respondents 
disagree  (11%),  while  the  highest  proportions  of  neutral 
respondents (neither agree nor disagree) are observed in Romania 
(25%) and Hungary (24%). 

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The  socio-demographic  analysis  shows  men  agreeing  with  the 
statement slightly more than women.  

In addition: 

Those  aged  15-54 are more  likely  to  agree  than  those aged  55 
and older. For example, 83% of 15–24-year-olds agree, compared 
to 73% of those aged 55 and over. 

The  longer  a  respondent  remained  in  education,  the  more  likely 
they  are  to  agree:  85%  who  completed  education  aged  20  and 
older agree, compared to 62% of those aged 15 or younger. 

The  analysis  also  shows  managers  (87%) are  the  most  likely  to 
agree, particularly compared to housepersons and retired persons 
(both  71%).  Respondents  who  experience  the  fewest  financial 
difficulties  (81%)  are  more  likely  to  agree  than  those  who 
experiences  difficulties  from  time  to  time  or  most  of  the  time  
(73% and 74% respectively).  

Finally, the analysis shows respondents who think the influence of 
science and technology is positive are much more likely to agree 
that  the  results  of  publicly  funded  research  should  be  made 
available online free of charge than those who think the influence 
is negative (82% vs 64%).  

176 

QA9.5Strongly agreeTend to agreeNeither agree nor disagreeTend to disagreeStrongly disagreeDon't knowTotal 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'EU27433613413795Man453612322815Woman413614513776 15-24473611312834 25-39483611311844 40-54453712411825 55+38351552573715-27352072962916-1938391551277620+51349411855Still studying51359212863Self-employed453712321825Managers53348311874Other white collars443912311834Manual workers403814422786House persons333817525717Unemployed473313421806Retired363516625718Students51359212863Most of the time443015524747From time to time363717523737Almost never/ Never453612412815Everyday473611411835Often/Sometimes274220623698Never19322484135112Left483411322825Centre423813412805Right393715522767Interested55318411865Moderately interested384015412785Not interested273720637649Interested58307311884Moderately interested403914412795Not interested233821639619Interested56317411875Moderately interested364215412785Not interested2532238395711Positive453712312824Negative3430199446413Less than 5 correct answers283620637649Between 5 and 8 correct answers 433713412805More than 8 correct answers55346311894Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'493510312844Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'413714512786Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'383516425736You alone do or did in the past542912500835A family member does or did in the past 57297511866Both you and a family member do or did in the past69235300923No403814413785The following are some statements that people have made about science or technology. For each statement, please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree. The results of publicly funded research should be made available online free of charge  (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsUse of the Internet Left-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
IV.  VIEWS OF SCIENTISTS 

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The  negative  characteristics  most  commonly  associated  with 
scientists  is  ‘bad  at  communicating’  (39%  say  this  describes 
scientists well), followed by arrogant (28%), narrow minded (23%), 
and immoral (16%). In each case, respondents are more likely to 
say the negative characteristic describes scientists ‘badly’ than say 
it describes them ‘well’. 

1. 

Characteristics of scientists 

This  section  examines  public  perceptions  of  scientists’ 
characteristics as well as the qualities that citizens think scientists 
should have. 

1.1 

Characteristics attributed to scientists 

Presented with 10 words or phrases describing characteristics that 
scientists  could  have,  Europeans  are  more  likely  to  associate 
scientists  with  positive  characteristics  than  negative  ones.  The 
characteristic  most  frequently  associated  with  scientists  is 
‘intelligent’ (89% say this describes scientists well). More than half 
of respondents say that ‘reliable’ (68%), ‘collaborative’ (66%) and 
‘honest’ (58%) are characteristics that describe scientists well. The 
positive  characteristics  that  are  less  frequently  associated  with 
scientists  are  ‘know  best  what  is  good  for  people’  (47%)  and 
‘altruistic’  (40%).  ‘Altruistic’  is  the  only  positive  characteristic 
where respondents are more likely to say this describes scientists 
‘badly’ than to say it describes them well’ (41% vs 40%).

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More  than  three-quarters  of  respondents  in  every  EU  Member 
State  say  that  intelligent  describes  scientists  well.  Almost  all 
respondents give this answer in Ireland (98%), Czechia (97%), the 
Netherlands,  Luxembourg  and  Portugal  (all  96%).  The  lowest 
proportions are  found  in  Romania  (77%) and  Poland  (79%), and 
these countries also have the highest proportions of respondents 
who  say  ‘intelligent’  describes  scientists  badly  (Romania  19%, 
Poland 13%), along with  Latvia (also  13%).  In all other Member 
States, no more than one in ten respondents say that ‘intelligent’ 
describes scientists badly.  

Looking at the non-EU countries surveyed, respondents in Albania 
(57%)  are  much  less  likely  to  say  that  ‘intelligent’  describes 
scientists well, particularly when compared with the UK (97%). 

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In all 27 EU Member States, more than half of respondents think 
that ‘reliable’ describes scientists well. Respondents are most 
likely to say this in Portugal (83%), Ireland (81%), Sweden and 
Finland (both 80%), while the proportion is lowest in Germany 
and Cyprus (both 59%), and Austria and France (both 60%).  

Respondents in Latvia (36%) are most likely to say that ‘reliable’ 
describes scientists badly, followed by those in Luxembourg (32%) 
and Slovenia (30%). 

The  proportion  that  ‘don’t  know’  varies  considerably  across 
Member  States.  In  some  countries,  hardly  any  respondents  say 
they ‘don’t know’, but it accounts for around a fifth of respondents 
in Malta and Bulgaria (both 21%) and Germany (20%). 

Looking at the 11 other countries surveyed, respondents in the UK, 
Turkey and Iceland (all 85%) are most likely to say that ‘reliable’ 
describes scientists well, while those in Switzerland and Bosnia and 
Herzegovina (both 29%) are most likely to say it describes them 
badly. 

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In most EU Member States, at least two-thirds of respondents say 
that  collaborative  describes  scientists  well.  The  proportion  is 
highest  in  Czechia  (83%),  Ireland  (82%),  Slovakia  (81%)  and 
Portugal  (79%).  However,  there are  some  Member  States  where 
respondents are less likely to describe scientists as ‘collaborative’. 
In  particular,  only  45%  of  respondents  in  Austria  and  51%  in 
Romania  say  this  describes  scientists  well,  and  36%  in  both 
countries say that ‘collaborative’ describes scientists badly. 

Once again, the proportions that give a ‘don’t know’ answer vary 
by country, from 1% or less in several Member States to 24% in 
Bulgaria. 

Looking at the 11 other countries surveyed, respondents in the UK 
(83%) are most likely to say that ‘collaborative’ describes scientists 
well,  while  those  in  Switzerland  (45%)  are  most  likely  to  say  it 
describes them badly. 

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In six EU Member States, at least three-quarters of respondents 
think that ‘honest’ describes scientists well: Sweden (80%), Ireland 
(78%),  Portugal  (77%),  Denmark  and  Finland  (both  76%),  and 
Estonia (75%). By contrast, less than half of respondents take this 
view in Germany (46%), Austria (47%), Cyprus (48%) and Bulgaria 
(49%). 

Respondents  are  most  likely  to  say  that  ‘honest’  describes 
scientists  badly  in  Luxembourg  (37%),  Slovenia  (36%),  and 
Romania, Czechia and Latvia (all 34%).

More than a third of respondents in Bulgaria (39%) say they ‘don’t 
know’, and this also applies to around a quarter of respondents in 
Malta  (26%),  Germany  (25%),  Austria  (24%)  and  Cyprus  (23%). 
The  proportion  is  much  lower  (1%  or  less)  in  several  Member 
States. 

Looking at the 11 other countries surveyed, respondents in Turkey 
and  Iceland  (both  82%)  are  the  most  likely  to  say  that  ‘honest’ 
describes  scientists  well,  while  those  in  Switzerland  (38%)  are 
most likely to say it describes them badly. 

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

There  is  wide  variation  by  Member  State  in  the  proportions  that 
say ‘know best what is good for people’ describes scientists well.  

Around  one  in  five  respondents  ‘don’t  know’  in  Bulgaria  (22%), 
Germany and Poland (both 21%), Malta (19%) and Slovakia (18%). 

It  is  the  majority  view  in  15  countries,  led  by  Bulgaria,  Greece, 
Cyprus  (all  68%)  and  Spain  (67%).  In  the  other  12  EU  Member 
States, a majority thinks that this is a bad description of scientists; 
respondents are most likely to take this view in Luxembourg (63%), 
Czechia (61%) and the Netherlands (59%). 

Looking at the 11 other countries surveyed, the proportion that say 
‘know best what is good for people’ describes scientists well ranges 
from 78% in Turkey to 29% in Switzerland. 

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In  16  EU  Member  States,  a  majority  of  respondents  say  that 
‘altruistic’  describes  scientists  well.  The  proportion  is  highest  in 
Portugal (58%), Estonia (57%), Ireland (56%) and Croatia (55%). 

In  Bulgaria,  most  respondents  (60%)  ‘don’t  know’,  and  the 
proportion of ‘don’t know’ responses is also high in Cyprus (32%) 
and Poland (31%). 

In 10 Member States, the majority view is that ‘altruistic’ describes 
scientists badly. More than half of respondents take this view in 
the Netherlands (61%), Austria (54%), Latvia and Germany (53%).

Looking at the 11 other countries surveyed, respondents in Turkey 
(87%)  are  most  likely  to  say  that  ‘altruistic’  describes  scientists 
well,  while  those  in  Switzerland  (62%)  are  most  likely  to  say  it 
describes them badly. 

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In four EU Member States, a majority of respondents say that ‘bad 
at  communicating’  describes  scientists  well:  Luxembourg  (52%), 
Belgium (50%), Slovenia (48% well, 46% badly) and France (47% 
well, 37% badly). In the other 23 EU Member States, the prevailing 
view is that it describes scientists badly, and this view is held most 
strongly by respondents in Estonia (67%), Hungary (66%), Malta 
(63%), Portugal (61%) and Croatia (60%).  

‘Don’t  know’  responses  account  for  a  third  of  respondents  in 
Bulgaria (34%) but less than fifth in other Member States. 

Looking at the 11 other countries surveyed, the proportion that say 
‘bad at communicating’ describes scientists well ranges from 47% 
in Switzerland to 21% in Albania. 

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The proportion of respondents who describe scientists as ‘arrogant’ 
varies considerably by Member State, from 50% in Greece to 10% 
in  Hungary.  Overall,  there  are  three  countries  where  a  majority 
think  ‘arrogant’  describes  scientists  well:  Greece  (50%),  Poland 
(46% well, 38% badly) and Cyprus (41% well, 39% badly). 

In  the  remaining  24  Member  States,  a  majority  thinks  that 
‘arrogant’  is  a  bad  description  for  scientists.  The  highest 
proportions  are  seen  in  Estonia  (86%),  Czechia  (81%),  Portugal 
(80%) and Sweden (79%).  

At  least  a  fifth  of  respondents say  they  ‘don’t  know’  in  Bulgaria 
(30%),  and  Cyprus  and  Germany  (both  20%),  while  very  few 
respondents give a ‘don’t know’ answer in several Member States. 

Looking at the 11 other countries surveyed, respondents in Bosnia 
and Herzegovina (32%) are the most likely to say that ‘arrogant’ 
describes  scientists  well,  while  those  in  the  UK  and  Iceland  
(both 77%) are most likely to say it describes them badly. 

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Respondents in Slovenia (48%) are by far the most likely to say 
that  ‘narrow  minded’  describes  scientists  well.  In  the  other  EU 
Member States no more than a third of respondents take this view, 
with  the  highest  proportions  in  Austria  (33%),  and  Poland  and 
Luxembourg  (both  30%).  Respondents  are  least  likely  to  think 
‘narrow minded’ is a good description of scientists in Malta (10%), 
the Netherlands (13%) and Bulgaria (14%). 

In every country except Slovenia, the majority of respondents think 
that  ‘narrow  minded’  describes  scientists  badly,  led  by  those  in 
Portugal (85%), Finland (83%) and Estonia (82%).  

The  proportion  of  ‘don’t  know’  answers  varies  by  country,  from 
28% in Bulgaria to less than 1% in Latvia, Lithuania, Ireland and 
Portugal.  

Looking  at  the  11  other  countries  surveyed,  respondents  in 
Switzerland (28%) are the most likely to say that ‘narrow minded’ 
describes  scientists  well,  while  those  in  Turkey  (81%)  are  most 
likely to say it describes them badly. 

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In  every  EU  Member  State,  the  majority  view  is  that  ‘immoral’ 
describes scientists badly, and more than eight in ten respondents 
hold this view in Estonia (89%), Portugal and Sweden (both 88%), 
Ireland  (86%),  Czechia  (85%),  Belgium  and  Finland  (both  83%), 
and Denmark (81%). 

Respondents  are  most  likely  to  say  that  ‘immoral’  describes 
scientists well in Slovenia (32%), Malta (31%), Poland (27%) and 
Romania (25%).  

The  proportion  of  ‘don’t  know’  responses  ranges  from  31%  in 
Bulgaria to less than 1% in Latvia, Czechia and Portugal. 

Looking  at  the  11  other  countries  surveyed,  respondents  in  the 
Republic of North Macedonia (23%) are the most likely to say that 
‘immoral’  describes  scientists  well,  while  respondents  in  Iceland 
are least likely to say this (8%). 

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In the socio-demographic analysis, a few interesting patterns can 
be observed: 

Younger  respondents  are  more  likely  than  older  respondents  to 
have  a  positive  view  of  scientists  (saying  either  that  positive 
characteristics  describe  scientists  well,  or  that  negative  ones 
describe them badly). For example, 74% of 15–24-year-olds say 
that ‘collaborative’ describes scientists well, compared with 62% 
of those aged 55 or over. 

More highly educated respondents are also more likely to have a 
positive  view  of  scientists.  For  example,  62%  of  those  who  left 
education at the age of 20 or above say that ‘honest’ describes 
scientists well, compared with 51% of those who left education at 
the age of 15 or younger. 

Looking at the socio-professional groups, managers and students 
tend to have the most positive views of scientists, while manual 
workers,  housepersons  and  retired  respondents  tend  to  be  the 
most negative. 

Respondents  who  have  difficulties  paying bills  most  of the  time 
have  a  less  positive  perception  of  scientists,  compared  with 
respondents  who  rarely  or  never  have  difficulties.  For  example, 
26%  of  those  who  have  difficulties  most  of  the  time  say  that 
‘immoral’ describes scientists well, compared with 14% of those 
who rarely or never have difficulties.

Attitudes also seem to be related to knowledge about science. For 
example,  79%  of  respondents  who  answered  more  than  eight 
questions  correctly  say  that  ‘reliable’  describes  scientists  badly, 
compared  with  58%  of  those  who  answered  fewer  than  five 
questions correctly. 

The views of respondents who have worked in research, science or 
innovative  technology  development  are  mostly  similar  to  other 
respondents. However, perceptions tend to be more positive if both 
they  and  a  family  member  have  worked  in  one  of  these  areas. 
Among  these  respondents,  98%  say  that  ‘intelligent’  describes 
scientists well, compared with 89% of respondents overall.  

These socio-demographic variations apply consistently across the 
various characteristics. The one exception to the general pattern is 
the  characteristic  ‘know  best  what  is  good  for  people’.  The 
proportion that thinks this describes scientists well is higher among 
groups such as those who left education earlier, respondents who 
have  difficulties  paying  bills,  and  those  with  lower  levels  of 
knowledge about science. 

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

190 

QA12aTIntelligentReliableCollaborativeHonestKnow best what is good for peopleAltruisticBad at communicatingArrogantNarrow mindedImmoralEU2789686658474039282316Man89706759474139282317Woman88666656463938272316 15-2490737462524436252116 25-3989707059474438272316 40-5487696558453940272216 55+8965625646373929231715-8663575149353832232016-198664635548383831261820+92727062434341252013Still studying91757564504436211914Self-employed91686959473839302117Managers91757266424340231710Other white collars89717060504139262217Manual workers86646353474138312620House persons86635852493937312819Unemployed88686455493846312318Retired88646154453738292417Students91757564504436211914Most of the time81605748483943342826From time to time86666455544541332521Almost never/ Never90696759443938262214Left91727063454239242014Centre89666557463838282316Right86696559514441322720Interested90707062484239252215Moderately interested89686557464139282216Not interested81615848453437342622Interested92737265474439242113Moderately interested89686657474039282316Not interested82605548463339342722Interested91706962454039232013Moderately interested88696657494239302418Not interested81585348453439342825Positive91727062494238262115Negative71424435323246423832Less than 5 correct answers80585648493636332723Between 5 and 8 correct answers 89676657484040292518More than 8 correct answers9479746942443819148Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'91696860424040252114Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'88696758484038282216Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'87666355514139322620You alone do or did in the past88707064414645292516A family member does or did in the past 88696763414240201913Both you and a family member do or did in the past9880777338483722194No89686657483938282317The following is a list of characteristics that can be associated with scientists today. For each characteristic, indicate if you think it describes scientists well or describes them badly (% - Describes well)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
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1.2 

Characteristics desired in scientists 

Europeans are most likely to say that ‘intelligence’ is a quality that 
scientists  should  have  (50%),  followed  by  ‘honesty’  (43%), 
‘reliability’ (39%) and ‘morality’ (34%), all of which are chosen by 
at least one in three respondents. Around one in four Europeans 
say that scientists should have the ‘ability to work together’ (27%), 
‘open  mindedness  (26%)  and  ‘knowledge  of  what  is  good  for 
people’ (25%).  

Other  qualities  are  seen  as  less  important:  communication  skills 
(mentioned by 16%), altruism (12%) and modesty (8%).

In general, these priorities are consistent with the characteristics 
that  are  associated  with  scientists.  For  example,  ‘intelligence’  is 
seen as the most important quality for scientists to  have and is 
also  the  characteristic  that  is  most  frequently  associated  with 
them.  This  indicates  that  Europeans  hold  a  generally  positive 
image  of  scientists,  and  in  broad  terms  believe  that  they  have 
positive  characteristics  that  are  in  line  with  the  things  that  are 
important. 

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The  findings  for  EU  Member  States  show  some  variations. 
Respondents in  Czechia (78%) and Portugal (66%) are the most 
likely  to  say  that  ‘intelligence’  is  a  quality  that  scientists  should 
have, while this is least likely to be mentioned by respondents in 
Latvia (34%), Greece (35%) and Hungary (36%). Latvia and Greece 
are the only two Member States where ‘intelligence’ is not one of 
the top three answers. 

‘Honesty’ is mentioned most frequently by respondents in France 
and Luxembourg (both 54%), Lithuania (53%) and Ireland (52%) 
and  least  frequently  by  those  in  Czechia  (14%)  and  Romania 
(21%). There are only four Member States where ‘honesty’ is not 
one  of  the  top  three  responses:  Czechia,  Estonia,  Croatia  and 
Romania. 

Respondents  in  the  Netherlands  are  most  likely  to  say  that 
‘reliability’ is a quality that scientists should have (61%), followed 
by those in Hungary (54%) and Greece (51%). It is least likely to 
be  mentioned  by  respondents  in  Ireland  (15%)  and  Luxembourg 
(24%).  

‘Morality’  is  chosen  most  frequently  by  respondents  in  Greece 
(57%), Czechia (56%) and Denmark (53%), while the proportion is 
lowest in Bulgaria (22%) and Spain (23%).  

Respondents in Czechia (47%) and Estonia (44%) are most likely 
to  say  the  ‘ability  to  work  together’  is  a  desired  quality  for 
scientists, while this is least likely to be chosen by those in Greece 
and Cyprus (both 15%).  

‘Open mindedness’ is particularly valued by respondents in Latvia 
(51%) and Ireland (42%), with respondents least likely to choose 
this quality in Croatia (9%) and Bulgaria (14%). 

Respondents in Bulgaria (54%) and Slovenia (46%) are most likely 
to  say  that  ‘knowledge  of  what  is  good  for  people’  is  a  desired 
quality for scientists, while this is least likely to be mentioned by 
those in the Netherlands (13%) and Luxembourg (14%).  

‘Communication  skills’  are  mentioned  most  frequently  by 
respondents  in  Germany  (25%)  and  Ireland  (23%),  and  least 
frequently by those in Greece (7%) and Estonia (9%).  

‘Altruism’ is a quality that is most highly valued for scientists in 
the  Netherlands  (33%)  and  Estonia  (29%),  while  respondents  in 
Germany (5%) are least likely to mention it.  

Finally, ‘modesty’ is the quality that ranks lowest in importance in 
most  EU  Member  States;  it  is  most  likely  to  be  chosen  by 
respondents in Sweden (19%) and Romania (17%). 

Looking at the 11 other countries surveyed, respondents in Iceland 
are most likely to say that ‘honesty’ (60%) and ‘morality‘ (54%) 
are  qualities  that  scientists  should  have,  while  respondents  in 
Turkey are most likely to choose ‘reliability’ (52%) and ‘altruism’ 
(17%) as desired qualities. Respondents in the UK are most likely 
to mention ‘intelligence’ (67%) and ‘open mindedness’ (44%), while 
those in Albania are most likely to say that ‘communication skills’ 
(26%) is a desired quality in scientists. ‘Modesty’ is chosen most 
frequently  by  respondents  in  the  Republic  of  North  Macedonia 
(16%), while ‘knowledge of what is good for people’ is also chosen 
most  frequently  in  the  Republic  of  North  Macedonia,  along  with 
Montenegro (both 44%). The ‘ability to work together’ is most likely 
to  be  seen  as  a  desired  quality  by  respondents  in  Switzerland 
(38%). 

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QA12bIntelligenceHonestyReliabilityMoralityAbility to work togetherOpen mindednessKnowledge of what is good for peopleCommunication skillsAltruismModestyOther (SPONTANEOUS)Don't knowEU27504339342726251612800BE57464934323418129500BG54393322251454179801CZ781429564715221910700DK61483953212518218400DE55493541341723255500EE51414935441918929100IE625215373342202310300EL354751571520377131000ES594337232522331012800FR4054363526361816131200HR473437452494315161200IT493744312627261615800CY43474749152428137901LV34482731325143116300LT61533427263627156300LU635424393631141881100HU3640542522222815191000MT514929282332421211601NL553561262924131933300AT5243324026182418121001PL41384125193827117900PT664927313734231115400RO4321402820223117101702SI374829462415461216900SK4636344927283613101200FI52504944273418118100SE5043334921361914131900TR574352351628256171100MK542728233025442361600AL2418318251017265800ME4523402922314414111500RS592736302033401310901NO49444648213624216100CH4955254738221921111100UK67501737334421198300IS50604054183513155610XK642538161922231441500BA66233034222637157700Please choose the three qualities that you think scientists should have: (MAX. 3 ANSWERS)(%)3rd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM2nd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM1st MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM 
 
 
 
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Respondents who answered eight or more answers correctly in the 
‘quiz’  (QA20)  are  more  likely  to  value  certain  qualities,  such  as 
‘intelligence’  (57%  compared  with  44%  of  those  who  answered 
less than five questions correctly) and the ‘ability to work together’ 
(35% vs 21%). However, they are less likely to value qualities such 
as  ‘reliability’  (34%  vs  39%),  ‘honesty’  (39%  vs  45%)  and 
‘knowledge of what is good for people’ (18% vs 32%). 

In  the  socio-demographic  analysis,  the  main  differences  are  by 
level  of  education:  For  instance,  respondents  who  finished 
education at the age of 20 or above are more likely to say that 
scientists  should  have  the  quality  of  ‘open  mindedness’  (30%) 
compared to those who left education at the age of 15 or below 
(20%). 

There  are  some  minor  variations  by  age  group.  Younger 
respondents  (aged  15-24)  are  slightly  more  likely  than  older 
respondents to say that scientists should have ‘intelligence’ (53% 
vs 49%-51% in other age groups) and are less likely to mention 
‘morality’ (30% vs 34%-35%). Older respondents (aged 55 or over) 
are  more  likely  than  other  respondents  to  mention  ‘honesty’  
(45%  vs  40%-43%  in  other  age  groups)  and  are  less  likely  to 
mention ‘open mindedness’ (24% vs 26%-29%).

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195 

QA12bReliabilityAbility to work togetherOpen mindednessCommunication skillsHonestyModestyAltruismMoralityIntelligenceKnowledge of what is good for peopleOther (SPONTANEOUS)Don't knowEU27392726164381234502500Man382827164391133522400Woman402625174381235482700 15-24422827184061130532600 25-39382629184081234502400 40-54382726154381235512500 55+39272416459113549260115-422020134610113450300116-1939262416459113346280020+383130174081236532100Still studying413027184061133552300Self- employed372926164071337542500Managers363331183961238551800Other white collars412728174091133512600Manual workers392526164591133462800House persons432121184391233463001Unemployed372523144581331503200Retired3926241646101035482601Students413027184061133552300Most of the time3522201345101536423101From time to time412225164291433462800Almost never/ Never392927174381135522400Left393027174281237512300Centre382725174481034512700Right4126271641101232492400Interested382926184481135512600Moderately interested392727164281235512500Not interested4021251341101029472502Interested383228194181235522200Moderately interested402725164381235512600Not interested3920241345111030462801Interested373027184481238502300Moderately interested402626164391232512700Not interested4122231439111028472502Positive392827164381135522500Negative3522241844121333382601Less than 5 correct answers3920221545111129443201Between 5 and 8 correct answers 402626164391234502600More than 8 correct answers353630183961239571900Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'373128184471235542200Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'402627164291134482600Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'4022221443101235472901You alone do or did in the past353230193581335531500A family member does or did in the past 323228203791338532000Both you and a family member do or did in the past3438331934101042611100No402625164481134492700Please choose the three qualities that you think scientists should have: (MAX. 3 ANSWERS) (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

2. 

Scientists and society 

This section looks at citizens’ attitudes towards scientists, in terms 
of their role in decision making, their position in society and their 
interactions with the public. 

In order to examine the issue of scientists intervening in political 
debate, the sample was randomly divided into two, with one-half 
asked  a  ‘positive’  statement  and  the  other  half  a  ‘negative’ 
statement.  On  balance,  this  shows  a  preference  for  scientists 
intervening  in  political  debate:  two-thirds  agree  (68%)  that 
“scientists  should  intervene  in  political  debate  to  ensure  that 
decisions  take  into  account  scientific  evidence”,  with  just  11% 
disagreeing. With  the  alternative  wording,  that  “scientists should 
not  intervene  in  political  debate  when  decisions  ignore  scientific 
evidence”,  approximately  equal  proportions  agree  (39%)  and 
disagree (37%). 

Europeans express mixed views about the credibility of scientists. 
Half  of  respondents  (50%)  agree  that  “we  can  no  longer  trust 
scientists  to  tell  the  truth  about  controversial  scientific  and 
technological  issues  because  they  depend  more  and  more  on 
money from industry”, with 21% disagreeing. However, agreement 
has  fallen  by  8  percentage  points  since  201028,  while  the 
proportion that disagree has increased by 5 percentage points29.

Just under half of respondents  (45%) agree that “scientists only 
look at very specific issues and do not consider problems from a 
wider perspective”, while 25% disagree. In the EU overall, there has 
been little change since 2010 in the proportion agreeing (-2 pp) 
and disagreeing (+3 pp)30. 

Almost half of Europeans (45%) agree that  “scientists should be 
held  accountable  for  the  misuse  of  their  discoveries  by  other 
people”, while a third (32%) disagree. In the EU overall, there has 
been an increase in agreement since 2005 (+6 pp) and decrease 
in disagreement (-6 pp)31. 

A third (32%) of respondents agree that “nowadays, the problems 
we are facing are so complex that scientists are no longer able to 
understand them”, while a larger proportion (41%) disagrees. In the 
EU  overall,  there  has  been  a  decrease  in  agreement  since  2010  
(-5  pp),  while  there  has  been  an  increase  in  the  proportion  that 
disagree (+7 pp) 

28 In 2010 the United Kingdom was still part of the European Union but Croatia had 
not yet joined. The 2010 total therefore refers to an “EU 27” that includes the UK 
but not Croatia. 
29 This analysis is based on the 28 countries that were part of the EU at either of the 
two time points (January-February 2010 and April-May 2021). 

30 This analysis is based on the 28 countries that were part of the EU at either of the 
two time points (January-February 2010 and April-May 2021). 
31 This analysis is based on the 28 countries that were part of the EU at either of the 
two time points (January-February 2010 and April-May 2021). 

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There is considerable variation between EU Member States in the 
proportions  that  agree  that  “scientists  should  not  intervene  in 
political  debate  when  decisions ignore  scientific  evidence”.  There 
are 14 Member States where the majority of respondents agree 
with  this  statement,  led  by  Hungary  (60%),  France  (58%)  and 
Croatia  (54%).  However,  disagreement  outweighs  agreement  in 
the other 14 Member States, with disagreement particularly high 
in  Ireland  (72%),  Portugal  (66%),  the  Netherlands  (63%)  and 
Belgium (62%).  

In  the  11  other  countries  surveyed,  respondents  in  Kosovo  are 
most likely to agree (58%), especially compared with those in the 
UK (13%). 

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In  all  EU  Member  States,  a  majority  of respondents  agrees  that 
“scientists  should  intervene  in  political  debate  to  ensure  that 
decisions take into account scientific evidence”. The proportion that 
agrees  is  highest  in  Estonia  (85%),  Belgium  (81%),  Ireland  and 
Portugal (both 78%), while agreement is lowest in Hungary (43%).  

In the 11 other countries covered by the survey, agreement with 
the statement ranges from 73% in Switzerland to 36% in Albania. 

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In the EU overall, half of respondents (50%) agree that “we can no 
longer trust scientists to tell the truth about controversial scientific 
and technological issues because they depend more and more on 
money from industry”. In all but one of the 27 EU Member States, 
a majority of respondents agree with the statement. The exception 
is Ireland, where 35% agree and 36% disagree. 

There has been a fall in agreement with this statement in most EU 
Member  States  since  2010,  the  largest  in  Finland  (-21  pp), 
Denmark  (-18  pp),  Germany  (-18  pp)  and  Sweden  (-17  pp).  The 
only  exceptions  are  Portugal,  where  agreement  has  increased 
slightly (+2 pp), and Spain and Bulgaria where there has been no 
change. 

Respondents are most likely to agree with the statement in Cyprus 
(71%)  and  Slovenia  (62%),  while  agreement  is  lowest  in  Ireland 
(35%), Malta (37%) and Czechia (39%). 

Looking  at  the  11  other  countries  surveyed  in  2021,  agreement 
ranges from 59% in the Republic of North Macedonia to 27% in 
the  UK.  There  have  also  been  large  decreases  (in  the  countries 
surveyed) since 2010, the largest being in Iceland (-24 pp), the UK 
and Norway (both -22 pp). 

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200 

QA11.1Totally agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Tend to agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Neither agree nor disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Tend to disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Totally disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Don't knowTotal 'Agree'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Total 'Disagree'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010EU27164344265163523508215PT10=43219523105305322813BG1913512338=311254=111ES24133115116183457=244IE822712982997303513612CY40531416=95321711127PL14133=2931733=4471203AT17=363262133424533175HU177373318103312544132MT10=27429122310427374278IT1243713261313=3495161CZ84312271277720396349RO2042510351411141545615=SI297331238113311628142LU1473722521995205192411SK1712910303143525469195LT16839230111362105510157HR171239129111143=15611144BE10738527421941048122510FR20333924101536225312215LV171440230111142=05712134EE1012341256241272044133114EL14834832616921248161810NL12732928122135224416265SE11838927131846204917246DK9932930820774241182711DE1911337233171054352182214FI812419271219754049212411TR26=32123011913605812125MK24N/A35N/A24N/A6N/A4N/A759N/A10N/AAL9N/A20N/A53N/A11N/A7N/A029N/A18N/AME19N/A36N/A26N/A15N/A3N/A155N/A18N/ARS18N/A39N/A26N/A9N/A2N/A657N/A11N/ACH13123812492055105111256UK51022123513301182027223813NO812351032182184104322257IS412291239162355403324289XK20N/A30N/A28N/A9N/A4N/A950N/A13N/ABA21N/A37N/A31N/A8N/A3N/A058N/A11N/ATo what extent do you agree with the following statements regarding scientists today?We can no longer trust scientists to tell the truth about controversial scientific and technological issues because they depend more and more on money from industry (%) 
 
 
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In  26  EU  Member  States  a  majority  of  respondents  agree  that 
“scientists  only  look  at  very  specific  issues  and  do  not  consider 
problems  from  a  wider  perspective”.  The  exception  is  Estonia, 
where 30% agree and 43% disagree. 

Respondents are most likely to agree with the statement in Cyprus 
(59%) and Slovenia (57%), while the proportion that disagrees is 
highest in Estonia (43%) and Luxembourg (36%). 

In  the  11  other  countries  surveyed,  respondents  in  Kosovo  are 
most likely to agree that scientists only look at very specific issues 
(56%), especially compared with those in Iceland (18%). 

There  have  been  some  large  decreases  in  agreement  in  EU 
Member  States  since  2010,  the 
in  Finland  
(-21  pp),  Sweden  (-19  pp)  and  Denmark  (-17  pp).  The  largest 
increases  in  agreement  can  be  seen  in  Cyprus  (+10  pp)  and 
Hungary (+9 pp). 

largest  being 

Looking at the 11 other countries surveyed (and specifically those 
also  included  in  the  2010  survey),  the  largest  increase  in 
agreement can be seen in Turkey (+9 pp), while Iceland shows the 
largest decrease (-24 pp). 

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202 

QA11.2Totally agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Tend to agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Neither agree nor disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Tend to disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Totally disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Don't knowTotal 'Agree'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Total 'Disagree'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010EU2712=332263192614452253CY3092911941344155910175HU14630326=182636449245SK13638=282135315516164ES163351163183946514277IT13239226=143325524175EL152381282133214531154FR143322237203744461277AT14232224419163546=254LT10132=3612193310421222BG16330525782521646213=IE61312301027106303733313RO1532763210155318423186CZ7=314291277610384338PL12=3342851983=5454228SI2323432510122412575163DE1233032632116=5426271PT6=35629426164204163018HR983613710143212457162BE463343382436203710305MT673432916231421640102513NL863142892427=23910312LV8631537132054103911244LU92291126=301762038133619EE67247278341391030144314DK75281234122257123517296SE61137833161856304319248FI683913271222863045212811TR2163315277135630549192MK24N/A30N/A27N/A9N/A3N/A754N/A12N/AAL7N/A23N/A54N/A8N/A8N/A030N/A16N/AME15N/A38N/A28N/A15N/A2N/A253N/A17N/ARS15N/A33N/A27N/A14N/A2N/A948N/A16N/ACH85341259263710426332NO52337391518=520389232UK64288317301251034123513IS351519451528695018243711XK21N/A35N/A24N/A7N/A3N/A1056N/A10N/ABA13N/A39N/A35N/A10N/A2N/A152N/A12N/ATo what extent do you agree with the following statements regarding scientists today?Scientists only look at very specific issues and do not consider problems from a wider perspective (%) 
 
 
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In  16  Member  States,  a  majority  of  respondents  agree  that 
“scientists  should  be  held  accountable  for  the  misuse  of  their 
discoveries by other people”. Levels of agreement are highest in 
Cyprus (77%), Greece (67%), Slovenia (64%) and Bulgaria (63%). 
In the 11 other Member States, a majority of respondents disagree 
with the statement, with disagreement highest in Estonia, Finland 
(both 60%), Sweden (58%) and Portugal (54%). 

In the 11 other countries surveyed, respondents in the Republic of 
North Macedonia are most likely to agree that ‘scientists should be 
held  accountable  for  the  misuse  of  their  discoveries  by  other 
people’ (69%), while agreement is lowest in Iceland (11%).  

There have been some large increases in agreement in individual 
EU  Member  States  since  2005,  the  largest  being  in  Slovenia  
(+27 pp), Bulgaria (+26 pp), Hungary (+25 pp), Cyprus (+23 pp) and 
Greece  (+21  pp).  The  largest  falls  in  agreement  can  be  seen  in 
Estonia (-18 pp), Sweden (-15 pp) and Portugal (-12 pp). 

Looking at the 11 other countries surveyed (and specifically those 
also included in the 2005 survey), the largest shift in agreement 
can be seen in Norway (-17 pp). 

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204 

QA11.6Totally agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Tend to agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Neither agree nor disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Tend to disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Totally disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Don't knowTotal 'Agree'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Total 'Disagree'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005EU271852712021851413456326SI342230515=1214813164272027BG321631101747113101063261021HU261331122351014813257251827CY51292669481047277231217EL301437720571149267211120SK1983082351847534916259ES221227214617817234914346PL22734422616538356111913IT16=365252132733525205FR12426=2042251713384396HR16433821=17=1231494293LT143306261322=870443307AT20135218=14191455323=DE2452331721661644472322IE10120=18334618403015210DK11116=1912732552271522NL821832253032191261516LU125225261025=152034=402RO245264259132646501192BE762032283431770273514CZ1252311812951810354476MT23=294211217464452423=LV17121624112321510385381FI8113819428632120219606PT111171118335161910028125426SE441411241131327201815585EE7131651783713232023186015TR2612672291451270526262MK39N/A30N/A15N/A7N/A4N/A569N/A11N/AAL9N/A22N/A52N/A9N/A8N/A031N/A17N/AME12N/A33N/A28N/A21N/A5N/A145N/A26N/ARS12N/A27N/A26N/A18N/A12N/A539N/A30N/AUK821682683571510246506CH1412372062421920376434IS36862413610296011126516NO39108281530629=01317596XK35N/A32N/A16N/A6N/A4N/A767N/A10N/ABA19N/A31N/A25N/A15N/A9N/A150N/A24N/ATo what extent do you agree with the following statements regarding scientists today?Scientists should be held accountable for the misuse of their discoveries by other people. (%) 
 
 
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In  11  EU  Member  States,  a  majority  of  respondents  agree  that 
“nowadays,  the  problems  we  are  facing  are  so  complex  that 
scientists  are  no  longer  able  to  understand  them”.  Agreement  is 
highest  in  Cyprus  (46%),  and  Italy  and  Spain  (both  44%).  In  the 
other 16 Member States, respondents are more likely to disagree 
than  agree  with  the  statement.  Respondents  are  most  likely  to 
disagree  in  Estonia  (67%),  Ireland  (66%)  and  the  Netherlands 
(65%).  

In  the  11  other  countries  covered  by  the  survey,  there  is  wide 
variation  in  levels  of  agreement,  from  55%  in  Kosovo  to  8%  in 
Iceland.  

There  has  been  a  fall  in  agreement  in  most  EU  Member  States 
since  2010,  the  largest  being  in  Portugal  (-27  pp),  Luxembourg  
(-26 pp), Estonia (-25 pp), Finland (-25 pp) and Denmark (-22 pp). 
The largest increase in agreement can be found in Italy (+7 pp). 

In the 11 other countries surveyed (specifically those included in 
the 2010 survey), the largest shift in agreement can be seen in the 
UK (-22 pp). 

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206 

QA11.3Totally agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Tend to agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Neither agree nor disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Tend to disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Totally disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Don't knowTotal 'Agree'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Total 'Disagree'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010EU27812442312721454325417IT1023452821847=3447254ES1323121442211565444377FR1022612032731413363412SK8325=2542531027333351BG1312712611316315402192HU9425223=2241863342402RO166255317181525411233CY16330322=21783346=2910PL9=30=27522272539=294MT32193237371412262254916HR1063023512172612408231AT1112610231285844379369EL1012692912557433610329NL2311821=4342210113116514SI1552672472469124112337CZ2212112414510178014136218IE23111221549261712013156638LT942911361522941038152610SE2516113011324206018165210DE6617112113262112323175318LV4102083493210102024184212BE25131428=4516125015195721DK4411182843592011215225520EE28111720345192210013256729FI3723182993311127026254518LU4515212784016146019265422PT25162220446291613018276242TR168289244211111204413213MK20N/A29N/A25N/A13N/A7N/A649N/A20N/AAL7N/A21N/A55N/A10N/A7N/A028N/A17N/AME11N/A35N/A30N/A20N/A3N/A146N/A23N/ARS10N/A30N/A29N/A18N/A5N/A840N/A23N/ANO5=1711351231412=02211434IS13793554341450812579CH31018112612355189021215314UK248182864718154010226222XK20N/A35N/A24N/A9N/A3N/A955N/A12N/ABA13N/A33N/A32N/A16N/A4N/A246N/A20N/ATo what extent do you agree with the following statements regarding scientists today?Nowadays, the problems we are facing are so complex that scientists are no longer able to understand them (%) 
 
 
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Looking  at  the  11  other  countries  surveyed,  a  majority  of 
respondents  agree  with  the  statement  in  Montenegro  (46%), 
Kosovo (42%) and Turkey (37%), while agreement is lowest in the 
UK (11%). 

Around a quarter of Europeans (23%) agree that “scientists spend 
sufficient time meeting people like me to explain their work”, with 
5% saying they ‘strongly agree’ and 18% that they ‘tend to agree’. 
Half of respondents (51%) disagree, including 23% who ‘strongly 
disagree’. 

In all 27 EU Member States, a majority of respondents disagree 
with  the  statement.  Respondents  are  most  likely  to  disagree  in 
Germany  (66%),  Greece  (62%)  and  France  (61%),  and  in  these 
three countries around a third of respondents ‘strongly disagree’ 
(36%, 32% and 32% respectively). 

There  are  only  two  Member  States  where  more  than  a  third  of 
respondents agree with the statement: Poland (36%) and Hungary 
(35%). 

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Just under half of Europeans (46%, -7 pp since 2010) agree that 
“because of their knowledge, scientists have a power that makes 
them dangerous”; this includes 15% (-2 pp) who totally agree’ with 
the statement. Three in ten (29%, +5 pp) disagree, including 9%  
(+2 pp) who ‘totally disagree’.

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A majority of respondents agree that “because of their knowledge, 
scientists  have  a  power  that  makes  them  dangerous”  in  18 
Member  States,  with  agreement  highest  level  of  agreement  in 
Cyprus  (62%),  Hungary  (58%)  and  Malta  (56%).  In  the  11  other 
Member States, respondents are more likely to disagree than agree 
with  the  statement,  with  respondents  most  likely  to  disagree  in 
Estonia (60%), Ireland (53%) and Denmark (50%).  

Looking  at  the  11  other  countries  surveyed,  the  proportion  that 
agrees ranges from 67% in Montenegro to 19% in Iceland. 

In the EU overall, 46% of respondents agree that ‘because of their 
knowledge, scientists have a power that makes them dangerous’. 
This  level of agreement  has  fallen  by  7  percentage  points  since 
201032, while the proportion that disagrees (29%) has increased 
by 5 percentage points33. 

There has been a fall in agreement with the statement in most EU 
Member States since 2010, the largest being in Estonia (-30 pp), 
Finland (-29 pp), Portugal (-27 pp) and Latvia (-26 pp). Conversely, 
the largest increases in agreement can be seen in Hungary (+9 pp), 
Italy (+7 pp) and Austria (+7 pp). 

Looking  at  the  11  other  countries  surveyed  (among  those  also 
included  in  the  2010  survey),  most  countries  show  a  fall  in 
agreement,  the  largest  being  in  Switzerland  (-24  pp).  Turkey,  by 
contrast, shows an increase in agreement (+9 pp). 

32 In 2010 the United Kingdom was still part of the European Union but Croatia had 
not yet joined. The 2010 total therefore refers to an “EU 27” that includes the UK 
but not Croatia. 

33 This analysis is based on the 28 countries that were part of the EU at either of the 
two time points (January-February 2010 and April-May 2021). 

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210 

QA10.10Totally agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Tend to agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Neither agree nor disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Tend to disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Totally disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Don't knowTotal 'Agree'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Total 'Disagree'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010EU27152315233203922467295HU2033862621253515891510IT142405251135523547187AT13336429414105234971912BG227332201111411055515=RO23627225=155535504202PL143394253143513531192FR1723172032011022485303SK15235327215=523505202CY3043221711384346261711MT166401208157316567186ES20132914118612545283011HR1611383257131721548203CZ852192433512126029144718EL171036431111223115314153NL87218232327156129154713SI19832726121527115115223LT134291232141957304216268SE752913257227175036183912DK4916102852642411220195015BE6826122722912127032204119LU952815289259105037203514DE1513289227238106243223314IE67181523535161810024225326LV71326133417238104033263312PT910291722327191311038274030FI4719222913309188023294817EE415161520240182013020306031TR235331423313383056921=MK30N/A30N/A23N/A7N/A6N/A460N/A13N/AAL6N/A19N/A45N/A13N/A7N/A1025N/A20N/AME29N/A38N/A22N/A9N/A1N/A167N/A10N/ARS24N/A35N/A22N/A12N/A3N/A459N/A15N/ANO552114301226418402619448UK4922122323718144026215122IS3916133410358124019224712CH91427102411288126036244014XK24N/A33N/A22N/A8N/A4N/A957N/A12N/ABA20N/A38N/A26N/A10N/A5N/A158N/A15N/AThe following are some statements that people have made about science and technology. For each statement, please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree.Because of their knowledge, scientists have a power that makes them dangerous (%) 
 
 
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are more likely to agree that scientists should intervene in political 
decisions (78%) than those who got less than five answers correct 
at  the  quiz  (57%),  and  logically  respondents  with  eight  or  more 
correct answers at the quiz are less likely to agree that scientists 
should not intervene in political decisions (28%) than those with 
five  or  less  correct  answers  (46%).  Respondents  who  answered 
more than eight statements correctly in the quiz are less likely to 
agree  with  the  other  four  statements  than  those  who  answered 
less  than  five  questions  correctly.  For  example,  just  29%  of 
respondents with a higher level of knowledge agree that ‘scientists 
should be held accountable for the misuse of their discoveries by 
other people’, compared with 58% of those who got less than five 
correct  answers.  Among  respondents  who  answered  more  than 
eight  out  of  eleven  ‘quiz’  statements  correctly,  19%  agree  that 
‘scientists spend sufficient time meeting people like me to explain 
their work’ compared to 27% of those who answered fewer than 
five correct answers. Finally, respondents who answered more than 
eight  out  of  eleven  statements  correctly  are  less  likely  to  agree 
with the statement that scientists have a power that makes them 
dangerous  (30%)  than  those  who  answered  fewer  than  five 
questions correctly (55%). 

Generally,  agreement  with  the  statements  is  higher  among 
respondents who describe themselves as 'quite or very spiritual or 
religious'.  For  example,  55% of those  who  say  they  are  quite  or 
very spiritual or religious agree that scientists have a power that 
is dangerous compared to 39% of those who are not very or not 
spiritual or religious. This pattern reverses only for the statement 
‘scientists  should  intervene  in  political  debate  to  ensure  that 
decisions take into account scientific evidence’, where less religious 
respondents  (70%)  are  more  likely  to  agree  than  more  religious 
ones (65%).  

Perceptions of scientists tend to also follow a pattern depending 
on  whether  respondents  have  worked  in  research,  science  or 
innovative  technology  development,  with  differences  particularly 
marked if both the respondent and a family member have worked 
in one of these areas. For example, among respondents who have 
worked in research, science or innovative technology development, 
around  a  third  (36%)  agree  that  ‘scientists  should  be  held 
accountable  for  the  misuse  of  their  discoveries  by  other  people’ 
compared to 48% of those with no personal or family connection 
with this type of work. 

In  general,  there  are  some  consistent  socio-demographic 
variations that apply to respondents’ perceptions of scientists.  

More  highly  educated  respondents  are  more  likely  to  agree  that 
scientists should intervene in political decisions (and less likely to 
agree that they should not intervene), and are less likely to agree 
that we can no longer trust scientists, that scientists look only at 
very specific issues, and that scientists should be held accountable 
for  the  misuse  of  their  discoveries.  The  difference  is  most 
pronounced  in  terms  of  agreement  on  whether  ‘nowadays,  the 
problems  we  are  facing  are  so  complex  that  scientists  are  no 
longer able to understand them’. Among those who left education 
at  the  age  of 20  or  above,  just  25%  agree  with  this  statement, 
compared with 46% of those who left education at the age of 15 
or below. 

In terms of socio-professional groups, perceptions of scientists are 
consistently  the  most  positive  among  managers  and  students. 
Manual  workers  (53%),  retired  people  (52%)  and  housepersons 
(51%) are also more likely to agree that scientists have power that 
makes them dangerous because of their knowledge, while fewer 
managers  (35%)  and  students  (38%)  agree  with  this.  The  one 
statement where little difference is seen by education is the one 
about  ‘problems  today  being  so  complex  that  even  scientists 
cannot understand them’.  

Younger  respondents  are  more  likely  than  older  respondents  to 
agree that scientists should intervene in political decisions, though 
differences are small (e.g. 72% of 25-39 vs 65% of 55 and over), 
though little difference can be seen in age groups for the opposite 
statements  that  scientists  should  not  intervene  in  political 
decisions.  For  the  other  four  statements  of  QA11,  young  people 
are less likely to agree than older respondents. For example, 41% 
of 15–24-year-olds agree that ‘we can no longer trust scientists to 
tell the truth about controversial scientific and technological issues 
because  they  depend  more  and  more  on  money  from  industry’, 
lower than the proportion among those aged 55 or over (54%). In 
addition,  younger  respondents  are  more 
likely  than  older 
respondents to agree that ‘scientists spend sufficient time meeting 
people like me to explain their work’. Specifically, 27% of 15–24-
year-olds agree with the statement, compared with 21% of those 
aged 55 or over. On the contrary, older respondents are more likely 
than  younger  respondents  to  agree  that  ‘because  of  their 
knowledge, scientists have a power that makes  them dangerous’ 
(50% of those aged 55 or over, compared with 40% of those aged 
15-24).  

Respondents who never/almost never have difficulties paying bills 
are  more  likely  to  agree  (69%)  than  those  who  have  difficulty 
paying bills most of the time (62%) that scientists should intervene 
in  political  decisions.  Respondents  who  never/almost  never  have 
difficulty paying bills are less likely to agree with the other four 
statements than those who have difficulties paying bills most of 
the  time.  The  largest  difference  is  in  the  proportion  that  agrees 
that ‘nowadays, the problems we are facing are so complex that 
scientists  are  no  longer  able  to  understand  them’:  45%  among 
those who have difficulties most of the time, compared with 29% 
of those who rarely or never have difficulties. 

Perceptions are also related to scientific knowledge. Respondents 
who answered more than eight out of eleven statements correctly 

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212 

QA11T/9.3/10.10Scientists should intervene in political debate to ensure that decisions take into account scientific evidenceWe can no longer trust scientists to tell the truth about controversial scientific and technological issues because they depend more and more on money from industryScientists only look at very specific issues and do not consider problems from a wider perspectiveScientists should be held accountable for the misuse of their discoveries by other people Scientists should not intervene in political debate when decisions ignore scientific evidence Nowadays, the problems we are facing are so complex that scientists are no longer able to understand themScientists spend sufficient time meeting people like me to explain their workBecause of their knowledge, scientists have a power that makes them dangerous EU276850454539322346Man6950464541312345Woman6651454638342346 15-246841364438272740 25-397247444337302642 40-546951464341312246 55+655449494036215015-595750544346215616-19665550534337255320+7347423735252038Still studying7340364035252738Self-employed7049494535292542Managers7442393533222135Other white collars6947434337292544Manual workers6655495045372553House persons6451484540412051Unemployed6660475545382549Retired6456515141382152Students7340364035252738Most of the time6257515743452453From time to time6554495143402754Almost never/ Never6949454338292244Left7349444137292441Centre6852474840322247Right6551474940352651Interested7451454438302245Moderately interested6850464541332247Not interested5248474841392550Interested7749424135262340Moderately interested6951474640332348Not interested5152505147432353Interested7650444335282242Moderately interested6651474743342449Not interested4848464942402551Positive7149454539302344Negative5260535247482359Less than 5 correct answers5754505846452755Between 5 and 8 correct answers 6853494842342350More than 8 correct answers7840342928171930Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'7047413836241939Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'6851474841352548Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'6554505441412555You alone do or did in the past7644413632242734A family member does or did in the past 7844403632232135Both you and a family member do or did in the past7348382625152227No6652464841342348To what extent do you agree with the following statements regarding scientists today? (% - Total 'Agree')AgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleWorked in research / science / innovative technology development       GenderCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / SpiritualityMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technology 
 
 
V.  CITIZENS’ ENGAGEMENT IN 
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 

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In  the  remaining  24  Member  States,  a  majority  oppose  public 
involvement  in  decision  making  about  science  and  technology, 
saying either that ‘decisions about science and technology should 
be  made  by  scientists,  engineers  and  politicians,  but  the  public 
should always be informed’ or that ‘the public does not need to be 
involved in decisions about science and technology’. Respondents 
are  most  likely  to  oppose  public  involvement  in  Czechia  (79%), 
Estonia and Latvia (both 75%) and Portugal (70%). 

Looking  at  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  respondents  in 
Switzerland (50%) are most likely to support public involvement in 
decision making, while the proportion of respondents who disagree 
that the public should be involved is highest in Kosovo (77%). 

1. 

Desired public involvement in 
decisions about science and 
technology 

This  section  examines  citizens’  views  on  the  involvement  of  the 
general public in making decisions about science and technology. 

Four in ten Europeans (40%) think that public opinion should  be 
taken  into  account  in  decision  making  about  science  and 
technology. Specifically, 8% say that ‘public opinion should be the 
main  concern  when  making  decisions  about  science  and 
technology’,  while  32%  that  ‘the  public  should  be  consulted  and 
public opinion should be seriously considered’. 

The  most  popular  option  is  that  ‘decisions  about  science  and 
technology should be made by scientists, engineers and politicians, 
but the public should always be informed’ (52%), while 7% think 
that  ‘the  public  does  not  need  to  be  involved  in  decisions  about 
science and technology’. 

In  three  EU  Member  States,  a  majority  of  respondents  support 
public  involvement  in  decision  making  (saying  either  that  public 
opinion  should  be  the  main  concern  or  at  least  seriously 
considered): Romania (55%), and Austria and France (both 52%). 
In  fact,  in  Romania  as  many  as  20%  think  that  ‘public  opinion 
should be the main concern when making decisions about science 
and technology’. 

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Attitudes  about  public  involvement  in  science  and  technology 
decision  making  are  generally  consistent  across  socio-
demographic groups.  

There is a slight difference by level of education, with those who 
left  education  older  being  more  inclined  to  oppose  public 
involvement (either saying that the public should be informed but 
not  involved,  or  that  the  public  does  not  need  to  be  involved). 
Specifically, 62% of those who left education at the age of 20 or 
above  are  opposed  to  public  involvement,  compared  to  55%  of 
those who left education at the age of 15 or below. 

Respondents  who  have  difficulties  paying  bills  most  of the  time 
are more likely to support public involvement in decision making 
(saying either that public opinion should be the main concern or at 
least seriously considered): 45% compared with 38% of those who 
rarely or never have difficulties paying bills. 

Respondents  who  think  science  and  technology  has  a  positive 
influence on society are more likely to oppose public involvement 
(63%  compared  with  40%  of  those  who  say  it  has  a  negative 
influence). 

related 

Attitudes  are  also 
to  knowledge  about  science. 
Respondents  who  answered  eight  or  more  questions  in  the  quiz 
(QA20) correctly are more likely to disagree that the public should 
be involved (64%) than those who answered fewer than five quiz 
questions correctly (53%). 

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216 

QA7The public does not need to be involved in decisions about science and technologyDecisions about science and technology should be made by scientists, engineers and politicians, but the public should always be informedThe public should be consulted and public opinion should be seriously consideredPublic opinion should be the main concern when making decisions about science and technologyOther (SPONTANEOUS)Don't knowTotal 'Against public dialogue'Total 'For public dialogue'EU27752328015940Man852327016039Woman753318016039 15-24754317016138 25-39754318006139 40-54653328015940 55+85131802593915-946301104554116-1985032901584120+557326006238Still studying656326006238Self-employed756297016336Managers757324006436Other white collars756297016336Manual workers749349015643House persons9473110035641Unemployed6523011015841Retired850328025840Students656326006238Most of the time9443213025345From time to time8483310015643Almost never/ Never655317016138Left753346006040Centre653328015940Right853309006139Interested655327006139Moderately interested754317016138Not interested12423112035443Interested656317006238Moderately interested653337015940Not interested12432912045541Interested555346006040Moderately interested854307016237Not interested13392914055243Positive756306016336Negative8324118014059Less than 5 correct answers10433112045343Between 5 and 8 correct answers 753328006040More than 8 correct answers460324006436Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'753337006040Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'753327016039Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'9493010025840You alone do or did in the past658324006436A family member does or did in the past 356355015940Both you and a family member do or did in the past366283006931No852318016039Education (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsWhat level of public involvement do you think is appropriate when it comes to decisions about science and technology? (% - EU)GenderAgeLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
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More  than  seven  in  ten  Europeans  (72%)  hold  the  view  that 
‘decisions about science and technology should be based mainly 
on the advice of experts’, while 27% hold the view that ‘decisions 
about science and technology should be based mainly on what the 
majority of people in a country think’. 

In  every  EU  Member  State,  the  prevailing view  is  that  ‘decisions 
about  science  and  technology  should  be  based  mainly  on  the 
advice of experts’. Respondents are most likely to hold this view in 
Czechia (92%), Estonia (90%), Finland (89%) and Malta (87%). 

The  alternative  viewpoint,  that  ‘decisions  about  science  and 
technology should be based mainly on what the majority of people 
in a country think’, is most prevalent in Austria and Romania (both 
38%), and Poland (36%).

Looking at the non-EU countries surveyed, respondents in the UK 
(87%)  and  Iceland  (86%)  are  most  likely  to  say  that  ‘decisions 
about  science  and  technology  should  be  based  mainly  on  the 
advice of experts’, while those in the Republic of North Macedonia, 
Kosovo  (both  36%)  and  Bosnia  and  Herzegovina  (35%)  are  the 
most likely to say that decisions should be based mainly on what 
the majority of people in a country think. 

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In  the  socio-demographic  analysis,  results  are  mostly  consistent 
by  gender  and  age,  but  there  are  differences  in  some  other 
groupings:  

Respondents  who  left  education  at  the  age  of  20  or  above  are 
more  likely  to  say  that  ‘decisions  about  science  and  technology 
should be based mainly on the advice of experts’ (78%), compared 
with those who left education at age 16-19 (67%) or by the age 
of 15 (69%).  

In terms of socio-professional groups, managers are most likely to 
think  that  decisions  should  be  based  mainly  on  the  advice  of 
experts  (80%),  while  the  proportion  is  lowest  among  manual 
workers (67%). 

Respondents  who  never  or  almost  never  have  difficulties  paying 
bills are more inclined to think that ‘decisions about science and 
technology should be based mainly on the advice of experts’ (75%) 
compared with those who have difficulties most of the time (64%) 
or from time to time (65%). 

The view that decisions should be based mainly on the advice of 
experts  is  more  common  among  respondents  who  have  an 
involvement in - or good knowledge of - science and technology. 
Indeed, those who say they are interested in scientific discoveries 
(77%  compared  with  62%  of those who  are  not interested) and 
those who think science and technology has a positive influence on 
society  (74%  compared  with  54%  of  those  who  think  it  has  a 
negative influence) are more likely to say that decisions should be 
based mainly on the experts’ advice. Attitudes are also related to 
knowledge  about  science.  Respondents  who  answered  eight  or 
more questions correctly in the quiz are more likely to think that 
decisions should be based mainly on the advice of experts (83%) 
than  those  who  answered  fewer  than  five  questions  correctly 
(60%). 

Among  respondents  who  have  worked  in  research,  science  or 
innovative  technology  development,  77%  to  think  that  decisions 
should be based mainly on the advice of experts, and this is higher 
still (83%) where both the respondent and a family member have 
worked in one of these areas. It is lower (71%) among respondents 
with no personal or family connection with this type of work. 

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

219 

QA13ADecisions about science and technology should be based mainly on the advice of expertsDecisions about science and technology should be based mainly on what the majority of people in a country thinkDon't knowEU2772271Man73261Woman71272 15-2472271 25-3973270 40-5472271 55+7127215-6929216-196732120+78211Still studying76231Self- employed76231Managers80191Other white collars73261Manual workers67321House persons69301Unemployed68302Retired69292Students76231Most of the time64342From time to time65341Almost never/ Never75241Left75241Centre72271Right70291Interested75241Moderately interested72271Not interested63343Interested77221Moderately interested72271Not interested62353Interested76231Moderately interested71281Not interested59374Positive74251Negative54442Less than 5 correct answers60373Between 5 and 8 correct answers 71281More than 8 correct answers83161Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'75241Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'71281Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'68302You alone do or did in the past77230A family member does or did in the past 78211Both you and a family member do or did in the past83170No71281Belowareaseriesofquestionswithtwostatementseach.Foreachpair,pleaseselectthestatementwhich comes closest to your point of view. Please select one (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Six in ten Europeans (61%) agree that “involving non-scientists in 
research and technological development ensures that science and 
technology  respond  to  the  needs,  values  and  expectations  of 
society”,  with  19%  strongly  agreeing.  By  contrast, 12%  disagree 
with the statement, with 3% expressing strong disagreement. 

In all 27 EU Member States, a majority of respondents agree with 
the statement. Agreement is highest in Ireland and Finland (both 
70%), and Cyprus (69%), while it is lowest in Hungary (48%), and 
Sweden and Romania (both 51%).

Looking at the non-EU countries surveyed, respondents are most 
likely  to  agree  with  the  statement  in  Montenegro  (73%),  while 
agreement is lowest in Albania (28%). 

220 

 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The main difference in the socio-demographic analysis is by level 
of education:  

More highly educated respondents (those who finished education 
at the age of 20 or above) are more likely to agree that ‘involving 
non-scientists in research and technological development ensures 
that  science  and  technology  respond  to  the  needs,  values  and 
expectations of society’ (67% compared with 54% of those who 
left education by the age of 15). 

Agreement is higher among respondents aged 25-39 and 40-54 
(both  64%)  than  those  aged  15-24  (59%)  or  aged  55  or  over 
(58%).

The  view  that  non-scientists  should  be  involved  in  research  and 
technological development is more prevalent among respondents 
who  say  they  are  interested  in  scientific  discoveries  (66% 
compared with 52% of those who are not interested) and those 
who  think  science  and  technology  has  a  positive  influence  on 
society  (64%  compared  with  49%  of  those  who  think  it  has  a 
negative influence). 

Agreement  is  also  higher  in  those  who  answered  eight  or  more 
questions  in  the  quiz  correctly  (68%)  than  those  who  answered 
fewer than five questions correctly (51%). 

221 

 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

222 

QA17.7Strongly agreeTend to agreeNeither agree nor disagreeTend to disagreeStrongly disagreeDon't knowTotal 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'EU271942239346112Man2042229436213Woman1942238356111 15-2420392410435914 25-392143238326411 40-541945219426413 55+184023937581215-1638247411541116-19194224834611120+2245199326712Still studying19402510335913Self-employed2045208436512Managers19462010326513Other white collars1944239326312Manual workers2040239446013House persons1644238276010Unemployed2538219346312Retired1841238375911Students19402510335913Most of the time2433268365711From time to time1840268355811Almost never/ Never1943219446213Left2044219336412Centre1942238446112Right18422311336014Interested2441208436512Moderately interested1644249346012Not interested1636269495213Interested2541199426613Moderately interested1745239336212Not interested15372693105212Interested2442199336612Moderately interested1644249346012Not interested143627103105013Positive2044228336411Negative18312613754920Less than 5 correct answers15362783115111Between 5 and 8 correct answers 2042239336212More than 8 correct answers21471710416814Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'1942239436113Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'1943239246211Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'2140217476111You alone do or did in the past23402111506316A family member does or did in the past 2343199426613Both you and a family member do or did in the past24371319526124No1942238356111How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Involvingnon-scientistsinresearchandtechnologicaldevelopmentensuresthatscienceandtechnologyrespondtotheneeds,valuesandexpectationsofsociety (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Europeans think that professional scientists are best qualified to 
explain the impact of scientific and technological developments on 
society. In particular, respondents feel that scientists working at a 
university  or  government-funded  research  organisation  are  the 
best qualified (61%), followed by scientists working in an industrial 
or privately funded research organisation (40%). Around three in 
ten (29%) choose general practitioners and specialist doctors as 
one  of the  categories  of people  and  organisations  that  are  best 
qualified to explain these issues.

Around  one  in  five  respondents  (19%)  think  that  journalists  are 
among the best qualified people to explain the impact of scientific 
and technological developments on society, while more than one 
in  ten  choose  environmental  protection  associations  (16%), 
consumer organisations (12%) or national governments (12%). 

The EU is chosen by 9% of respondents as one of the best qualified 
categories of people and organisations, similar to the proportion 
that mention writers and intellectuals (10%), and ahead of other 
options, such as industry and private companies (8%), family and 
friends  (7%),  and  people  active  on  online  social  networks  and 
bloggers (6%). The least popular choices to explain the impact of 
scientific and technological developments on society are politicians 
(5%),  the  military  (3%),  and  religious  leaders  or  representatives 
(2%). 

223 

 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In every EU Member State, respondents are most likely to say that 
scientists working at a university or government-funded research 
organisation are the best qualified people to explain the impact of 
scientific  and  technological  developments  on  society.  The 
proportion choosing this option is highest in Sweden (84%), Estonia 
and Finland (both 82%), and Ireland and Czechia (both 80%). There 
are just three countries where less than half of respondents choose 
this option: Poland (44%), Romania (45%) and Austria (46%). 

Respondents in Czechia (59%), Portugal (56%) and Slovakia (55%) 
are the most likely to say that scientists working in an industrial or 
privately funded research organisation are best qualified to explain 
these issues, while the proportion is lowest in Austria (28%), and 
the Netherlands, Germany and Romania (all 30%). 

Respondents  are  most  likely  to choose  general  practitioners  and 
specialist doctors in Greece (50%), Cyprus (49%) and Malta (48%), 
while  the  proportion  is  lowest  in  Lithuania  (15%),  and  Sweden, 
Latvia and Bulgaria (all 17%). 

Respondents in the Netherlands (40%) are by far the most likely 
to  say  that  journalists  are  among  the  best  qualified  people  to 
explain the impact of scientific and technological developments on 
society, while those in France and Ireland (both 24%) and Portugal 
(23%)  are  most  likely  to  choose  environmental  protection 
associations.

frequently  by 
Consumer  organisations  are  chosen  most 
respondents  in  Germany  and  the  Netherlands  (both  23%),  while 
those in the Netherlands are also the most likely to choose writers 
and intellectuals (19%). Respondents in Hungary (21%) are most 
likely  to  say  that  the  national  government  is  well  qualified  to 
explain these issues. 

The  EU  is  chosen  most  frequently  by  respondents  in  Portugal 
(21%) and Cyprus (18%), while respondents in Finland (17%) and 
Sweden  (15%)  are  most  likely  to  mention  industry  and  private 
companies.  

Family and friends are chosen most frequently by respondents in 
Austria,  Romania  and  Slovenia  (all  14%),  while  respondents  in 
Hungary  (13%)  and  Lithuania  (12%)  are  most  likely  to  choose 
people  active  on  online  social  networks  and  bloggers.  The  other 
options are all chosen by fewer than 10% of respondents in every 
EU Member State. 

Looking at the non-EU countries surveyed, respondents in Norway 
(82%) are most likely to say that scientists working at a university 
or government-funded research organisation are the best qualified 
people  to  explain  the  impact  of  scientific  and  technological 
developments  on  society.  Respondents  in  Montenegro  (60%) are 
the  most  likely  to  choose  scientists  working  in  an  industrial  or 
privately funded research organisation. Those in the UK (29%) are 
the  most  likely  to  choose  general  practitioners  and  specialist 
doctors. Journalists are chosen most frequently by respondents in 
Switzerland (22%). In addition, relatively high proportions choose 
other options, such as the national government (32% in Kosovo), 
the  EU  (33%  in  Albania),  and  writers  and  intellectuals  (27%  in 
Iceland and 25% in Turkey). 

224 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

225 

QA5Scientists working at a university or government-funded research organisationScientists working in an industrial or privately funded research organisationGeneral practitioners and specialist doctorsJournalistsEnvironmental protection associationsConsumer organisationsThe (NATIONALITY) governmentWriters and intellectualsThe European UnionIndustry and private companiesFamily and friendsPeople active on online social networks and bloggersPoliticiansThe militaryReligious leaders or representativesOther (SPONTANEOUS)None (SPONTANEOUS)Don't knowEU2761402919161212109876532011BE75392525151881410854310000BG624217181358811767851016CZ805924179441251236310000DK6941352211198941263511000DE59303130192310947106611011EE8253271221591061045211000IE804622202410111713825211000EL7449509137141411465313011ES7253348737710442310012FR533535192416141261195551011HR66532412939159799512110IT6244291415818911644753001CY65404912771011184128324010LV695317151364681177221000LT744915131081111106512322000LU7539233018121013101067400000HU51322314151021131310813722002MT6354488162141011736301001NL64302640142315194987711000AT46283123191716127111410945013PL4440191911814812101010763014PT7456242023698211224111000RO45302471171617157146776013SI51482322118513610148412101SK705524131541379986714011FI8253201510681341712330000SE84431720151191241523431000TR4532814139242515137151855000MK67501910133910111078423011AL22158568101133986465000ME68601478318811657544001RS714722512214174744441004NO82492116913111841221340000CH754118221919161021263421000UK7954291217718212934211000IS805525151054274743100000XK311913118332121361251483000BA6547227848138834431000Among the following categories of people and organisations, which are the best qualified to explain the impact of scientific and technological developments on society?  (MAX. 3 ANSWERS)(%)3rd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM1st MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM2nd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The  socio-demographic  analysis  shows  a  broadly  consistent 
picture,  with  respondents  in  all  groups  most  likely  to  say  that 
scientists working at a university or government-funded research 
organisation  are  the  best  qualified  to  explain  the  impact  of 
scientific and technological developments on society.  

There are some slight differences in responses by gender and age:  

Women are more likely than men to say that general practitioners 
and specialist doctors are best qualified to explain the impact of 
scientific  and  technological  developments  on  society  (30%  vs 
27%).  However,  men  are  more  likely  than  women  to  mention 
writers  and  intellectuals  (12%  vs  9%)  and  industry  and  private 
companies (10% vs 7%). 

In  terms  of  age,  older  respondents  (aged  55  or  over)  are  more 
likely to choose journalists (21% vs 15% of 15-24 year olds) and 
consumer organisations (14% vs 7%), but are less likely to mention 
scientists  working  in  an  industrial  or  privately  funded  research 
organisation  (36%  vs  42%-44%  in  the  younger  age  groups). 
Younger  respondents  are  more  likely  to  mention  online  social 
networks  and  bloggers  (9%  of  15-24  year  olds  vs  3%  of  those 
aged 55 or over).

Respondents  who  stayed  in  education  longer  are  more  likely  to 
choose  certain  options.  For  example,  69%  of  those  who  left 
education at the age of 20 or above choose scientists working at 
a  university  or  government-funded 
research  organisation, 
compared with 54% of those who left education at the age of 15 
or  below.  However,  there  are  some  exceptions  to  this  pattern: 
respondents who left education at the age of 15 or below are more 
likely to mention general practitioners and specialist doctors (37% 
vs  26%  of  those  who  left  at  the  age  of  20  or  above)  and  the 
national government (17% vs 9%). 

There  are  also  differences  according  to  respondents’  knowledge 
about science. Respondents who answered eight or more answers 
correctly  in  the  quiz  are  more  likely  to  mention  several  of  the 
options, such as scientists working at a university or government-
funded  research  organisation  (75%  vs  48%  of  those  who 
answered fewer than five questions correctly) and journalists (28% 
vs 15%). However, those who answered fewer than five questions 
correctly are more likely to mention the national government (16% 
vs 9%) and friends and family (10% vs 4%). 

226 

 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

227 

QA5Scientists working at a university or government-funded research organisationScientists working in an industrial or privately funded research organisationJournalistsPoliticiansConsumer organisationsEnvironmental protection associationsIndustry and private companiesPeople active on online social networks and bloggersReligious leaders or representativesThe (NATIONALITY) governmentThe militaryGeneral practitioners and specialist doctorsWriters and intellectualsFamily and friendsThe European UnionOther (SPONTANEOUS)None (SPONTANEOUS)Don't knowEU2761401951216862123291079011Man624120512151062123271279011Woman6040186121676213330988011 15-2461431577158911233012710001 25-39624418512151071103289710011 40-5463422051215961113271178011 55+5936215141773214330108701215-543416610125231733779701316-19563818613168721343099901220+6943234131795192261358011Still studying65441778148811223113610001Self-employed66412059149611132614510011Managers72452441516105192251247001Other white collars61421951317961124261169001Manual workers5640156121598211428989011House persons533516610147631643481011012Unemployed59411431018772123348710012Retired5735225141673215331996012Students65441778148811223113610001Most of the time49381469186841243091111012From time to time57401551014873155319810011Almost never/ Never63402151316951112281178011The working class564016591475213330888014The lower middle class58401961317962134281088011The middle class62401951316962123291179001The upper middle class704027514151051102261457000The upper class664534791411411112523411000Left65362451520651112281368001Centre6242185121596212331988011Right5742176111112631452810810011Interested64411951318851123341179001Moderately interested63422051215962123271178011Not interested463316891178313523998025Interested674421413171051102301369000Moderately interested62401961316862123291079001Not interested4833157101175316528797024Interested67392251422741112301269001Moderately interested604318611121062133281089011Not interested43321378787313626798026Positive64422051216851122291079001Negative382714714159841493011127022Less than 5 correct answers48351579128631652781011013Between 5 and 8 correct answers 60421751216962123301089011More than 8 correct answers7541284151973091281346000Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'6540225141696092291067011Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'60411861216862133281179001Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'573716610147541543011811012You alone do or did in the past6841212131596293251357001A family member does or did in the past 70382351419842102271279000Both you and a family member do or did in the past81392811713164072311939000No59401961215862133291079012Education (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsConsider belonging toAmong the following categories of people and organisations, which are the best qualified to explain the impact of scientific and technological developments on society?  (MAX. 3 ANSWERS) (% - EU)GenderAgeLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

2. 

Citizens’ engagement with science 
and technology 

This  section  looks  at  public  engagement  with  science  and 
technology,  focusing  on  the  ways  that  people  currently  engage, 
how  they  might  engage  in  the  future,  and  their  barriers  to 
engagement. 

Europeans are most likely to engage with science and technology 
by  watching  documentaries  or  reading  science  and  technology-
related publications, magazines or books. One in five respondents 
(21%) say they do this regularly and 38% occasionally. The second 
most common form of engagement is talking about science and 
technology-related  issues  with  family  or  friends,  which  is  done 
regularly by 17% and occasionally by 38%. One in three (33%) say 
they visit science and technology museums at least occasionally, 
and this includes 6% who do this regularly. 

There  are  three  activities  that  are  done  by  around  one  in  five 
respondents  at 
least  occasionally:  studying  science  and 
technology-related  issues  in  their  free  time  (22%,  including  6% 
regularly),  signing  petitions  or  joining  demonstrations  on science 
and  technology  matters  (19%,  including  4%  regularly)  and 
providing personal data for scientific research (19%, including 4% 
regularly). 

More than one in ten say they attend public meetings or debates 
about  science  and  technology  (14%),  or  actively  take  part  in 
scientific projects (12%) at least occasionally; in both cases, 3% 
do these activities regularly. 

The other activities are less common: taking part in the activities 
of  a  non-governmental  organisation  dealing  with  science  and 
technology-related issues (10% at least occasionally), taking part 
in clinical trials (also 10%), contacting public authorities or political 
leaders  about  science  and  technology-related  issues  (8%),  and 
lending a computer’s processing power to contribute to research 
on complex scientific questions (also 8%). In each case, only 1% or 
2% of respondents do these activities regularly. 

228 

 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In  22  EU  Member  States,  at  least  half  of  respondents  say  they 
regularly or occasionally watch documentaries or read science and 
technology-related  publications,  magazines  or  books.  The 
proportion  is  highest  in  Estonia  (91%),  Luxembourg  (89%), 
Portugal  (87%),  Ireland  (86%)  and  Finland  (85%).  However, 
respondents are much less likely to watch documentaries or read 
science and technology-related publications, magazines or books, 
regularly  or  occasionally,  in  Romania  (32%),  Slovakia  (39%), 
Poland (40%), Italy (42%) and Bulgaria (43%).

read 

Respondents  are  most  likely  to  say  that  they  regularly  watch 
documentaries  or 
technology-related 
publications,  magazines  or  books  in  Luxembourg  and  Portugal 
(both  40%),  and  Ireland  and  the  Netherlands  (both  37%).  By 
contrast, more than a third of respondents  never do this in Italy 
(43%), Poland (42%), Bulgaria (41%) and Romania (35%). 

science  and 

Looking at the non-EU countries surveyed, the proportion that say 
they regularly or occasionally watch documentaries or read science 
and  technology-related  publications,  magazines  or  books  ranges 
from 83% in the UK to 34% in Montenegro. 

229 

 
 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

There  is  considerable  variation  across  EU  Member  States  in  the 
proportion  of  respondents  who  say  they  talk  about  science  and 
technology-related issues with family or friends. At least eight in 
ten respondents do this regularly or occasionally in Portugal (85%), 
Estonia  (84%),  Luxembourg  (82%)  and  Ireland  (80%).  This 
compares  with  less  than  four  in  ten  respondents  who  do  this 
occasionally or regularly in Bulgaria (33%), Poland (34%), Italy and 
Romania (both 36%) and Slovakia (38%).

Respondents  are  most  likely  to  say  they  regularly  talk  about 
science and technology-related issues with family or friends in the 
Netherlands  (32%),  Portugal  (31%),  Luxembourg  (29%)  and 
Denmark (28%). The proportion that never talks about these issues 
is highest in Bulgaria and Italy (both 48%), Poland (45%) and Spain 
(40%). 

Looking at the non-EU countries, the proportion that say they talk 
about science and technology-related issues with family or friends 
(regularly  or  occasionally)  is  highest  in  Switzerland  (80%)  and 
lowest in Montenegro (34%). 

230 

 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

There is wide variation across EU Member States in the proportion 
of  respondents  who  say  they  visit  science  and  technology 
museums. In seven Member States, more than half of respondents 
say  they  do  this  regularly  or  occasionally,  with  the  highest 
proportions  in  Estonia  (64%),  Portugal  (59%),  Latvia  (56%)  and 
Ireland  (55%).  By  contrast,  less  than  a  quarter  visit  science  and 
technology museums regularly or occasionally in Bulgaria (21%), 
Slovakia and Greece (both 22%), and Hungary and Romania (both 
23%). 

Respondents are most likely to say they regularly visit science and 
technology  museums  in  Portugal  (11%),  Luxembourg  (9%),  and 
Ireland  and  France  (both  8%).  The  proportion  that  never  visits 
science  and  technology  museums  is  highest  in  Bulgaria  (60%), 
Greece (58%), Spain (52%) and Italy (50%). 

Looking at the non-EU countries surveyed, the proportion that say 
they  visit  science  and  technology  museums  (regularly  or 
occasionally)  is  highest  in  the  UK  (54%)  and  lowest  in  Serbia 
(14%). 

231 

 
 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In six EU Member States, more than a third of respondents say that 
they study science and technology-related issues in their free time, 
either  regularly  or  occasionally:  Estonia  (45%),  Portugal  (39%), 
Cyprus (38%), Ireland and Luxembourg (both 37%), and Lithuania 
(34%). The lowest proportions that do this occasionally or regularly 
are in Bulgaria (7%), Slovakia and Hungary (both 14%), and Italy 
(15%).

Respondents  in  Cyprus  (14%)  and  Luxembourg  (13%)  are  most 
likely  to  say  that  they  regularly  study  science  and  technology-
related  issues  in  their  free  time.  More  than  three-quarters  of 
respondents in Bulgaria (78%) say they never do this, and this also 
applies to more than two-thirds of respondents in Italy (70%) and 
Spain (69%). 

Looking at the non-EU countries surveyed, respondents are most 
likely to say they study science and technology-related issues in 
their  free  time,  either regularly  or  occasionally,  in  Iceland  (52%) 
and Turkey (49%), while those in Serbia are least likely to do so 
(10%). 

232 

 
 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Respondents  in  Portugal  are  most  likely  to  say  that  they  sign 
petitions  or  join  demonstrations  on  science  and  technology 
matters: 10% say they do this regularly and 36% occasionally. The 
proportion  that  do  this  occasionally  or  regularly  is  also  high  in 
Lithuania  and  Luxembourg  (both  40%),  Ireland  (35%)  and  the 
Netherlands (32%).  

By contrast, no more than one in ten respondents do this regularly 
or occasionally in Greece (4%), Bulgaria (6%) and Hungary (10%). 
Greece and Bulgaria are also the countries where respondents are 
most likely to say they never sign petitions or join demonstrations 
on science and technology matters (86% and 82% respectively). 

Looking at the 11 other countries surveyed, the proportion that say 
they  sign  petitions  or  join  demonstrations  on  science  and 
technology matters (regularly or occasionally) is highest in Turkey 
(44%) and lowest in the Republic of North Macedonia (13%). 

Since January/February 201034, there has been an increase in the 
proportion  of  EU  citizens  who  say  they  sign  petitions  or  join 
demonstrations  on  science  and  technology  matters  In  total,  4% 
now  say  they  do  this  regularly  (+2  pp),  while  15%  do  this 
occasionally (+4 pp). 

Some  Member  States  show  large  increases  in  the  proportion  of 
respondents who sign petitions or join demonstrations on science 
and  technology  matters  (regularly  or  occasionally):  Portugal  
(+35  pp),  Lithuania  (+30  pp),  Ireland  (+27  pp)  and  Luxembourg  
(+22  pp).  The  proportion  has  decreased  in  only  two  countries: 
Slovakia (-6 pp) and Greece (-4 pp). 

Analysis of non-EU countries surveyed also shows a large increase 
in Turkey (+39 pp) and the United Kingdom (+20 pp). 

34 In 2010 the United Kingdom was still part of the European Union but Croatia had 
not yet joined. The 2010 total therefore refers to an “EU 27” that includes the UK 

but not Croatia. This analysis is based on the 28 countries that were part of the EU 
at either of the two time points (January-February 2010 and April-May 2021). 

233 

 
 
 
 
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234 

QA14.5Yes, regularlyDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Yes, occasionallyDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Hardly everDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010No, neverDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Don't knowTotal 'Yes'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Total 'Hardly ever / no'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010EU274215418562111196806PT108362729182552046355434LT76332431242954040306030IE87282033193145036276426LU75331734222644040226022LV44191429234840023187717NL9623102164722032166816RO4315111476621119148014MT3=221315115825225137314FI542393184121028137213EE32191032234635022127812SI4316820126023020118011SE422583074117029107110DK43216246501612597410BE63234271144180297717CZ31156281654230187827DE6417322554131237768FR5314413667141197808HR4218522755141227777CY4374141174181117887PL319413574111125876AT9520225346=0293713BG1151101823262922IT4113=1636621171821ES32102112762013=87=HU1=9=193704110=891EL1=3410128617044965SK2=1062366322126864TR1716272325173151044395634MK3N/A10N/A15N/A69N/A313N/A84N/AAL8N/A11N/A32N/A43N/A619N/A75N/AME5N/A13N/A16N/A65N/A118N/A81N/ARS2N/A13N/A12N/A69N/A415N/A81N/AUK87241328184037032206819IS422012585190241761NO2=231029104620025107510CH8427628123722035106510XK7N/A13N/A18N/A59N/A320N/A77N/ABA4N/A14N/A21N/A60N/A118N/A81N/AAnd now, a few questions on how you engage with science and technology issues. Do youSign petitions or join demonstrations on science and technology matters (%) 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

There is wide variation across EU Member States in the proportions 
that say they provide personal data for scientific research. In 12 
Member States, more than a third of respondents say that they do 
this regularly or occasionally, and this rises to over half in Estonia 
(58%), Finland (57%) and Ireland (51%). By contrast, no more than 
one in ten provide personal data for scientific research regularly or 
occasionally in Bulgaria (4%), Greece (5%), Spain (8%) and Poland 
(10%).

Respondents are most likely to say they regularly provide personal 
data  for  scientific  research  in  the  Netherlands  (11%),  while  the 
proportion that never does this is highest in Greece and Bulgaria 
(both 87%), and Spain (85%). 

Looking at the non-EU countries surveyed, the proportion that say 
they  provide  personal  data  for  scientific  research  (regularly  or 
occasionally)  is  highest  in  Iceland  (65%)  and  lowest  in  Serbia 
(11%). 

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Respondents in Lithuania and Luxembourg (both 22%), and Austria 
(20%),  are  most  likely  to  say  they  attend  public  meetings  or 
debates  about  science  and  technology,  either  regularly  or 
occasionally. Respondents are least likely to do this occasionally or 
regularly in Bulgaria (6%), Slovakia (7%) and Hungary (8%). 

Regular attendance at public meetings or debates about science 
and technology is most common in Austria (6%), and Cyprus and 
Romania (both 5%), while respondents are most likely to say they 
never do this in Bulgaria and Spain (both 83%), Poland (77%), and 
France (76%).  

Looking at the non-EU countries surveyed, the proportion that say 
they  attend  public  meetings  or  debates  about  science  and 
technology, either regularly or occasionally, is by far the highest in 
Turkey (41%) while it is lowest in Serbia (6%). 

The proportion of EU citizens who say they attend public meetings 
or  debates  about  science  and  technology  has  increased  since 
January/February 201035, with 3% now doing this regularly (+2 pp) 
and 11% occasionally (+3 pp)  

The largest increases in the proportions that attend meetings or 
debates (regularly or occasionally) are seen in Lithuania (+15 pp), 
Czechia  (+11  pp)  and  Ireland  (+11  pp).  The  proportion  has 
decreased  in  just  three  Member  States:  Greece  (-4  pp),  Slovakia  
(-2 pp) and Sweden (-1 pp). 

Analysis  of  the  other  countries  surveyed  also  shows  a  large 
increase in Turkey (+30 pp). 

35 In 2010 the United Kingdom was still part of the European Union but Croatia had 
not yet joined. The 2010 total therefore refers to an “EU 27” that includes the UK 

but not Croatia. This analysis is based on the 28 countries that were part of the EU 
at either of the two time points (January-February 2010 and April-May 2021). 

236 

 
 
 
 
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237 

QA14.6Yes, regularlyDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Yes, occasionallyDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Hardly everDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010No, neverDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Don't knowTotal 'Yes'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Total 'Hardly ever / no'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010EU273211318668110145865LT44181136284243022157815CZ2215941274238017118311IE21161040244234018118210AT641461511651020108010RO541361576617118108110LV32167302151300199819EE1=138352551330148868MT111172214642421288610PT32166372844350198817LU21208392439310227787DK2=12625460111146857DE3113524859151166837SI1=116231565210126886BE42143281754220185825HR229324564101115885CY5310214871130155855PL218412477101105896FR2110312676100124884NL21731867310094914IT321211467031153843BG1=52103831162932ES217=81832091911HU216=18=732181912FI01913816531609=91=SE118=30136112091911SK116322469427291=EL121321946790144865TR1512261830202946041305926MK3N/A13N/A16N/A66N/A216N/A82N/AAL10N/A12N/A32N/A40N/A622N/A72N/AME3N/A9N/A13N/A73N/A212N/A86N/ARS1N/A5N/A12N/A78N/A46N/A90N/ACH3=205371740220235775UK2193292160250114894NO1=913285890101901IS21752813637096916XK8N/A17N/A20N/A52N/A325N/A72N/ABA4N/A10N/A20N/A65N/A114N/A85N/AAnd now, a few questions on how you engage with science and technology issues. Do youAttend public meetings or debates about science and technology (%) 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In seven EU Member States, more than one in five respondents say 
they  actively  take  part  in  scientific  projects,  either  regularly  or 
occasionally. The proportion is highest in Luxembourg (24%), and 
the Netherlands, Portugal and Lithuania (all 23%). By contrast, just 
4% do this at least occasionally in Bulgaria, 5% in Greece, and 6% 
in Spain.

Regular  participation  in  scientific  projects  is  most  common  in 
Luxembourg and the Netherlands (both 8%), while respondents are 
most likely to say they never do this in Bulgaria (89%), Spain (87%) 
and Greece (86%). 

Looking at  the  other  countries surveyed,  the  proportion  that  say 
they  actively  take  part  in  scientific  projects,  either  regularly  or 
occasionally, ranges from 47% in Turkey to 7% in Serbia. 

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Respondents are most likely to say they take part in the activities 
of  a  non-governmental  organisation  dealing  with  science  and 
technology  related  issues,  occasionally  or  regularly,  in  Romania, 
Lithuania  and  Austria  (all  19%),  and  Luxembourg  (17%).  The 
proportion is lowest in Greece (3%), Bulgaria (4%), and France and 
Slovakia (both 5%). 

Respondents in Austria are most likely to say they  regularly take 
part in the activities of a non-governmental organisation dealing 
with  science  and  technology  related  issues  (5%).  The  proportion 
that  never  does  this  is  highest  in  Greece  (89%),  Bulgaria  (87%), 
Spain (86%) and France (85%). 

Looking at the non-EU countries surveyed, the proportion that say 
they take part in the activities of a non-governmental organisation 
dealing  with  science  and  technology-related  issues  (regularly  or 
occasionally) is highest in Turkey (40%) and lowest in Serbia (6%). 

The  proportion  of  EU  citizens  who  say  they  take  part  in  the 
activities of a non-governmental organisation dealing with science 
and  technology  related  issues  has  increased  slightly  since 
January/February 2010, with 2% now doing this regularly (+1 pp) 
and 8% occasionally (+2 pp)36. 

The largest increases in the proportions that take part in activities 
occasionally or regularly are seen in Romania (+15 pp), Lithuania  
(+13 pp), Latvia (+11 pp) and Austria (+10 pp). The proportion has 
decreased only in Greece (-3 pp), while it has remained the same 
in Belgium, Slovakia and Sweden. 

Analysis of the other non-EU countries surveyed also shows a large 
increase in Turkey (+34 pp). 

36 This analysis is based on the 28 countries that were part of the EU at either of the 
two time points (January-February 2010 and April-May 2021). 

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240 

QA14.7Yes, regularlyDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Yes, occasionallyDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Hardly everDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010No, neverDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Don't knowTotal 'Yes'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Total 'Hardly ever / no'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010EU2721821437561103893RO43151213106724119158014LT43151030245137019138113LV2212928205831014118611AT541461514653119108011IE21128342152280149867CY3210612775150138878DK2=137251159191157848HR229523766130117896MT1=117211465212127867PL32841127791116887SI2185191171170106906DE2=11418668111134865EE216319147317084923BG11328=872143952CZ11621997412073933LU31144332350260173833HU2172171735193904NL31941417420123883FR1=4294857152943IT328=1377551112882FI2171274646092912ES215=7=861071931PT428128196019012188=BE2=9=218688011=89=SK114113380125=932SE22922310669011=891EL11248128916033974TR1412262227203349040346029MK3N/A8N/A17N/A70N/A211N/A87N/AAL6N/A15N/A30N/A43N/A621N/A73N/AME2N/A9N/A16N/A72N/A111N/A88N/ARS1N/A5N/A10N/A80N/A46N/A90N/AUK31104261661200135874CH2=123271259150143863NO121112456440121881IS22812196950103904XK7N/A12N/A18N/A59N/A419N/A77N/ABA4N/A11N/A19N/A65N/A115N/A84N/AAnd now, a few questions on how you engage with science and technology issues. Do youTake part in the activities of a non-governmental organisation dealing with science and technology related issues (%) 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Respondents in Estonia are by far the most likely to say they take 
part in clinical trials, with 43% doing this regularly or occasionally. 
Participation  in  clinical  trials  is  also  relatively  high  in  Lithuania 
(26%), Denmark and Luxembourg (both 23%), and Finland (21%). 
By contrast, very few respondents do this regularly or occasionally 
in Greece (1%), and Bulgaria, Slovakia and France (all 4%). 

Regular  participation  in  clinical  trials  is  most  common  Lithuania 
and Austria (both 5%) as well as Estonia, Denmark and Romania 
(all 4%), compared to the EU average of 2%. At least nine in ten 
respondents say they never do this in Greece (94%), and Spain and 
Bulgaria (both 90%). 

Looking at the 11 other countries surveyed, respondents in Iceland 
(51%)  are  most  likely  to  say  they  take  part  in  clinical  trials 
(regularly  or  occasionally),  while  those  in  Serbia  (5%)  are  least 
likely to say they do this. 

241 

 
 
 
 
 
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Respondents  in  Romania  (20%),  Austria  (17%),  Ireland  and 
Lithuania  (both  16%)  are  most  likely  to  say  they  regularly  or 
occasionally  contact  public  authorities  or  political  leaders  about 
science and technology-related issues. Respondents are least likely 
to do this regularly or occasionally in Greece (2%), Bulgaria (3%), 
and Spain, Czechia, and Slovakia (all 4%).

Regular contact with public authorities or political leaders on these 
issues is most common in Austria and Cyprus (both 5%), while up 
to nine in ten respondents say they never do this in Spain (90%), 
Greece (89%), Bulgaria (88%) and France (87%).  

Looking at the non-EU countries surveyed, respondents in Turkey 
(33%) are most likely to say they regularly or occasionally contact 
public  authorities  or  political 
leaders  about  science  and 
technology-related issues, compared with Serbia (6%). 

242 

 
 
 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Respondents  are  most  likely  to  say  they  lend  their  computer’s 
processing power to contribute to research on complex scientific 
questions,  either  regularly  or  occasionally,  in  Romania  (19%), 
Lithuania (17%), and Portugal, Austria and Luxembourg (all 16%). 
The lowest proportions are seen in Greece (2%), Bulgaria (4%), and 
Denmark, Slovenia and Spain (all 5%).

Respondents in Austria (6%) are most likely to say they regularly 
lend their computer’s processing power to contribute to research 
on  complex  scientific  questions,  while  the  proportion  that  never 
does this is highest in Greece (92%), and Spain and Bulgaria (both 
88%). 

Looking  at  the  other  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  proportion 
that say they lend their computer’s processing power to contribute 
to  research  on  complex  scientific  questions 
(regularly  or 
occasionally) is by far the highest in Turkey (41%), while it is lowest 
in Serbia (5%). 

243 

 
 
 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Levels  of  engagement  with  science  and  technology  vary  across 
socio-demographic  groups.  On  several 
levels  of 
engagement  are  higher  among  men  than  women,  the  largest 
difference  being  in  the  proportion  that  watch  documentaries  or 
read  science  and  technology-related  publications,  magazines  or 
books (64% vs 55% that do this occasionally or regularly). 

items, 

Levels of engagement are also linked to knowledge about science. 
Respondents who answered more than eight questions correctly in 
the ‘quiz’ are more likely to engage with the various activities. For 
example,  78%  regularly  or  occasionally  talk  about  science  and 
technology-related  issues  with  family  or  friends,  compared  with 
31% of those who answered less than 5 answers correctly.  

Respondents who have worked in research, science or innovative 
technology development are also more likely to engage in various 
ways, particularly when both the respondent and a family member 
have  worked  in  one  of  these  areas.  For  example,  the  proportion 
that watch documentaries or read science and technology-related 
publications, magazines or books, occasionally or regularly, is 91% 
where  both  the  respondent  and  a  family  member  work  in  a 
science-related area, compared with 54% of respondents with no 
personal or family connection with this type of work. 

Unsurprisingly, some of the largest differences relate to levels of 
interest in scientific discoveries. For example, 22% of those who 
are  interested  in  scientific  discoveries  attend  public  meetings 
about science and technology matters compared to just 4% who 
are not interested. 

Older respondents aged 55 or over are less likely to engage than 
younger  respondents.  For  example,  15%  say  that  they  study 
in  their  free  time 
science  and  technology-related 
occasionally or regularly, compared with 31% of 15-24 year olds 
and 29% of 25-39 year olds. 

issues 

There are large differences by level of education. Respondents who 
finished  education  at  the  age  of 20  or  above  are  more  likely  to 
engage with science and technology. For example, 47% say they 
visit  science  and  technology  museums  occasionally  or  regularly 
compared with 10% of those who left education by the age of 15. 

Respondents who never/almost never have difficulty paying bills 
are  more  likely  to  watch  documentaries  or  read  science  and 
technology-related  publications,  magazines  or  books  (62%),  talk 
about science and technology-related issues with family or friends 
(59%)  and  visit  science  and  technology  museums  (34%)  than 
respondents  who  have  difficulties  paying  bills  most  of  the  time 
(50%,  45%  and  26%  respectively).  However,  respondents  who 
have difficulty paying their bills most of the time are more likely 
to actively take part in scientific projects (16%), take part in clinical 
trials  (13%),  contact  public  authorities  or  political  leaders  about 
science  and  technology-related  issues  (13%)  and  lend  their 
computer’s processing power to contribute to research on complex 
scientific  questions  (14%)  than  those  who  never/almost  never 
have  difficulties  paying  their  bills  (11%,  9%,  6%  and  7% 
respectively).  

244 

 
 
 
 
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245 

QA14TWatch documentaries, or read science and technology-related publications, magazines or books Talk about science and technology-related issues with family or friendsVisit science and technology museums Study science and technology-related issues in your free timeSign petitions or join demonstrations on science and technology matters Provide personal data for scientific researchAttend public meetings or debates about science and technology Actively take part in scientific projectsTake part in the activities of a non-governmental organisation dealing with science and technology related issuesTake part in clinical trialsContact public authorities or political leaders about science and technology-related issues Lend your computer’s processing power to contribute to research on complex scientific questionsEU2766603725222813141013109Man645933261819151411999Woman55523218211911119978 15-2461613431232317181310613 25-3963603829222517171111911 40-546357362321191413111098 55+544927151615107897515-33281077854555416-19514624141513109888820+74704730262718161312108Still studying67684039272720221511613Self-employed666236252120171412111210Managers767452342728202013121110Other white collars615537201921121110989Manual workers524926191716111091099House persons444121141615898988Unemployed565022171714888556Retired534625121514977965Students67684039272720221511613Most of the time504526222321161612131314From time to time504529212119151413121312Almost never/ Never62593422191912119967Left646137242822151213998Centre605532211719121291078Right575533221821141411121111Interested757042302525181613131110Moderately interested57533119181711119878Not interested282514999675545Interested827848382729221915121112Moderately interested585331171917111091087Not interested21209677454444Interested76724329292417151311109Moderately interested53482819141711119979Not interested2524139810676656Positive625834231920141210988Negative454227202015151513121312Less than 5 correct answers363118141312111089910Between 5 and 8 correct answers 595431211817121210988More than 8 correct answers8078483228291916131197Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'686336252122141310967Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'5954332119191413101099Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'494528181714121111998You alone do or did in the past827955533043354027231718A family member does or did in the past 858258403634262119181515Both you and a family member do or did in the past919163663854424930192519No5450281717151097876And now, a few questions on how you engage with science and technology issues. Do you (% - Total 'Yes')GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

When asked to consider ways of increasing their engagement with 
science and technology in the future, Europeans are most likely to 
say  they  would  consider  watching  documentaries  or  reading 
science and technology-related publications, magazines or books 
(48%). A similar proportion say they would consider talking about 
science  and  technology-related  issues  with  family  or  friends 
(46%). These are also the activities that respondents say they are 
most likely to do at present (as described above), and in general 
the ranking of the various activities is very similar across the two 
questions. This suggests that the ways that people already engage 
with science and technology are also seen as the most appropriate 
for any future engagement.

One in three respondents (33%) say they would consider visiting 
science  and  technology  museums,  while  just  under  one  in  five 
would  consider  doing  each  of  the  following:  signing  petitions  or 
joining demonstrations on science and technology matters (19%), 
providing  personal  data  for  scientific  research  (18%),  and 
attending  public  meetings  or  debates  about  science  and 
technology (also 18%). Taking part in clinical trials and studying 
science and technology-related issues in their free time are options 
that  are  both  chosen  by  15%  of  respondents,  while  12%  would 
consider actively taking part in scientific projects, or taking part in 
the  activities  of  a  non-governmental  organisation  dealing  with 
science and technology-related issues. 

The  least  popular  forms  of  engagement  are  contacting  public 
authorities  or  political  leaders  about  science  and  technology-
related  issues  (8%),  and  lending  computer  processing  power  to 
contribute to research on complex scientific questions (also 8%).  

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The  results  are  broadly  consistent  across  the  27  EU  Member 
States, in that the same three options are chosen as the preferred 
forms of engagement in most countries: watching documentaries 
or reading science and technology-related publications, magazines 
or books; talking about science and technology-related issues with 
family or friends; and visiting science and technology museums. 

There  are  some  countries  where  respondents  are  consistently 
positive  about  engaging  with  science  and  technology  in  various 
ways.  Most  notably  in  Ireland,  large  proportions  say  they  would 
consider  the  various  options,  such  as  talking  about  science  and 
technology-related  issues  with  family  or  friends  (62%),  visiting 
science  and  technology  museums  (55%),  studying  science  and 
technology-related  issues  in  their  free  time  (35%)  and  actively 
taking part in scientific projects (32%). 

Enthusiasm for engaging with science and technology is also high 
in Portugal (for example 39% would consider signing petitions or 
joining  demonstrations  on  science  and  technology  matters), 
Sweden (72% say they would watch documentaries or read science 
and technology-related publications), Estonia (46% say they would 
take  part  in  clinical  trials)  and  the  Netherlands  (44%  say  they 
would provide personal data for scientific research).

By  contrast,  respondents  in  some  countries are  consistently  less 
likely to say they would consider the various forms of engagement: 
Hungary (for example, just 7% say they would consider attending 
public meetings or debates), Bulgaria (5% would consider studying 
science  and  technology-related  issues),  Poland  (5%  would  take 
part  in  the  activities  of  a  non-governmental  organisation)  and 
Romania (just 27% say they would consider talking about science 
and technology-related issues with family or friends). 

Out of the non-EU countries surveyed, respondents are most likely 
to say they would consider ways of increasing their engagement 
with science and technology in Iceland (for example 42% say they 
would study science and technology-related issues), the UK (36% 
would  consider  signing  petitions  or  joining  demonstrations)  and 
Turkey, where relatively high proportions would consider the more 
‘active’ forms of engagement, such as taking part in the activities 
of  a  non-governmental  organisation  (30%)  or  taking  part  in 
scientific projects (29%). 

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

248 

QA15Watching documentaries, or read science and technology-related publications, magazines or booksTalking about science or technology-related issues with family or friendsVisiting science or technology museumsSigning petitions or joining demonstrations on science and technology mattersAttending public meetings or debates about science and technologyProviding personal data for scientific researchStudying science or technology-related issues in your free time, for instance on a face-to-face or online courseTaking part in clinical trialsTaking part in the activities of a non-governmental organisation dealing with science and technology-related issuesActively taking part in scientific projects by developing research questions, collecting data, discussing the findings with others, etc.Contacting public authorities or political leaders about science and technology-related issuesLending your computer’s processing power to contribute to the research on complex scientific questionsOther (SPONTANEOUS)None (SPONTANEOUS)Don't knowEU2748463319181815151212880152BE67533925223921261620814010BG4035237635253310275CZ56514317273624301220715010DK59553727173220371915710171DE525930252623172516131191132EE7158491616432946151479001IE706255343647353430322522010EL5150339198235710551231ES4239341013712796320244FR45483118161113798470221HR574524181414189101066081IT40323617191599912860143CY525429112314321013151080220LV58504516162718191112511000LT543831232021232315171110010LU66573930353525292421916010HU534024971310365360140MT58513922132318813141080123NL675937351944262517231315071AT444323311714141211131091171PL333530109713557740175PT705848392737342625261420010RO3227231215811699981182SI604534181915251117151471131SK374834172013151299770154FI715246221745263114151012021SE726248301740304018211417011TR504739233426331730291722000MK363119916101551310770132AL173581171010411857000ME28372016148167141357081RS434419128129678540142NO61534426213420471417712031CH666540282840213516181013010UK725959362252274124271519020IS736050251957426421271319022XK23271216151120815201113010BA393123171310105101345051Thinking now about the future, would you consider increasing your engagement with science and technology by doing any of the following things? Please select all that apply. (MULTIPLE ANSWERS POSSIBLE)(%)1st MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM2nd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM3rd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In the socio-demographic analysis, the following can be observed: 

Men  are  slightly  more  likely  than  women  to  say  they  would 
consider increasing their engagement with science and technology, 
for  example  by  watching  documentaries  or  reading  science  and 
technology-related  publications,  magazines  or  books  (50%  vs 
46%),  attending  public  meetings  or  debates  about  science  and 
technology  (21%  vs  16%)  or  studying  science  or  technology-
related issues in their free time (18% vs 13%). 

There are also differences by age, with older respondents (aged 55 
or over) less likely to consider several of the forms of engagement, 
such  as  visiting  science  or  technology  museums  (27%  vs  36%-
38% in the younger age groups). Respondents aged 15-24 are the 
most likely to consider some of the items, such as studying science 
or technology-related issues in their free time (27% compared with 
9% of those aged 55 or over), taking part in clinical trials (19% vs 
12%)  and  taking  part  in  the  activities  of  a  non-governmental 
organisation (17% vs 9%). 

There are large differences by level of education: respondents who 
finished education at the age of 15 or  younger are less likely to 
consider the various forms of engagement – in fact, a third (33%) 
say they would consider none of them (compared with 9% of those 
who left education at the age of 20 or above). Respondents who 
finished  education  at  the  age  of 20  or  above  are  more  likely  to 
choose all of the various items; for example, 56% would consider 
watching  documentaries  or  reading  science  and  technology-
related publications, magazines or books, compared with 35% of 
those who left education by the age of 15. 

Respondents  who  never  or  almost  never  have  difficulties  paying 
bills  are  more  likely  to  say  they  would  consider  several  items, 
including talking about science or technology-related issues with 
family or friends (49% vs 36% of those who have difficulties most 
of the time) and visiting science or technology museums (34% vs 
24%). However, for several other items the differences are much 
less pronounced. 

Interest  in  the  various  forms  of  engagement  is  higher  among 
respondents who have a higher level of knowledge about science 
and technology For example, 25% of those who answered eight or 
more  questions  correctly  in  the  quiz  would  consider  studying 
science or technology-related issues in their free time, compared 
with 8% who answered less than five questions correctly. 

Respondents who have worked in research, science or innovative 
technology  development  are  also  more  likely  to  consider  the 
various activities. For example, the proportion that would consider 
watching  documentaries  or  reading  science  and  technology-
related  publications,  magazines  or  books  is  higher  when  the 
respondent  works 
technology 
development  (55%)  or  when  both  the  respondent  and  another 
family  member  work  in  a  science-related  area  (66%),  compared 
with respondents with no personal or family connection with this 
type of work (46%). 

in  research/science/innovative 

249 

 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

250 

QA15Talking about science or technology-related issues with family or friendsWatching documentaries, or read science and technology-related publications, magazines or booksVisiting science or technology museumsStudying science or technology-related issues in your free time, for instance on a face-to-face or online courseSigning petitions or joining demonstrations on science and technology mattersAttending public meetings or debates about science and technologyTaking part in the activities of a non-governmental organisation dealing with science and technology-related issuesContacting public authorities or political leaders about science and technology-related issuesProviding personal data for scientific researchTaking part in clinical trialsLending your computer’s processing power to contribute to the research on complex scientific questionsActively taking part in scientific projects by developing research questions, collecting data, discussing the findings with others, etc.Other (SPONTANEOUS)None (SPONTANEOUS)Don't knowEU2746483315191812818158120152Man475033181821129191511140132Woman45463313201611617145100172 15-2450473827222217722191119092 25-39464837212021138191511160112 40-5447503616202012818158130112 55+4446279171497161257021215-32351941185310734033316-194443289161486131057017320+525641222424151024191116091Still studying51514031252820925231325072Self-employed515340212121151219159160102Managers535542242429171225191321161Other white collars48513917211812718149110101Manual workers434429111713861412680153House persons384026101311561213570233Unemployed44433113141713615127110202Retired41452471612761612450242Students51514031252820925231325072Most of the time36412413181511712108110221From time to time39433113191610814117110162Almost never/ Never49503417191912820168120142Left5154381927241610221710150112Centre47483215171710717167110142Right4344301415169818148120131Interested535537202323141023199160101Moderately interested46483414191711717137100132Not interested29271991097597570324Interested565941272427181125201420181Moderately interested4648331219161071714690122Not interested28251851075486340344Interested5456392028251711231810161101Moderately interested4345311414149616137100152Not interested2625177995588560334Positive48503516201912819168120132Negative3732221017121010988100232Less than 5 correct answers32322081197698560264Between 5 and 8 correct answers 45483314181610717146110142More than 8 correct answers596143252629191229231420071Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'515235192121148231911141132Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'45473314191811817147110133Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'4042291217141071211590212You alone do or did in the past535541322428221329251530171A family member does or did in the past 556042262927191127221320081Both you and a family member do or did in the past636641483238382236232239060No4446311317161071613790162Thinking now about the future, would you consider increasing your engagement with science and technology by doing any of the following things? Please select all that apply. (MULTIPLE ANSWERS POSSIBLE) (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The main barriers to engagement with science and technology are 
lack  of  time  (mentioned  by  41%  of  respondents),  lack  of 
knowledge (39%) and lack of interest (34%). In relation to science 
and technology activities or events, almost a third (28%) cite lack 
of information about these activities or events and more than one 
in five (21%) cite lack or poor quality of activities or events in their 
area.

One in six respondents (16%) say that lack of financial resources 
is a barrier, while the same proportion (16%) cite privacy concerns. 
Finally, 13% of Europeans feel that they would not be welcomed 
or that it is ‘not something for them’. 

251 

 
 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Among the 27 EU Member States, lack of time is most frequently 
mentioned by respondents as a barrier to engagement with science 
and technology in Cyprus (59%), Sweden (56%) and Luxembourg 
(55%). Lack of knowledge is cited most frequently by respondents 
in  Portugal  (56%),  and  Belgium,  Czechia  and  Luxembourg  (all 
52%), while lack of interest is most likely to be mentioned by those 
in Austria and Croatia (both 44%), and Bulgaria (40%). 

A  lack  of  financial  resources  is  mentioned  most  frequently  by 
respondents in Romania (33%), Portugal (32%), Estonia (29%) and 
Lithuania (28%), while respondents in Portugal (27%), and Ireland 
and Malta (both 23%) are most likely to mention privacy concerns. 
Respondents  in  Latvia  (29%),  Luxembourg  (23%)  and  Belgium 
(20%) are most likely to feel that they would not be welcomed or 
that it is ‘not something for them’. 

Respondents in Portugal (60%) and Ireland (47%) are most likely 
to cite a lack of information on activities and events as a barrier, 
while these two countries also rank highest for lack or poor quality 
of  activities  or  events  in  their  area:  Ireland  (49%)  and  Portugal 
(35%).

Looking  at  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  main  differences 
are that respondents in Turkey (48%) and Kosovo (41%) are most 
likely  to  mention  lack  of  financial  resources  as  a  barrier  to 
engagement  with  science  and  technology,  while  those  in  Turkey 
(44%) are particularly likely to mention the lack or poor quality of 
activities or events in their area. Respondents in Albania (44%) and 
the  UK  (40%)  are  most  likely  to  cite  a  lack  of  information  on 
activities and events as a barrier.  

252 

 
 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

253 

QA16Lack of timeLack of knowledge in the field of science and technologyLack of interestLack of information on activities or events related to science and technologyLack or poor quality of activities or events related to science and technology in the area where you liveLack of financial resourcesPrivacy concerns, e.g. fear of personal data misuseFeeling that you would not be welcomed or that it is not something for youOther (SPONTANEOUS)None (SPONTANEOUS)Don't knowEU274139342821161613121BE5252294617172020010BG293840201119913032CZ5152233521191816010DK5032382913131113120DE4535342518121913250EE4546203325291715010IE4741174749232316010EL3551313427201516120ES4033362522975021FR4247382614152013130HR4339442722231818010IT3539313128171415011CY5943322921241613020LV4147243921261429000LT3644313329282118000LU5552284523141923010HU3832332118221014021MT4644383625142310132NL4844302712102112030AT3636442417161616140PL3427391516171111012PT4056216035322713000RO3234343030331619112SI4534362822201414120SK4431333025251416031FI4532272819151911010SE5637313825151210010TR3935323844482714000MK3334452624341414020AL1116114414161211000ME2727492922241210000RS3141432019161213013NO4537353825121510010CH5252323312142420010UK5344194035232019020IS5048342722141415022XK302437182141129000BA3433372427281011000Sometimes people find it difficult to engage with science and technology. Which of the following, if any, are the main barriers for you? (MULTIPLE ANSWERS POSSIBLE)(%)3rd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM2nd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM1st MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In  the  socio-demographic  analysis,  the  barriers  to  engagement 
with science and technology can differ according to groups: 

While  barriers  to  engagement  are  mostly  similar  for  men  and 
women, women are  more likely to mention lack of knowledge in 
the field (41% vs 36%) and lack of interest (36% vs 31%), while 
men are more likely to mention lack of time (43% vs 39%) and 
lack or poor quality of activities or events in their area (22% vs 
19%). 

There are differences by age group. Respondents aged 25-39 and 
40-54 are the most likely to say that lack of time is a barrier (52% 
and  50%  respectively),  while  lack  of  financial  resources  in 
mentioned most frequently by 15-24 year olds (20%). Those aged 
55 or over are the most likely to mention lack of knowledge in the 
field  of  science  and  technology  (42%).  Lack  of  interest  is 
mentioned more by 15-24 year olds (36%) and by those aged 55 
or  over  (37%)  than  by  those  aged  25-39  (30%)  or  those  aged  
40-54 (31%).

The  main  difference  by  level  of  education  is  that  more  highly 
educated respondents (who finished education at the age of 20 or 
above) are more likely to say lack of time is a barrier (49% vs 24% 
of those who left education by the age of 15), but are less likely 
to cite lack of interest (26% vs 47%). 

Among respondents who are interested in scientific discoveries, the 
main  barrier  is  lack  of  time  (47%).  These  respondents  are  also 
more  likely  than  those  who  are  not  interested  in  scientific 
discoveries to mention lack or poor quality of activities or events 
in their area (25% vs 14%) and lack of information about these 
activities or events (32% vs 18%). 

254 

 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

255 

QA16Lack of timeLack of financial resourcesLack of interestLack of information on activities or events related to science and technologyLack of knowledge in the field of science and technologyLack or poor quality of activities or events related to science and technology in the area where you liveFeeling that you would not be welcomed or that it is not something for youPrivacy concerns, e.g. fear of personal data misuseOther (SPONTANEOUS)None (SPONTANEOUS)Don't knowEU274116342839211316121Man4317312836221315131Woman3915362841191316121 15-244520363038211515031 25-395218303034211317120 40-545017312837201217120 55+271337264220131513115-241447234419131112116-19371836264020141602120+4913263136221218130Still studying4721353136221414130Self-employed5114272934251215110Managers5711233137221217120Other white collars4916312938201117111Manual workers4720352637181417010House persons3615392442201616010Unemployed3221403238231416120Retired1913392543201314141Students4721353136221414130Most of the time3628352944251616000From time to time3723353041221617010Almost never/ Never4213332738201215131Left4416313140231215120Centre4216342839201417121Right3817342737201415121Interested4318253238241318130Moderately interested4115352740201315120Not interested3415531834141312021Interested4718213234251218140Moderately interested4116342942201316021Not interested2913571839141412011Interested4515253240231218130Moderately interested3917382739201415020Not interested3216501733151212122Positive4316322939211216120Negative3419372236191819120Less than 5 correct answers3017432438171515121Between 5 and 8 correct answers 3917342840211417120More than 8 correct answers541225303522914140Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'4615332838181316130Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'4016322938231316120Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'3418382740201516121You alone do or did in the past4315222724231120150A family member does or did in the past 4413213238221419140Both you and a family member do or did in the past5715163036231119180No4016362740201315121Sometimes people find it difficult to engage with science and technology. Which of the following, if any, are the main barriers for you? (MULTIPLE ANSWERS POSSIBLE) (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
VI.  YOUNG PEOPLE, GENDER 

EQUALITY, AND SOCIAL 
RESPONSIBILITY IN SCIENCE AND 
TECHNOLOGY 

256 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

1. 

Young people and science 

Respondents  were  asked  to  say  how  much  they  agreed  or 
disagreed with three statements about science and technology in 
relation to young people37: 

  “Young people’s interest in science is essential for our future 

prosperity”; 

  “Science  prepares  the  younger  generation  to  act  as  well-

informed citizens”; 

  “Thanks  to  science  and  technology,  there  will  be  more 

opportunities for future generations”. 

The  chart  below  shows  the  extent  to  which  respondents  in  EU 
Member  States  agree  or  disagree  with  the  statement  “Young 
people’s interest in science is essential for our future prosperity”. 

The large majority of respondents (85%) agree that young people’s 
interest  in  science  is  essential  for  our  future  prosperity,  with 
around half (48%) saying that they “strongly agree”. A very small 
minority of respondents (4%) disagree that young people’s interest 
in science is essential, with fewer still (1%) saying they “strongly 
disagree”. One in ten respondents (10%) are neutral, saying they 
neither agree nor disagree. 

The following chart shows the extent to which respondents agree 
or  disagree  with  the  statements  “Science  prepares  the  younger 
generation to act as well-informed citizens”, and “Thanks to science 
and  technology,  there  will  be  more  opportunities  for  future 
generations”. 

Around  seven  in  ten  respondents  (69%)  agree  that  “Thanks  to 
science and technology, there will be more opportunities for future 
generations”, with just under one in four (23%) saying that they 
“totally agree”. One in nine respondents (11%) disagree, with only 
a  small  proportion  (3%)  saying  that  they  “totally  disagree”.  Just 
under  one  in  five  respondents  (18%)  neither  agree  nor  disagree 
with the statement. 

Across these three measures, respondents are least likely to agree 
that  “Science  prepares  the  younger  generation  to  act  as  well-
informed  citizens”.  Nevertheless,  around  six  in  ten  respondents 
(61%)  agree,  with  around  one  in  five  (19%)  saying  that  they 
“totally agree”. Around one in six respondents (16%) disagree with 
the  statement,  with  only  a  small  proportion  (4%)  saying  they 
“totally disagree”. One in five respondents (21%) are neutral. 

One  of  these  measures  -  young  people’s  interest  in  science  is 
essential  for  our  future  prosperity  -  was  included  in  an  earlier 
Eurobarometer  Survey  (Special  Eurobarometer  224  EB  63.1) 
conducted  in  2005,  with  the  other  two  measures  included  in  a 
Eurobarometer  Survey  (Special  Eurobarometer  401  EB  79.2) 
conducted in 2013.  

Since 2005, there has been a small increase in the proportion of 
respondents who agree that young people’s interest in science is 
essential for our future prosperity (+2 percentage points), with a 
large  increase  in  the  proportion  who  says  they  “strongly  agree” 
(+11 points).  

Since 2013, the proportion of respondents who agree that science 
prepares the younger generation to act as well-informed citizens 

37 Two of the statements are taken from QA10 and one from QA9. 

257 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

has fallen somewhat (-8 pp), driven by a decrease in the proportion 
who say they “totally agree” (-7 pp) and a small decrease in those 
who say they “tend to agree” (-1 pp). Similarly, there has been a 
drop  in  the  proportion  of  respondents  who  agree  that  thanks  to 
science and technology, there will be more opportunities for future 
generations (-6 pp), again driven by a decrease in the proportion 
who  say  they  “totally  agree”  (-8  pp),  though  there  is  a  small 
increase in the proportion who say they “tend to agree” (+2 pp).

Attitudes towards these statements vary considerably both within 
the EU and among the non-EU countries included in the survey. 

258 

 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Comparing the current results to the 2005 findings, the proportion 
of respondents who agree that young people’s interest in science 
is  essential  for  our  future  prosperity  has  increased  in  19  EU 
Member  States,  with  the  most  notable  shifts  in  Bulgaria  and 
Sweden  
(both  +15  pp),  Czechia  (+13  pp),  Belgium  (+12  pp),  Luxembourg 
and the Netherlands (both +11 pp), and Ireland (+10 pp). Among 
the seven EU Member States where the proportion of respondents 
who agree with this statement has decreased, the most notable 
shifts are in Romania (-14 pp), Croatia (-9 pp) and Austria (-8 pp). 

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, the most notable changes 
are an increase in the proportion of respondents who agree that 
young  people’s  interest  in  science  is  essential  for  our  future 
prosperity in Switzerland and Norway (both +11  pp), and Turkey 
(+10 pp). 

The majority of respondents in all EU Member States agree with 
the statement “Young people’s interest in science is essential for 
our future prosperity”: 

Respondents  in  Portugal  (98%),  Sweden,  Estonia,  Ireland  and 
Belgium (96% in each) and Cyprus (95%) are most likely to agree 
that young people’s interest in science is essential for our future 
prosperity, compared with the EU average of 85%. Respondents in 
Portugal (80%) are particularly likely to “strongly agree” with the 
statement, followed by respondents in Cyprus (72%) and Ireland 
(69%),  compared  with  the  EU  average  of  48%.  Respondents  in 
Austria (71%) and Romania (68%) are the least likely to agree that 
young  people’s  interest  in  science  is  essential  for  our  future 
prosperity. 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  proportion  of 
respondents who agree that young people’s interest in science is 
essential for our future prosperity is highest in Norway (95%) and 
the  UK  (94%),  with  more  than  six  in  ten  respondents  in  each 
country  (67%  and  64%  respectively)  saying  that  they  “strongly 
agree”. Respondents in Albania (28%) are particularly unlikely to 
agree with the statement, compared with the EU average of 85%, 
with a relatively large proportion (41%) saying they neither agree 
nor disagree (compared to 10% for the EU as a whole). The only 
other  non-EU  countries  where  less  than  three-quarters  of 
respondents  agree  that  young  people’s  interest  in  science  is 
essential  for  our  future  prosperity  are  Montenegro  (70%)  and 
Serbia (72%). 

259 

 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

260 

QA9.6Strongly agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Tend to agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Neither agree nor disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Tend to disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Strongly disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Don't knowTotal 'Agree'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005Total 'Disagree'Diff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2005EU27481137910=311=185241BG49103659114114851525SE642932144904010961505CZ61213285823010931324BE63193373613030961216LU58173467115030921118NL63183175413030941116IE692727173511010961012DK53163371141311186924ES5823301485311=088941HU48935=1323312083945PT80331824230201098903FI50224114722401091825FR42194312913312285745LV5583538=210=090521DE5516321282321=187442EE67729332011109641=CY72162312431=01095411EL46240=1232102086223MT67192417510111391212IT361143111513=1=279=4=SK3824551322=11183331LT55=354951=0=09041=PL3644411475=0=18055=SI4623831024222084564AT276442177843=1718114HR34943=167531=177963RO3221367221174112681485TR6962147222100901032MK46N/A32N/A14N/A3N/A2N/A378N/A5N/AAL7N/A21N/A41N/A15N/A7N/A928N/A22N/AME25N/A45N/A18N/A9N/A2N/A170N/A11N/ARS33N/A39N/A18N/A6N/A2N/A272N/A8N/ANO672928184415010951116CH49174169316010901117UK64203012521301094814IS60203315611101093512XK42N/A34N/A13N/A4N/A1N/A676N/A5N/ABA36N/A42N/A17N/A3N/A2N/A078N/A5N/AThefollowingaresomestatementsthatpeoplehavemadeaboutscienceortechnology.Foreachstatement,pleaseindicatetowhatextentyouagreeordisagree.Young people’s interest in science is essential for our future prosperity (%) 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Comparing  the  current  results  with  those  in  2013,  in  most  EU 
Member States (23) the proportion of respondents who agree that 
science prepares the younger generation to act as well-informed 
citizens has decreased, with the biggest shifts in Denmark (-18 pp), 
Finland (-21 pp), Luxembourg (-16 pp), and Estonia and Lithuania 
(both -15 pp), and with a further ten EU Member States38 showing 
declines of between 10 and 14 percentage points. Italy, Cyprus and 
Hungary are the only EU Member States where the proportion of 
respondents  who  agree  that  science  prepares  the  younger 
generation to act as well-informed citizens has increased, and the 
increases are small (no more than +3  pp). In Slovakia there has 
been no change in the proportion who agree with this statement. 

The only non-EU country where this measure was included in the 
2013  survey  is  the  UK,  and  it  shows  a  small  increase  in  the 
proportion  of  respondents  who  agree  that  science  prepares  the 
younger generation to act as well-informed citizens (+3 pp). 

The majority of respondents in 22 EU Member States agree with 
the statement “Science prepares the younger generation to act as 
well-informed citizens”: 

At least three-quarters of respondents agree that science prepares 
the younger generation to act as well-informed citizens in Bulgaria, 
Greece and Malta (78% in each), Cyprus (77%), Hungary (76%) and 
Italy and Spain (both 75%), compared with the EU average of 61%. 
Cyprus  has  a  particularly  high  proportion  of  respondents  (45%) 
who say they ‘totally agree’ with this statement, and at least three 
in ten respondents say they ‘totally agree’ in Bulgaria, Malta and 
Spain  (35%  in  each),  and  Greece  and  Hungary  (both  31%), 
compared  with  the  EU  average  of  19%.  The  lowest  levels  of 
agreement  on  this  measure  are  seen  in  the  Netherlands  (42%), 
Germany  (45%),  Belgium  (46%),  and  France  and  Luxembourg 
(49% in each).  

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, a notably high proportion 
of  respondents  in  Turkey  (82%)  and  Kosovo  (76%)  agree  that 
science prepares the younger generation to act as well-informed 
citizens, with just under half of respondents in Turkey (46%) and 
just over a third of respondents in Kosovo (36%) saying that they 
“totally agree”. Albania is the only country where only a minority of 
respondents  (32%)  agree  with  this  statement,  and  it  has  a 
particularly high proportion (43%) who say they “neither agree nor 
disagree”. 

38 Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Ireland, Croatia, Latvia, the Netherlands, Austria, 
Romania and Slovenia. 

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262 

QA10.3Totally agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Tend to agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Neither agree nor disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Tend to disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Totally disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Don't knowTotal 'Agree'Diff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Total 'Disagree'Diff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013EU27197421213124422618166HU31245118=4211176353IT2235351724=2=27526=CY45732512773321772105SK1714912317121266=92EL31147114=621=178272PL2534651728=1=37129=PT2155321521051=0743115ES352402123943=1754124MT35104351354111478552FR115383233183842498267BG35214311146321=4781042NL953353571854114210226RO241036=2441072=46010127HR201646524873211661194LV21124812310731=0691183BE7839431319842046122310AT1554172511055445612159SI16103832681356315413198CZ1310414276171121054141912IE20134412291272=06414147EE161545=24812832061151510LT181540=3013933205815125LU91140530131873=04916217DK17124262711953225918127SE111842=30101592=05318179FI162247125161062=06321126DE1117348258201386245252819TR46N/A36N/A13N/A4N/A1N/A082N/A5N/AMK38N/A33N/A19N/A6N/A2N/A271N/A8N/AAL7N/A25N/A43N/A10N/A5N/A1032N/A15N/AME23N/A43N/A21N/A10N/A2N/A166N/A12N/ARS18N/A44N/A24N/A7N/A3N/A462N/A10N/AUK163466262101230623122IS22N/A51N/A21N/A6N/A0N/A073N/A6N/ANO18N/A44N/A27N/A10N/A1N/A062N/A11N/ACH11N/A43N/A31N/A13N/A2N/A054N/A15N/AXK36N/A40N/A15N/A4N/A2N/A376N/A6N/ABA15N/A46N/A27N/A7N/A4N/A161N/A11N/AThefollowingaresomestatementsthatpeoplehavemadeaboutscienceandtechnology.Foreachstatement,pleaseindicatetowhatextentyouagreeordisagree.Science prepares the younger generation to act as well-informed citizens (%) 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Comparing the current results to those of 2013, there are 23 EU 
Member  States  where  the  proportion  of  respondents  who  agree 
that  science  and  technology  will  provide  more  opportunities  for 
future  generations  has  dropped,  with  the  largest  declines  in 
Luxembourg  (-20  pp),  Sweden  (-16  pp),  France  (-15  pp),  Austria  
(-13 pp), Denmark (-12 pp), Romania (-11 pp), and Belgium and 
Ireland  (both  -10  pp).  Among  the  four  countries  showing  an 
increase in the proportions agreeing with this statement, the shifts 
are small, with the most notable in Italy (+5 pp). 

Again, the UK is the only non-EU country where this measure was 
included in the 2013 survey, and it shows a notable decline in the 
proportion of respondents who agree that science and technology 
will provide more opportunities for future generations (-13 pp). 

Focusing on the current survey, the majority of respondents in all 
EU Member States agree that “Thanks to science and technology, 
there will be more opportunities for future generations”: 

is  highest 

in  Estonia  (83%),  followed  by  the 
Agreement 
Netherlands, Bulgaria and Malta (79% in each), compared with the 
EU average of 69%. Around a third of respondents in Spain (32%), 
Estonia (33%), and Bulgaria, Malta, Hungary and Cyprus (35% in 
each) say they ‘totally agree’ with this statement, compared with 
the  EU  average  of  23%.  The  lowest  levels  of  agreement  are  in 
Romania (56%) and France (55%). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  respondents  in  Turkey 
(81%), Norway (76%) and Kosovo (75%) are most likely to agree 
that  thanks  to  science  and  technology,  there  will  be  more 
opportunities for future generations, with notably high proportions 
saying they ‘totally agree’ in Turkey (45%) and Kosovo (39%). As 
seen in relation to the two measures already reported on in this 
section, a relatively low proportion of respondents in Albania (32%) 
agree with the statement, and a relatively high proportion (40%) 
say  they  neither  agree  nor  disagree  (compared  with  the  EU 
average of 18%).  

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QA10.5Totally agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Tend to agreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Neither agree nor disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Tend to disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Totally disagreeDiff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Don't knowTotal 'Agree'Diff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013Total 'Disagree'Diff. April/May 2021 - April/May 2013EU2723846218483312696114IT221506173712=272591CZ22550818192110723101CY35337612991532723144HU3554241923=02177132MT3544421243=22479252ES3223811668141270312=BG3510446121321=579442EE3313509102641=083474HR21948520162421694104PT18146318116112106441812SI196412231102621604164EL25=4552155=21270571PL2764811636311275574SK20243323=94213635115LV24135271765121076672DE2654721755132273783FI2612505167711=076781LT28114422096322072985NL262453151575211079963BE159511238922106610113IE20185181910961=07110106RO231133=2561273245611159DK281745519964111731273AT188475205834336513126FR12104352381128535515197SE22244782111971106916106LU141246826151272=06020147TR45N/A36N/A13N/A4N/A2N/A081N/A6N/AMK36N/A36N/A18N/A5N/A2N/A372N/A7N/AAL9N/A23N/A40N/A12N/A6N/A1032N/A18N/AME18N/A42N/A25N/A12N/A2N/A160N/A14N/ARS19N/A42N/A23N/A10N/A4N/A261N/A14N/AUK142452112291062=06613126IS21N/A51N/A23N/A4N/A1N/A072N/A5N/ANO26N/A50N/A16N/A7N/A1N/A076N/A8N/ACH14N/A51N/A22N/A11N/A2N/A065N/A13N/AXK39N/A36N/A13N/A4N/A2N/A675N/A6N/ABA19N/A47N/A23N/A7N/A3N/A166N/A10N/AThefollowingaresomestatementsthatpeoplehavemadeaboutscienceandtechnology.Foreachstatement,pleaseindicatetowhatextentyouagreeordisagree.Thanks to science and technology, there will be more opportunities for future generations (%) 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

There  are  only  a  few  consistent  patterns  when  it  comes  to 
responses by different socio-demographic groups. 

When  it  comes  to  whether  ‘young  people’s  interest  in  science  is 
essential to our future prosperity’, there is no difference by gender 
(83% of men agree vs 83% of women) and little difference by age 
(83% of people aged 15-24 agree vs 85% of people aged 55+). 
Respondents who have completed full-time education aged 20 or 
over are more likely to agree (90%) than those who left education 
aged 16-19 (82%) or aged 15 or under (78%). Respondents who 
never/almost  never  have  difficulties  paying  bills  are  also  more 
likely  to  agree  with  this  statement  (87%)  than  those  who  have 
difficulty paying bills most of the time (77%). When it comes to 
‘young  people’s  interest  in  science  is  essential  for  our  future 
prosperity’,  managers  (89%)  and  students  (87%)  are  somewhat 
more likely  to agree than other occupational groups, particularly 
housepersons (81%) and those who are unemployed (82%). 

For the statement that ‘science prepares the younger generation 
to act as well-informed citizens’, there is very little difference by 
gender  (61%  of men  agree  vs. 60%  of women)  and  differences 
related  to  age  range  from  59%  for  respondents  aged  40-54  to 
61% for those aged 15-24 and 55+. When it comes to educational 
level, respondents who are still studying (64%) are more likely to 
agree with the statement than those who have completed full-time 
education  aged  20  or  over  (58%).  People  who  have  difficulties 
paying their bills most of the time are less likely to agree (57%) 
than those who have difficulties paying their bills from time to time 
(63%).differences  related  to  occupation  are  relatively  small, 
ranging from 57% among managers to 64% among students. 

Looking at whether ‘thanks to science and technology there will be 
more opportunities for future generations’, men are slightly more 
likely to agree (71%) than women (67%). Respondents aged 15-
24 are also more likely to agree with this statement (75%) than 
those aged 25-39 (70%) or those aged 40-54 or 55 and over (both 
67%). Those who are still studying are also more likely to agree 
with the statement (76%) than people who have completed full-
time education aged 15 or under (63%). Respondents who ‘never’ 
or ‘almost never’ have difficulties paying their household bills are 
more likely to agree (70%) than those who have difficulties ‘from 
time  to  time’  (67%)  or  those  who  have  difficulties  ‘most  of  the 
time’ (57%). Managers (73%) and students (76%) along with the 
self-employed  (73%),  are  more  likely  to  agree  that  science  and 
technology will provide more opportunities for future generations 
especially  when  compared 
(64%)  and 
unemployed  people  (62%).  Respondents  who  use  the  internet 
everyday are also more likely to agree with this statement (71%) 
than those who use it sometimes/often (63%) or never (61%). 

to  housepersons 

Respondents who think that  the overall influence of science and 
technology  on  society  is  positive  and  those  who  are  more 
interested  in  new  scientific  discoveries  and  developments,  new 
medical discoveries and environmental problems are more likely 
to agree with all three statements.  

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266 

QA9.6/10.3/10.5Young people’s interest in science is essential for our future prosperityScience prepares the younger generation to act as well-informed citizensThanks to science and technology, there will be more opportunities for future generationsEU27856169Man866171Woman836067 15-24836175 25-39866070 40-54845967 55+85616715-78626316-1982626820+905870Still studying876476Self- employed856273Managers895773Other white collars866369Manual workers825966House persons816064Unemployed825862Retired846167Students876476Most of the time775757From time to time796367Almost never/ Never876070Everyday866171Often/Sometimes775863Never746361Left886170Centre856069Right826271Interested916273Moderately interested846168Not interested705661Interested926275Moderately interested856168Not interested725759Interested916171Moderately interested836271Not interested685356Positive886473Negative633845Less than 5 correct answers735760Between 5 and 8 correct answers 856369More than 8 correct answers945875Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'885669Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'846370Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'826367You alone do or did in the past895872A family member does or did in the past 895868Both you and a family member do or did in the past965471No846169Thefollowingaresomestatementsthatpeoplehavemadeaboutscienceortechnology.Foreachstatement, please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree. (% - Total 'Agree')GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsUse of the Internet Left-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
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2. 

Gender equality and science and 
technology  

This  section  examines  people’s  opinions  on  gender  equality  in 
general  and  in  particular  in  relation  to  science  and  technology. 
Respondents were presented with a list of statements and asked 
how much they agreed or disagreed with each39: 

  “Overall,  promoting  gender  equality  is  important  for  you 

personally”; 

  “Gender  equality  in  the  science  and  technology  workforce 
would help ensure we live in a fairer and more equal society”; 

  “Gender  equality  in  the  science  and  technology  workplace 
would improve the outcomes of science and technology”; 

  “Gender  equality  in  the  science  and  technology  workforce 

would improve business profits and the economy”; 

  “Science and technology pay sufficient attention to differences 

between women’s and men’s needs”. 

At  the  EU  level,  three-quarters of respondents  (76%)  agree  that 
important  for  you 
“Overall,  promoting  gender  equality 
personally”,  with  just  over  two-fifths  (42%)  saying  that  they 
“strongly agree”. Fewer than one in ten respondents (9%) disagree 
with the statement, with only 3% saying they “strongly disagree”. 
One in seven respondents (14%) neither agree nor disagree with 
the statement.

is 

Just  under  three-quarters  of  respondents  (73%)  agree  that 
“Gender  equality  in  the  science  and  technology  workforce  would 
help  ensure  we  live  in  a  fairer  and  more  equal  society”,  with 
proportions evenly divided between those who say they “strongly 
agree” (37%) and those who “tend to agree” (36%). Only a small 
proportion  of  respondents  disagree  (7%),  with  a  small  minority 
saying they “strongly disagree” (2%). One in six respondents (17%) 
are neutral. 

Around  two-thirds  of  respondents  (65%)  agree  that  “Gender 
equality in the science and technology workplace would improve 
the  outcomes  of  science  and  technology”,  with  opinion  broadly 
evenly  divided  between  those  who  “strongly  agree”  (31%)  and 
those  who  “tend  to  agree”  (34%).  Fewer  than  one  in  ten 
respondents  (9%)  disagree,  with  a  small  minority  saying  they 
‘strongly disagree’ (3%). Just over one in five respondents (22%) 
hold a neutral view on this measure. 

A  somewhat  smaller  majority  of  respondents  (58%)  agree  that 
“Gender  equality  in  the  science  and  technology  workforce  would 
improve  business  profits  and  the  economy”,  with  around  one  in 
four respondents saying they ‘strongly agree’ (26%). One in nine 
respondents  (11%)  disagree,  with  only  a  small  proportion  (4%) 
saying  that  they  ‘strongly  disagree’.  A  quarter  of  respondents 
(26%) are neutral. 

39 Four of the statements are taken from QA18 and one from QA17. 

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Across these five measures, respondents are least likely to agree 
that “Science and technology pay sufficient attention to differences 
between women’s and men’s needs”: 

Around  two  in  five  respondents  (41%)  agree  that  science  and 
technology  pay  sufficient  attention  to  differences  between 
women’s and men’s needs, of whom one in nine (11%) “strongly 
agree”. Just under a quarter of respondents (23%) disagree, with 
only a small minority (6%) saying they “strongly disagree”. A higher 
proportion  of  respondents  (30%)  say  they  neither  agree  nor 
disagree  with  this  statement  than  is  the  case  for  the  other  four 
measures. 

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In most EU Member States (24), the majority of respondents agree 
that “Promoting gender equality is important for you personally”. 

Respondents  are  most  likely  to  agree  that  promoting  gender 
equality is important for them personally in Spain and Cyprus (both 
89%),  and  Sweden,  Portugal  and  France  (86%  in  each).  This 
compares with the EU average of 76%. In all these countries the 
majority  of  respondents  “strongly  agree”,  with  the  highest 
proportion  in  Cyprus  (68%)  –  compared  with  the  EU  average  of 
42%. There are only three EU Member States where a minority of 
respondents agree that promoting gender equality is important for 
them personally: Lithuania (44%), Estonia (46%) and Latvia (47%). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  respondents  in  Iceland 
(87%) are most likely to agree that promoting gender equality is 
important  to  them,  with  just  over  six  in  ten  (62%)  saying  they 
“strongly agree”, while respondents in Serbia (40%) are  the least 
likely to agree with this statement – the only non-EU country where 
only a minority agree. 

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In  all  but  one  Member  State,  the  majority  of  respondents  agree 
that  “Gender  equality  in  the  science  and  technology  workforce 
would help ensure we live in a fairer and more equal society”. 

People are most likely to agree that gender equality in the science 
and  technology  workforce  would  help  ensure  a  fairer  and  more 
equal  society  in  Greece  and  Cyprus  (both  88%),  Portugal  (86%), 
Malta (85%) and Spain (83%). This compares with the EU average 
of 73%. Seven in ten respondents (70%) in Cyprus say that they 
“strongly agree” – notably higher than the proportion in any other 
country and the EU average of 37%. The majority of respondents 
also “strongly agree” with this statement in Portugal (58%), Greece 
(54%) and Spain (53%).  

Latvia  is  the  only  EU  country  where  a  minority  of  respondents 
(48%)  agree  that  gender  equality  in  the  science  and  technology 
workforce would help ensure a fairer and more equal society, with 
more  than a  third  (36%)  saying they  neither  agree  nor  disagree 
with the statement.  

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, respondents are most likely 
to  agree  that  gender  equality  in  the  science  and  technology 
workforce  would  help  ensure  a  fairer  and  more  equal  society  in 
Turkey (82%) and Kosovo (81%), with the majority in both saying 
they “strongly agree” – Kosovo (55%) and Turkey (53%). Serbia is 
the only country where a minority of respondents (48%) agree with 
the statement, with around three in ten (29%) saying they neither 
agree nor disagree.  

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In most EU Member States (22), the majority of respondents agree 
that  “Gender  equality  in  the  science  and  technology  workplace 
would improve the outcomes of science and technology”. 

Respondents are most likely to agree that gender equality in the 
science and technology workplace would improve the outcomes of 
science and technology in Cyprus (83%), Malta (77%), and Greece 
and Italy (both 76%). This compares with an average of 65% at 
the EU level. The majority of respondents (61%) in Cyprus say they 
“strongly  agree”  –  considerably higher  than  in  any  other  country 
and compared with the EU average of 31%.  

The EU Member States where only a minority of respondents agree 
with  this  statement  are  Estonia  (39%),  Latvia  (43%),  Lithuania 
(44%), the Netherlands (46%) and Czechia (48%). Relatively large 
proportions  of  respondents  say  they  neither  agree  nor  disagree 
with  this  statement  in  Lithuania  and  Latvia  (both  39%),  Estonia 
(32%) and Belgium (39%), compared with the EU average of 22%. 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  respondents  in  Kosovo 
(82%)  and  Turkey  (79%)  are  most  likely  to  agree  that  gender 
equality in the science and technology workplace would improve 
the  outcomes  of  science  and  technology.  The  majority  of 
respondents  ‘strongly  agree’  in  Kosovo  (56%).  The  only  country 
where  a  minority  of  respondents  agree  with  this  statement  is 
Serbia  (43%).  A  relatively  large  proportion  of  respondents  in 
Montenegro (33%) and the UK (31%) say they neither agree nor 
disagree with this statement. 

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Among the non-EU countries surveyed, respondents are most likely 
to  agree  that  gender  equality  in  the  science  and  technology 
workforce  would  improve  business  profits  and  the  economy  in 
Kosovo (79%) and Turkey (78%). In both these countries a notably 
high proportion of respondents say they “strongly agree” – 51% in 
Kosovo and 46% in Turkey. Respondents are least likely to agree 
that  gender  equality  would  improve  business  profits  and  the 
economy in Serbia (39%) followed by the UK (44%). The UK has a 
notably  large  proportion  of  respondents  who  say  they  neither 
agree nor disagree (42%), as does Switzerland (37%) and Norway 
(36%). 

There are 17 EU Member States where the majority of respondents 
agree  that  “Gender  equality  in  the  science  and  technology 
workforce would improve business profits and the economy”. 

Respondents are most likely to agree that gender equality in the 
science and technology workforce would improve business profits 
and the economy in Cyprus (78%), Italy (73%) and Greece (71%). 
This  compares  with  an  EU  average  of  58%.  The  majority  of 
respondents say they “strongly agree” in Cyprus (55%) – notably 
higher than proportions in any other country and the EU average 
of 26%.  

The EU Member States where respondents are least likely to agree 
that  gender  equality  in  the  science  and  technology  workforce 
would  improve  business  profits  and  the  economy  are  Estonia 
(30%), Latvia (34%), the Netherlands (37%), Czechia (38%), and 
Belgium  and  Finland  (39%  in  each).  All  of  these  countries  have 
notably  high  proportions  of  respondents  who  say  they  neither 
agree  nor  disagree  with  the  statement,  ranging  from  47%  in 
Belgium  and  Latvia  to  36%  in  the  Netherlands  –  and  compared 
with the EU average of 26%.  

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There  are  only  three  EU  Member  States  where  a  majority  of 
respondents  agree  that  “Science  and  technology  pay  sufficient 
attention  to  differences  between  women’s  and  men’s  needs”: 
Poland (67%), Spain (53%) and Italy (51%). This compares with an 
EU  average  of  41%.  Around  one  in  five  respondents  say  they 
“strongly agree” in Poland (21%) and Spain (20%), with a similar 
proportion holding this view in Cyprus (20%) – compared with the 
EU average of 11%. 

Respondents are least likely to agree that science and technology 
pay  sufficient  attention  to  differences  between  women’s  and 
men’s  needs  in  Sweden  (19%),  Denmark  (23%),  and  the 
Netherlands and Ireland (24% in each). Denmark has a particularly 
high proportion of respondents (48%) who say they neither agree 
nor  disagree  with  the  statement,  as  does  Latvia (53%),  Belgium 
(51%), Lithuania (49%) and Finland (48%), compared with the EU 
average of 30%. 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  respondents  in  Kosovo 
(59%),  Montenegro  (54%)  and  Turkey  (52%)  are  most  likely  to 
agree  that  science  and  technology  pay  sufficient  attention  to 
differences  between  the  needs  of  women  and  men.  One  in  four 
respondents  (25%)  “strongly  agree”  in  Kosovo,  with  one  in  five 
(20%) holding this view in Turkey. Respondents are least likely to 
agree  with  this  statement  in  the  UK  (22%),  Norway  and  Iceland 
(both 23%). The majority of respondents in Iceland (54%) and the 
UK (51%) say they neither agree nor disagree with this statement, 
as do 52% of respondents in Albania. 

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new  scientific  discoveries  and  developments,  new  medical 
discoveries and environmental problems.  

There  are  particularly  large  differences  in  relation  to  “Overall, 
promoting  gender  equality  is  important  for  you  personally”  as  a 
cross-variable on the other three statements: 

  For  the  statement  “Gender  equality  in  the  science  and 
technology  workforce  would  help  ensure  a  fairer  and  more 
equal society”, 86% of those who consider promoting gender 
equality  to  be  important  to  them  personally  agree  with  the 
statement, compared with 30% of those who do not consider 
it to be important. 

  For  the  statement  “Gender  equality  in  the  science  and 
technology workforce would improve the outcomes of science 
and technology”, 77% who agree that gender equality in the 
science  and  technology  workforce  would 
improve  the 
outcomes  of science and  technology  and  22% who  disagree 
with that statement respectively agree with the statement. 

  For  the  statement  “Gender  equality  in  the  science  and 
technology workforce would improve business profits and the 
economy”, 69% who agree that gender equality in the science 
and technology workforce would improve business profits and 
the  economy  and  18%  who  disagree  with  that  statement 
respectively agree with the statement. 

There are consistent patterns that emerge in terms of the people 
in  different socio-demographic and  key  variable  groups  who are 
more likely to agree with four of the five statements.  

Starting  with  the  statement  on  ‘science  and  technology  pays 
sufficient  attention  to  differences  between  women’s  and  men’s 
needs’,  there  are  some  marked  differences  on  some  of  the  key 
variables:  

  men (46%) are more likely than women (38%) to agree with 

the statement.  

  people  who  think  that  the  overall  influence  of  science  and 
technology on society is positive (44%) are more likely to agree 
than those who think it is negative (34%); 

  people who agree that promoting gender equality is important 
to  them  are  more  likely  to  agree  (44%)  than  those  who 
disagree (36%);  

  those who got less than five correct answers in the quiz are 
more likely to agree  (41%) than those who  got  five to eight 
correct (44%) and more than eight (38%); 

  and people who are quite/very religious or spiritual  are more 
likely  to  agree  (43%)  than  those  who  are  not  very/not  at  all 
religious or spiritual (37%). 

Focusing  now  on  the  four  other  statements,  more  consistent 
patterns  emerge,  with  the  following  socio-demographic  groups 
more likely to agree with the statements: 

  Women,  compared  with  men,  with  similar  differences  (6-8% 

points); 

  Younger  people,  with  the  most  marked  differences  seen  in 
relation to the ‘promotion of gender equality being important 
to them’, where 81% of those aged 15-24 agree compared to 
73% of those 55 and over. Respondents aged 15-24 are also 
more likely to agree (78%) that ‘gender equality in the science 
and  technology  workforce  is  helping  to  ensure  a  fairer  and 
more equal society’ than those aged 55 and over (71%).People 
who have stayed in education longer (age 16 and over), with 
the  most  marked  difference  seen  in  relation  to  ‘promoting 
gender  equality  being  important  to  them’,  with  more  who 
completed full-time education aged 20 or over agreeing (79%) 
than those who left education aged 15 or under (68%). 

  People who use the internet, with the most notable differences 
seen in relation to agreement that ‘promoting gender equality 
is  personally  important’  (78%  who  use  it  every  day  vs  62% 
who  never  use it);  and  a  similar  pattern  seen  for  agreement 
that ‘gender equality in the science and technology workforce 
helps ensure a fairer and more equal society’ (75% who use 
the internet every vs 60% who never use it). 

In  terms  of  people’s  financial  situation,  there  are  no  consistent 
patterns and differences between the groups tend to be small. The 
most notable difference relate to the statement about ‘promoting 
gender  equality  being  important  personally’:  respondents  who 
have  difficulties  paying  household  bills  ‘most  of  the  time’  (72% 
agree),  ‘from  time  to  time’  (71%),  and  ‘never’  or  ‘almost  never’ 
(78%). 

Looking at differences across key variable groups, the proportion 
of  respondents  who  agree  with  these  four  statements  is  higher 
among people who think that the overall influence of science and 
technology on society is positive; and those who are interested in 

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275 

QA18T/17.5Overall, promoting gender equality is important for you personallyGender equality in the science and technology workforce would help ensure we live in a fairer and more equal societyGender equality in the science and technology workforce would improve the outcomes of science and technologyGender equality in the science and technology workforce would improve business profits and the economyScience and technology pay sufficient attention to differences between women's and men's needsEU277673655841Man7270625446Woman8076686138 15-248178676044 25-397875655945 40-547773665842 55+737164543915-686860543916-19757366594420+7975655641Still studying8480716142Self-employed7373665645Managers8075645540Other white collars7673656144Manual workers7571645844House persons7271635642Unemployed8078666240Retired7271645539Students8480716142Most of the time7272636039From time to time7170646045Almost never/ Never7874655641Everyday7875675842Often/Sometimes7170625446Never6260565439Left8382726141Centre7673645741Right6664595346Interested8280706042Moderately interested7572645741Not interested6260545143Interested8178685943Moderately interested7774675941Not interested6563555240Interested8581726239Moderately interested7370635644Not interested5655484841Positive7875676044Negative6261534734Total 'Agree'10086776944Total 'Disagree'30221836Less than 5 correct answers6562585541Between 5 and 8 correct answers 7774665944More than 8 correct answers8480685638Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'7974635437Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'7674675944Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'7171646043You alone do or did in the past7469635445A family member does or did in the past 8177665538Both you and a family member do or did in the past8379635128No7673655842How strongly do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? (% - Total Agree)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsUse of the Internet Left-right political scalePromoting gender equality is important personallyMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

3. 

Social responsibility in science 
and technology  

The final section of this chapter looks at people’s attitudes towards 
social responsibility in science and technology.  

The  chart  below  shows  the  extent  to  which  respondents  in  EU 
Member States agree or disagree with the statement “Science and 
technology should consider the needs of all groups of people when 
developing new solutions and products”. 

At the EU level, just under eight in ten respondents (78%) agree 
that  science  and  technology  should  consider  the  needs  of  all 
groups  of  people  when  developing  new  solutions  and  products, 
divided  evenly  between  the  proportions  who  “strongly  agree” 
(39%) and “tend to agree” (39%). A small minority of respondents 
disagree  with  this  statement  (6%),  with  only  a  very  small 
proportion  (1%)  saying  they  “strongly  disagree”.  One  in  seven 
respondents (14%) neither agree nor disagree with the statement. 

The majority of respondents in all EU Member States agree that 
science and technology should consider the needs of all groups of 
people when developing new solutions and products. Respondents 
are  most  likely  to  agree  with  the  statement  in  Cyprus  (90%), 
Greece and Portugal (both 88%), and Spain (86%). This compares 
with the EU average of 78%. The majority of respondents say they 
“strongly agree” in Cyprus (66%  - notably higher than anywhere 
else),  Spain  (56%)  and  Greece  (51%),  compared  with  the  EU 
average  of 39%.  Respondents  are  least  likely  to  agree  with  this 
view in Romania (62%), France (66%) and Denmark (67%). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  Turkey  (86%)  has  the 
highest proportion of respondents who say they agree that science 
and technology should consider the needs of all groups of people 
when developing new solutions and products, with more than half 
of respondents (56%) saying they “strongly agree”; it is followed 
by Switzerland (85%). Albania (30%) is the only country where a 
minority of respondents agree with the statement – a significantly 
lower  proportion  than  in  any  other  country.  Just  over  half  of 
respondents in Albania (52%) say they neither agree nor disagree 
with the statement.  

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Patterns  across  different  socio-demographic  groups  are  quite 
consistent. There are only slight differences across most groups. 

The most marked differences can be seen  in relation to internet 
usage. Among those who use the internet every day, 79% agree 
that  science  and  technology  should  consider  the  needs  of  all 
groups  of  people  when  developing  new  solutions  and  products, 
compared with 74% of those who use the internet sometimes or 
often and 67% of non-users. 

In  terms  of the  key  variable  groups,  people  who  are  particularly 
likely to agree with this statement are those who are interested in 
new  medical  discoveries,  new  scientific  discoveries  and 
technological  developments,  and  environmental  problems;  those 
who think that the overall influence of science and technology on 
society is positive; and people who perform well in the ‘quiz’. 

277 

QA17.6Strongly agreeTend to agreeNeither agree nor disagreeTend to disagreeStrongly disagreeDon't knowTotal 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'EU27393914512786Man403813522787Woman383914513776 15-24393617512756 25-39384014521787 40-54384013612787 55+40371351477615-40351441675516-1937401551277620+414011611817Still studying423714412795Self-employed393913612787Managers394111711808Other white collars354215512776Manual workers383815522767House persons363914614757Unemployed433514512786Retired403714414775Students423714412795Most of the time403416514746From time to time353917612747Almost never/ Never403913512796Everyday403913512796Often/Sometimes353916532748Never323518618677Left443711512816Centre384014512786Right344016721749Interested473610412835Moderately interested354215512776Not interested303620725669Interested463511521817Moderately interested374114512786Not interested323619625688Interested483510511836Moderately interested344216512766Not interested2635238266110Positive404013412805Negative31322110336313Less than 5 correct answers293820517676Between 5 and 8 correct answers 403914511796More than 8 correct answers45399511846Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'393813622778Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'383915512776Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'413713414785You alone do or did in the past4136138207710A family member does or did in the past 423613621788Both you and a family member do or did in the past43291111427215No383914513776How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Science and technology should consider the needs of all groups of people when developing new solutions and products (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsUse of the Internet Left-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Respondents  were  read  out  a  series  of  paired  statements  and 
asked to choose which one of the two statements was closest to 
their point of view. 

The chart below shows the proportions of respondents at an EU 
level who either chose the statement “The government should take 
responsibility to ensure that new technologies benefit everyone” or 
“It  is  up  to  people  themselves  to  seek  out  the  benefits  of  new 
technologies” as being closest to their point of view.  

Within the EU, just over seven in ten respondents (72%) think that 
the  government  should  take  responsibility  to  ensure  that  new 
technologies benefit everyone, compared with just over one in four 
(27%) who choose the alternative option. 

This  measure  was  included  in  an  earlier  Eurobarometer  Survey 
(Special  Eurobarometer  340  EB  73.1)  conducted  in  2010.  Since 
then,  there  has  been  a  notable  increase  in  the  proportion  of 
respondents who think it is up to people themselves to seek out 
the  benefits  of  new  technologies  (+11  percentage  points),  a 
smaller  drop  in  the  proportion  who  think  that  the  government 
should take responsibility to ensure that new technologies benefit 
everyone  (-4  pp),  and  a  somewhat  larger  drop  in  the  proportion 
who  say  they  ‘don’t  know’  which  of  the  two  statements  comes 
closest to their point of view (-7 pp). 

278 

 
 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The majority of respondents in all EU Member States take the view 
that  “The  government  should  take  responsibility  to  ensure  new 
technologies benefit everyone”. 

Respondents are most likely to think that the government should 
take responsibility to ensure new technologies benefit everyone in 
Malta (84%), Belgium (83%) and Portugal (82%), with the lowest 
proportions in Cyprus (55%), and Poland and Romania (both 57%). 
This compares with the EU average of 72%. Respondents are most 
likely  to  take  the  alternative  view  –  that  it  is  up  to  people 
themselves  to  seek  out  the  benefits  of  new  technologies  –  in 
Cyprus (44%), Poland (42%), Romania (40%), Sweden (38%) and 
Czechia (37%). This compares with an average of 27% at the EU 
level. 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  respondents  in  Norway 
(83%), followed by those in the UK (77%), are most likely to take 
the view that the government should take responsibility to ensure 
new  technologies  benefit everyone.  Again,  this  view is  held  by  a 
majority  in  all  non-EU  countries,  with  the  lowest  proportions  in 
Iceland and Kosovo (both 60%). 

Comparing the current results with those from 2010, there are 19 
EU Member States where the proportion of respondents who think 
that the government should take responsibility to ensure that new 
technologies benefit everyone has dropped, with the most marked 
changes in Cyprus (-23 percentage points), Czechia (-19 pp), the 
Netherlands (-18 pp), Slovakia (-14 pp), Slovenia (-13 pp), Greece 
and Hungary (-11 pp), and Finland (-10 pp). Among the seven EU 
Member States where the proportion of respondents who take this 
view has increased, increases tend to be small with the largest in 
Portugal (+6 percentage points) and Ireland (+5 pp). 

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, the most notable change is 
an  increase  in  the  proportion  of  respondents  who  take  the  view 
that  the  government  should  take  responsibility  to  ensure  new 
technologies benefit everyone in Iceland (+6 percentage points). 

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280 

QA13dThe government should take responsibility to ensure that new technologies benefit everyoneDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010It is up to people themselves to seek out the benefits of new technologiesDiff. April/May 2021 - January/February 2010Don't knowEU2772427111CY552344251CZ631937240NL671833220SI671332181RO57140173LT64336160SK661433161HR67833150HU671133150EE70730140FI671033140EL711127122ES77921122PL57242121IE77523110BG71728101DK67732101LV65334101DE7812181IT7612381FR7512471PT8261870LU78=2260AT7212761MT8421551SE6253830BE8331710TR72428160MK65N/A32N/A3AL75N/A25N/A0ME72N/A28N/A0RS69N/A30N/A1UK77423110CH7442541NO8341720IS6063921XK60N/A39N/A1BA69N/A31N/A0Belowareaseriesofquestionswithtwostatementseach.Foreachpair,pleaseselectthestatementwhichcomesclosesttoyour point of view. Please select one(%) 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Differences  across  socio-demographic  groups  tend  to  be  small. 
The most notable differences between socio-demographic groups 
are in relation to age and occupational status, although even here 
the differences are relatively small: 

People aged 40-54 (73%) and 55 and over (75%), are somewhat 
more likely than average to agree that the government should take 
responsibility  to  ensure  that  new  technologies  benefit  everyone 
than those aged 15-24 (66%) and 25-39 (69%); 

People  who  are  unemployed  (76%)  and  those  who  are  retired 
(75%) are somewhat more likely than average to agree that the 
government  should  take  responsibility,  when  compared  with 
students (69%). 

There  is  more  marked  variation  in  relation  to  the  key  variable 
groups.  Most  notably,  the  proportion  of  respondents  who  agree 
that  it  should  be  the  government’s  responsibility  to  ensure  that 
new  technologies  benefit  everyone  is  higher  among  people  who 
think  that  the  overall  influence  of  science  and  technology  on 
society is positive; those who are more interested in environmental 
problems  and  new  medical  discoveries;  and  those  who  perform 
better in the ‘quiz’. 

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282 

QA13DThe government should take responsibility to ensure that new technologies benefit everyoneIt is up to people themselves to seek out the benefits of new technologiesDon't knowEU2772271Man71281Woman73261 15-2466331 25-3969301 40-5473270 55+7523215-7622216-197128120+73261Still studying69301Self-employed70300Managers72271Other white collars71281Manual workers70291House persons73252Unemployed76231Retired75232Students69301Most of the time71263From time to time71281Almost never/ Never72271Left76231Centre73261Right66340Interested75241Moderately interested72271Not interested65323Interested72280Moderately interested74251Not interested68293Interested77230Moderately interested71281Not interested61363Positive73261Negative65341Less than 5 correct answers66313Between 5 and 8 correct answers 71281More than 8 correct answers79210Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'72280Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'73261Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'71272You alone do or did in the past66331A family member does or did in the past 73261Both you and a family member do or did in the past68320No72271Belowareaseriesofquestionswithtwostatementseach.Foreachpair,pleaseselectthestatementwhich comes closest to your point of view. Please select one (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The chart below shows the proportions of respondents at  the EU 
level  who  either  chose  the  statement:  “The  government  should 
make  private  companies  tackle  climate  change”  or  “We  should 
leave it to private companies to decide whether to tackle climate 
change” as being closest to their point of view.  

Around eight in ten respondents (79%) think that the government 
should make private companies tackle climate change, compared 
with one in five respondents (20%) who take the view that it should 
be left to private companies to decide whether to tackle climate 
change. 

The majority of respondents in all EU Member States take the view 
that  “The  government  should  make  private  companies  tackle 
climate change”: 

Respondents are most likely to think that the government should 
make private companies tackle climate change in Portugal (92%), 
Malta and Ireland (both 91%), Greece (88%), and Belgium (87%). 
They are least likely to think this in Slovenia (59%), Romania (60%) 
and Latvia (64%). 

The majority of respondents in all the non-EU countries surveyed 
also  take  the  view  that  the  government  should  make  private 
companies tackle climate change, with the highest proportions in 
the UK (87%) and Norway (85%) and the lowest in Kosovo (62%), 
North Macedonia (66%) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (68%). 

There  are  only  minor  differences  between  socio-demographic 
groups  in  relation  to  this  question.  The  largest  difference  is 
between people who use the internet every day (80% agree) and 
those who never use it (70% agree). 

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

As  seen  earlier  in  relation  to  agreement  that  it  should  be  the 
government’s  responsibility  to  ensure  that  new  technologies 
benefit everyone, there is also more marked variation in relation 
to the key variable groups on this measure. 

Most  notably,  the  proportion  of respondents  who  agree  that  the 
government should make private companies tackle climate change 
is  higher  among  people  who  think  that  the  overall  influence  of 
science and technology on society is positive; those who are more 
interested  in  environmental  problems,  new  scientific  discoveries 
and new medical discoveries; those who perform better in the ‘quiz’ 
and  those  who  have,  or  did  have  in  the  past,  a  professional 
association  with  research,  science  and  innovative  technology 
development,  through  both  their  own  work  and  that  of  a  family 
member. 

284 

 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

285 

QA13EThe government should make private companies tackle climate changeWe should leave it to private companies to decide whether to tackle climate changeDon't knowEU2779201Man79201Woman78202 15-2478211 25-3977230 40-5479201 55+8018215-7819316-197623120+82180Still studying81181Self-employed79201Managers82171Other white collars77221Manual workers76231House persons74233Unemployed78220Retired80182Students81181Most of the time75223From time to time75241Almost never/ Never80191Left85141Centre78211Right71281Interested82171Moderately interested78211Not interested70273Interested82171Moderately interested80191Not interested69274Interested87121Moderately interested76231Not interested57385Positive80191Negative67312Less than 5 correct answers68284Between 5 and 8 correct answers 78211More than 8 correct answers88120Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'80191Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'78211Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'78202You alone do or did in the past78211A family member does or did in the past 82171Both you and a family member do or did in the past9190No78211Belowareaseriesofquestionswithtwostatementseach.Foreachpair,pleaseselectthestatementwhich comes closest to your point of view. Please select one (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
VII.  COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE OF THE 

EU IN SCIENCE  

286 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

1. 

Cooperation with the rest of the 
world  

The largest shares of respondents whose point of view is closest 
to the need for protection are in Croatia (46%), Slovakia (44%) and 
Cyprus (43%). 

In  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  majority  in  every  country 
also says cooperation without isolation is closest to their view, with 
proportions  ranging  from  84%  in  Norway  to  55%  in  North 
Macedonia. 

Respondents  were  asked  which  of the  following two  statements 
came closest to their point of view: 

  “We  should  co-operate  enthusiastically  with  the  rest  of  the 

world and not isolate ourselves”;  

  “Our  lives  are  threatened  by  organised  crime  and  terrorism, 

from which we urgently need to protect ourselves”. 

Seven in ten (70%) respondents say the statement that we should 
cooperate  enthusiastically  with  the  rest  of  the  world  and  not 
isolate ourselves is closest to their opinion, while 29% say the view 
that  our  lives  are  threatened  by  organised  crime  and  terrorism, 
from which we urgently need to protect ourselves is the best match 
to their own. Just 1% say they don’t know. 

The majority of respondents in each Member State say cooperating 
enthusiastically  with  the  rest  of  the  world  and  not  isolating 
ourselves  is  closest  to  their  point  of  view,  although  proportions 
range from 87% in Ireland, 84% in Portugal, and 81% in Estonia 
to 54% in Croatia, 55% in Romania and 56% in Slovakia, Cyprus 
and Greece. 

287 

 
 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The majority of respondents in each socio-demographic group say 
the statement “we should co-operate enthusiastically with the rest 
of  the  world  and  not  isolate  ourselves”  is  closest  to  their  view, 
though there are differences in the strength of the skew towards 
that opinion.  

Those who remain in education longer, and those who experience 
fewer financial difficulties are also most likely to say this view best 
matches  their  own.  For  example,  77%  of  those  who  completed 
education aged 20 or older say this, compared to 58% of those 
who completed aged 15 or younger.  

For example, the younger the respondent, the more likely they are 
to say this view is the closest to their own, with 74% of 15-24 year 
olds saying this, compared to 65% of those aged 55 and older.

Students and managers (both 80%) are the most likely to hold this 
view, particularly compared to housepersons and retired persons 
(both 63%). 

Although the majority of respondents across the political spectrum 
say cooperation best matches their view, the strongest support is 
from  those  who  place  themselves  on  the  left  of  the  political 
spectrum (79%), compared to 69% in the centre and 59% on the 
right. 

Respondents who think the influence of science and technology is 
positive  (72%)  are  more  likely  to  think  we  should  cooperate 
enthusiastically  than  those  who  think  it  is  negative  (53%). 
Respondents who did better in the quiz, or who have been involved 
in  research,  science,  or  innovative  technology  development,  are 
also more likely to pick this statement.  

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289 

QA13FWe should co-operate enthusiastically with the rest of the world and not isolate ourselvesOur lives are threatened by organised crime and terrorism, from which we urgently need to protect ourselvesDon't knowEU2770291Man70291Woman69301 15-2474251 25-3973261 40-5471281 55+6533215-5840216-196336120+77221Still studying80191Self-employed73261Managers80191Other white collars72280Manual workers64351House persons63352Unemployed66331Retired63352Students80191Most of the time59392From time to time63361Almost never/ Never72271Left79201Centre69301Right59410Interested72271Moderately interested70291Not interested62353Interested75241Moderately interested70291Not interested58393Interested77221Moderately interested67321Not interested54433Positive72271Negative53461Less than 5 correct answers55423Between 5 and 8 correct answers 68311More than 8 correct answers85141Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'73261Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'70291Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'63352You alone do or did in the past74251A family member does or did in the past 78211Both you and a family member do or did in the past9550No68311Belowareaseriesofquestionswithtwostatementseach.Foreachpair,pleaseselectthestatementwhich comes closest to your point of view. Please select one (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Opinion about researchers in South Korea is more divided. Three in 
ten (30%) respondents think they are ahead of their counterparts 
in the EU, 29% that they are at the same level, and 24% think they 
are behind researchers in the EU. Almost one in five say they don’t 
know (17%). 

More than one in ten (16%) respondents think researchers in their 
own  country  are  ahead  of  EU  researchers  on  average  when  it 
comes  to  making  new  scientific  discoveries.  Almost  half  (48%) 
think they are at the same level, while 29% think researchers in 
their country are behind those in the EU.  

Just over one in ten (13%) respondents think researchers in India 
are  ahead  of  those  in  the  EU  in  terms  of  making  new  scientific 
discoveries. One quarter (25%) think they are at the same level, 
while  almost  half  (47%)  think  they  are  behind  EU  researchers. 
More than one in ten (15%) say they don’t know. 

2. 

Comparative advantage of the EU 
in making scientific discoveries 

Respondents  were  asked  whether  they  thought  researchers  in 
several  countries  were  ahead,  behind,  or  at  the  same  level  as 
researchers in the European Union on average, in terms of making 
new scientific discoveries. 

The majority of respondents (58%) think researchers in China are 
ahead of those in the EU in making scientific discoveries. Just over 
one in five (21%) say researchers in the EU and China are at the 
same  level,  while  12%  think  they  are  behind  those  in  the  EU. 
Almost one in ten (9%) say they don’t know. 

Almost six in ten (57%) respondents think researchers in the United 
States are, on average, ahead of researchers in the EU. Just over 
one-quarter (27%) think they are at the same level, while 9% think 
scientists in the United States are behind the EU on average. More 
than one in twenty say they don’t know (7%). 

When asked about researchers in Japan, 54% of respondents think 
they  are  ahead  of  those  in  the  EU  on  average  in  making  new 
scientific discoveries, 25% say they are at the same level, and 10% 
think they are behind those in the EU. Just over one in ten (11%) 
say they don’t know.

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In 23 countries, the majority of respondents think researchers in 
the United States are on average ahead of researchers in the EU 
in making new scientific discoveries. This view is most widely held 
in Spain (78%), Luxembourg (75%) and Cyprus (71%), and least 
widespread  in  Sweden  (38%),  Denmark  (41%),  and  Finland  and 
Estonia (both 43%).  

Respondents in Sweden (49%), Estonia (48%) and Denmark (45%) 
are most likely to say researchers in the United States are at the 
same  level  as  those  in  the  EU,  while  in  Finland  opinion  is  split 
between researchers in the United States being ahead of those in 
the EU (43%) and at the same level (43%). 

In  13  Member  States  at  least  one  in  ten  respondents  say 
researchers in the US are behind those in the EU, with the largest 
proportions seen in Poland and Austria (both 16%), and Romania 
(15%). 

The  proportion  of  respondents  who  say  they  don’t  know  is 
particularly high in Bulgaria (22%). 

The majority of respondents in all but two of the non-EU countries 
surveyed think researchers in the United States are ahead of those 
in  the  EU,  with  the  proportion  highest  in  Kosovo  (73%).  The 
exceptions  are  Norway  and  Iceland,  where  the  majority  think 
researchers in the United States and the EU are at the same level 
(50% and 44% respectively). 

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The analysis also highlights that unemployed persons are the most 
likely  to  think  researchers  in  the  United  States  are  ahead  of  EU 
researchers  –  particularly  compared  to  housepersons  (65%  vs 
54%). 

For  each  country  asked  about,  the  socio-demographic  analysis 
focuses on those who think researchers in that country are ahead 
of those in the EU.  

In  the  case  of  researchers  in  the  United  States,  the  socio-
demographic analysis shows little difference in opinion based on 
age or financial situation (though respondents who have difficulty 
paying  bills  most  of  the  time  are  less  likely  to  think  that 
researchers  in  the  US  are  at  the  same  level  as  those  in  the  EU 
(22%)  than  respondents  who  never/almost  never  have  difficulty 
paying bills (28%)). However, it does illustrate that men are more 
likely  than  women  to  think  researchers  in  the  United  States  are 
ahead of those in the EU (60% vs 55%). In addition, the longer a 
respondent remained in education, the more likely they are to think 
researchers  in  the  United  States  are  ahead,  but  the  overall 
difference is relatively small (6 pp).

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

293 

QA19.1Ahead of researchers in the EU on averageBehind researchers in the EU on averageAt the same level as researchers in the EU on averageDon't knowEU27579277Man609256Woman558289 15-24578287 25-39599275 40-54599266 55+568261015-538231616-19571025820+597295Still studying588286Self-employed5911246Managers598294Other white collars5510287Manual workers5710267House persons5472712Unemployed656245Retired5672611Students588286Most of the time57112210From time to time5613247Almost never/ Never587287Left589285Centre578287Right5812255Interested628255Moderately interested569287Not interested49102516Interested628264Moderately interested579286Not interested5192317Interested617275Moderately interested579277Not interested49122316Positive588277Negative5415229Less than 5 correct answers50102317Between 5 and 8 correct answers 599266More than 8 correct answers596314Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'587287Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'5810266Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'5592412You alone do or did in the past5611276A family member does or did in the past 5611294Both you and a family member do or did in the past607303No588268Doyouthinkresearchersinthefollowingcountriesareahead,behind,oratthesamelevelasresearchersintheEuropean Union on average, in terms of making new scientific discoveries? The United States (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In  all  but  one  Member  State  a  majority  of  respondents  think 
researchers in China are ahead of those in the EU when it comes 
to  making  new  scientific  discoveries,  although  proportions  vary 
from  76%  in  Cyprus,  75%  in  Spain,  and  69%  in  Luxembourg  to 
41% in Sweden, and 42% in Poland and Estonia. The exception is 
Finland, where 40% say researchers in China are at the same level 
as those in the EU and 39% say those in China are ahead. 

In 20 countries at least one in ten respondents think researchers 
in China are behind those in the EU, with those in Lithuania (22%), 
and  Austria  and  Finland  (both  20%)  the  most  likely  to  hold  this 
opinion. 

Once again, the proportion of respondents in Bulgaria that say they 
don’t know is high (22%). 

Respondents in Estonia (44%), and Finland and Sweden (both 40%) 
are the most likely to say researchers in China and the EU are at 
the same level. This compares with Cyprus where fewer than one 
in ten (8%) have this view. 

A  majority  of  respondents  in  each  of  the  non-EU  countries 
surveyed think researchers in China are ahead of those in the EU 
on  average,  with  proportions  ranging  from  73%  in  Bosnia  and 
Herzegovina to 41% in Iceland. 

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The socio-demographic analysis shows few differences based on 
gender, education level or financial situation, but it does highlight 
that  those  aged  55  and  older  (55%)  are  less  likely  to  say 
researchers  in  China  are  ahead  of  those  in  the  EU,  especially 
compared to those aged 15-24 (61%). 

It also shows unemployed respondents are the most likely to say 
researchers  in  China  are  ahead,  particularly  compared  to  retired 
persons (67% vs 54%). 

295 

QA19.2Ahead of researchers in the EU on averageBehind researchers in the EU on averageAt the same level as researchers in the EU on averageDon't knowEU275812219Man5813227Woman59111911 15-246111217 25-396013207 40-546012208 55+5511211315-549181916-195912191020+5812237Still studying6211216Self-employed6113179Managers5913235Other white collars5813218Manual workers5912209House persons55121815Unemployed679177Retired54112213Students6211216Most of the time61151410From time to time5913199Almost never/ Never5811229Left6011236Centre5911219Right5816197Interested6211207Moderately interested5812219Not interested49132018Interested6112225Moderately interested5912218Not interested52111819Interested6211207Moderately interested5812219Not interested50131918Positive5912218Negative61131610Less than 5 correct answers53111620Between 5 and 8 correct answers 6111208More than 8 correct answers5613265Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'6011227Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'5813209Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'56112013You alone do or did in the past5319226A family member does or did in the past 5814235Both you and a family member do or did in the past5417236No59112010Doyouthinkresearchersinthefollowingcountriesareahead,behind,oratthesamelevelasresearchersintheEuropean Union on average, in terms of making new scientific discoveries? China (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In all but two Member States, respondents are most likely to say 
researchers  in  Japan  are  ahead  of  those  in  the  EU.  This  view  is 
most widespread in Latvia and Lithuania (both 75%), and Cyprus 
(74%), and least widespread in Austria (40%), Denmark (42%), and 
Finland and Germany (both 44%). In Finland, respondents are most 
likely to say researchers in Japan and the EU are at the same level 
(47%), while in Denmark opinion is evenly split between those who 
say researchers in Japan are ahead of or at the same level as their 
EU counterparts (both 42%). 

The highest proportions of respondents who think researchers in 
Japan are at the same level as those in the EU are in Finland (47%), 
Sweden (43%) and Denmark (42%). 

In  nine  Member  States  at  least  one  in  ten  respondents  think 
researchers in Japan are behind those in the EU, with the highest 
proportions in Poland and Austria (both 17%) and Romania (16%). 

Respondents in all but one of the non-EU countries surveyed are 
most likely to say researchers in Japan are ahead of those in the 
EU, with proportions ranging from 69% in Bosnia Herzegovina to 
48% in Iceland. The exception is Switzerland, where respondents 
are most likely to say researchers in Japan and the EU are at the 
same level (48%). 

296 

 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The  socio-demographic  analysis  reveals  no  notable  differences 
based on gender, age, education level or financial situation. 

However,  it  does  show  that  unemployed  persons  are  the  most 
likely  to  say  researchers  in  Japan  are  ahead of those  in  the  EU, 
particularly when compared to retired persons (61% vs 51%). 

297 

QA19.3Ahead of researchers in the EU on averageBehind researchers in the EU on averageAt the same level as researchers in the EU on averageDon't knowEU2754102511Man5510278Woman5592313 15-2455122310 25-395711257 40-545792410 55+519261415-528182216-195710221120+549298Still studying5511259Self-employed55122310Managers5410297Other white collars5710258Manual workers57102211House persons4982419Unemployed6182110Retired5182615Students5511259Most of the time55141714From time to time56112211Almost never/ Never5492611Left549289Centre55102510Right5712238Interested5710258Moderately interested54102610Not interested48112120Interested5610277Moderately interested56102410Not interested47102122Interested568279Moderately interested54112411Not interested50102020Positive5592610Negative54141913Less than 5 correct answers50111821Between 5 and 8 correct answers 5810239More than 8 correct answers518347Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'559279Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'54112510Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'5592115You alone do or did in the past4616317A family member does or did in the past 569287Both you and a family member do or did in the past479359No5592412Doyouthinkresearchersinthefollowingcountriesareahead,behind,oratthesamelevelasresearchersintheEuropean Union on average, in terms of making new scientific discoveries? Japan (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Luxembourg (52%) is the only country where at least half of all 
respondents think researchers in South Korea are ahead of those 
in the EU. At least four in ten respondents in Czechia (41%), and 
Ireland,  Cyprus,  Latvia  and  Lithuania  (all  40%)  say  the  same. 
Overall, this is the most common response in 11 countries. 

In 12 countries, respondents most often say researchers in South 
Korea and the EU are at the same level, and this opinion is most 
widely held in Sweden (53%), and Finland and Estonia (both 50%). 
In every Member State more than one in ten think this way. 

There are four countries where respondents are most likely to say 
researchers  in  South  Korea  are  behind  those  in  the  EU:  Austria 
(35%),  Romania  (33%),  Greece  (30%)  and  Italy  (29%).  In  every 
Member State more than one in ten respondents hold this opinion. 

In seven countries at least one in five respondents say they don’t 
know, with the highest levels in Bulgaria (36%) and Cyprus (29%). 

There are five non-EU countries where respondents most often say 
researchers in South Korea are ahead of those in the EU, with the 
highest proportion observed in Albania (42%). In the remaining six 
countries the most common response is that they are at the same 
level, with the largest proportion seen in Norway (49%). 

298 

 
 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The  socio-demographic  analysis  does  not  highlight  any  notable 
differences  in  opinion  based  on  gender,  age,  occupation  level  or 
financial status. 

However, it does show those who finished education aged 16 or 
older are more likely to say researchers in South Korea are ahead 
of  those  in  the  EU  (31%  vs  22%  who  completed  aged  15  or 
younger).  

299 

QA19.4Ahead of researchers in the EU on averageBehind researchers in the EU on averageAt the same level as researchers in the EU on averageDon't knowEU2730242917Man32243113Woman28232821 15-2433242914 25-3932243113 40-5431252915 55+2722292215-2224213316-193124271820+31233412Still studying33223213Self-employed32262616Managers31233511Other white collars31253113Manual workers31252717House persons23222926Unemployed33232816Retired28212823Students33223213Most of the time32262220From time to time30272617Almost never/ Never30223117Left31233214Centre30242917Right31273012Interested32243014Moderately interested30233116Not interested27232525Interested33243211Moderately interested30243016Not interested24232429Interested31233115Moderately interested30233017Not interested28242424Positive30243115Negative33272119Less than 5 correct answers26232229Between 5 and 8 correct answers 31252915More than 8 correct answers33193711Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'33213214Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'30252916Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'26262622You alone do or did in the past31273210A family member does or did in the past 38203111Both you and a family member do or did in the past32223313No29242918Doyouthinkresearchersinthefollowingcountriesareahead,behind,oratthesamelevelasresearchersintheEuropean Union on average, in terms of making new scientific discoveries? South Korea (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

There  are  only  two  Member  States  where  at  least  one  in  five 
respondents think researchers in India are ahead of those in the 
EU  in  terms  of  scientific  discoveries:  Luxembourg  (23%)  and 
Slovenia  (20%).  Overall,  at  least  one  in  ten  respondents  in  21 
countries hold this view. 

Sweden (43%) is the only country where respondents most often 
say researchers in India and the EU are at the same level. 

There are six countries where at least one in five respondents say 
they don’t know, with the highest proportion in Bulgaria (35%). 

Looking at the non-EU countries surveyed shows that except for 
Norway,  respondents  most  often  say  researchers  in  India  are 
behind those in the EU, with the highest proportion seen in Turkey 
(65%). In Norway, respondents are most likely to say researchers 
in India and the EU are at the same level (43%). 

In all but one Member State, respondents are most likely to say 
researchers  in  India  are  behind  those  in  the  EU  on  average, 
although proportions range from 67% in Lithuania, 61% in Czechia, 
and 56% in Latvia to 37% in Bulgaria, 43% in Italy, and 44% in 
Poland and Germany. 

300 

 
 
 
 
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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

There  are  no  notable  differences  in  the  socio-demographic 
analysis and results are remarkably consistent across key groups. 

301 

QA19.5Ahead of researchers in the EU on averageBehind researchers in the EU on averageAt the same level as researchers in the EU on averageDon't knowEU2713472515Man15482512Woman12462418 15-2410552213 25-3913532311 40-5415482413 55+1441261915-1240202816-191446241620+14492710Still studying11542411Self-employed17452414Managers1450288Other white collars13502512Manual workers14492215House persons11462221Unemployed13541914Retired14402620Students11542411Most of the time15501817From time to time13492315Almost never/ Never14472514Left15482611Centre13492414Right14492611Interested15492412Moderately interested13482514Not interested11412523Interested1550269Moderately interested13482514Not interested11402227Interested14492512Moderately interested13482415Not interested13412323Positive13482514Negative15452416Less than 5 correct answers12402127Between 5 and 8 correct answers 14492413More than 8 correct answers1549288Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'13492612Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'15472414Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'12452320You alone do or did in the past15482710A family member does or did in the past 1647298Both you and a family member do or did in the past15512113No13472416Doyouthinkresearchersinthefollowingcountriesareahead,behind,oratthesamelevelasresearchersintheEuropean Union on average, in terms of making new scientific discoveries? India (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Respondents  in  Germany  (36%),  the  Netherlands  (33%)  and 
Denmark  (25%)  are  most  likely  to  say  researchers  in  their  own 
country are ahead of those in the EU on average. Only a minority 
of respondents in every country think this way.  

In 11 countries respondents are most likely to think researchers in 
their country are behind those in the EU, with  the  highest levels 
seen in Cyprus (69%), Latvia (67%) and Slovakia (57%). Overall, at 
least one in ten respondents in every Member State thinks this way. 

In 16 countries the most common opinion is that researchers in the 
respondent’s country are at the same level as those in the EU, and 
this is particularly the case in Sweden (64%), Czechia (63%), and 
Finland, Belgium and Estonia (all 62%). Cyprus is the only country 
where fewer than one in five thinks this way.

Outside of the EU countries surveyed, respondents in the UK (39%) 
and Switzerland (31%) are most likely to say that researchers in 
their own country are ahead of those in the EU. In Norway (61%) 
and  Iceland  (46%),  the  highest  proportion  of  respondents  state 
that researchers in their countries are at the same level as those 
in the EU. Finally, there are six countries where respondents most 
often say researchers in their country are behind those in the EU, 
with the largest proportion in Bosnia and Herzegovina (88%). 

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European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The only notable difference in the socio-demographic analysis is 
that the longer a respondent remained in education, the more likely 
they are to say that researchers in their own country are ahead of 
those in the EU. 

For example, 20% of those who completed education aged 20 or 
older think this way, compared to 13% who completed education 
aged 15 or younger.  

303 

QA19.6Ahead of researchers in the EU on averageBehind researchers in the EU on averageAt the same level as researchers in the EU on averageDon't knowEU271629487Man1829476Woman1429498 15-241625536 25-391632475 40-541731466 55+162748915-1328451416-19153246720+2027494Still studying1724554Self-employed1833427Managers2125504Other white collars1530496Manual workers1434457House persons14284810Unemployed1338454Retired17254810Students1724554Most of the time1340398From time to time1333477Almost never/ Never1727497Left1726525Centre1728496Right1834435Interested2028484Moderately interested1529506Not interested12304315Interested2128474Moderately interested1529506Not interested12294415Interested1926505Moderately interested1629487Not interested11353915Positive1728496Negative1536427Less than 5 correct answers12353815Between 5 and 8 correct answers 1531495More than 8 correct answers2318554Total ' Not very or not spiritual or religious'1925515Total 'Neither spiritual or religious nor not spiritual or religious'1630486Total 'Quite or very spiritual or religious'14324410You alone do or did in the past2330416A family member does or did in the past 1927513Both you and a family member do or did in the past3121453No1529488Doyouthinkresearchersinthefollowingcountriesareahead,behind,oratthesamelevelasresearchersintheEuropean Union on average, in terms of making new scientific discoveries? (OUR COUNTRY) (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (end of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsLeft-right political scaleMedical discoveriesScientific discoveriesEnvironmental problemsInfluence of science and technologyWorked in research / science / innovative technology developmentCorrect answers to questions about scientific knowledgeReligiosity / Spirituality 
CONCLUSION 

304 

Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The  survey  also  exposes  results  that  suggest  work  needs  to 
continue  to  increase  knowledge  of  science  in  the  general  public, 
combat disinformation, and align research and innovation with the 
needs, values and expectations of society: 

  Although there have been improvements in levels of scientific 
knowledge in some areas of science there are still low levels 
of knowledge across some socio-economic and demographic 
groups and countries; 

  Many EU citizens are markedly critical of where the benefits of 
R&I flow – for instance thinking that S&T mostly helps improve 
the lives of those who are already better off (57%) and going 
mostly  to  developed  countries  rather  than  developing  ones 
(70%); 

  A quarter of EU citizens do not believe that S&T pays sufficient 
attention to differences between women’s and men’s needs. 

While the results can be taken at aggregate level, for instance for 
the  EU27  as  a  whole,  they  are  more  striking  when  considering 
socio-demographic  factors.  Very  few  questions  elicit  cross-the-
board  consensus,  though  those  questions  that  do  may  deserve 
particular attention from a policy perspective. For the majority of 
questions,  however,  results  show  clear  patterns  tracking  social 
gradients  related  to  age,  sex,  education,  and  actual  and/or 
perceived  marginalisation.  An  implication  for  research  and 
innovation  policy  is  that  social  differences  and  cleavages  in 
opinion,  knowledge  and  expectations  probably  matter.  Finding 
ways  to  tackle  them  could  build  support  for  -  and  increase 
engagement  with  -  science  and  technology  and  help  respond  to 
future challenges. 

This  report  provides  a  summary  of  the  results  of  the  Special 
Eurobarometer  on  “European  citizens’  knowledge  and  attitudes 
towards science and technology”. This Eurobarometer is the latest 
in a long line of surveys on science and technology (S&T) stretching 
back to the late 1970s. It gathers the views of 37,103 people in 
April-May  2021  resident  in  38  different  countries  –  EU27,  EU 
Enlargement countries, EFTA states, and the UK. This 2021 edition 
is  the  largest  to  date  in  terms  of  the  number  of  people  and 
countries surveyed and the breadth and depth of the questionnaire. 
It is also the first to be conducted in close to seven years, meaning 
that it helps fill a significant gap in our understanding of European 
citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards S&T. 

The results of this edition undoubtedly reflect the unprecedented 
crises  that  we  are  facing  –  notably  the  Covid-19  pandemic,  but 
also climate change and biodiversity loss. At the same time, many 
of the results show remarkable congruence with previous  survey 
findings, suggesting that while short-term contextual background 
does  play  a  role  in  influencing  attitudes,  this  does  not  disrupt 
significantly the longer-term trends and patterns. 

The survey covered citizens’ knowledge about S&T, views on the 
impacts of S&T, views on the governance of S&T, attitudes towards 
scientists, citizens’ engagement in S&T, aspects related to young 
people,  gender  equality,  and  social  responsibility,  and  the 
comparative advantage of the EU to elsewhere in the world.  

As such, the survey reveals reassuring results, notably: 

  EU  citizens  have  a  very  high  level  of  interest  in  S&T,  in 
particular  in  new  medical  discoveries  and  in  environmental 
problems; 

  A large majority of EU citizens considers the influence of S&T 
on our way of life as positive, with strikingly high appreciation 
for  some  technologies  such  as  solar,  wind  power  and  the 
development of vaccines; 

  There is a very high level of support for the principle of open 

access to the results of publicly funded research; 

  A  large  majority  of  EU  citizens  agrees  that  involving  non-
scientists in research and innovation (R&I) ensures that science 
and technology respond to the needs, values and expectations 
of society; 

  More  than  two-thirds  of  EU  citizens  believe  that  scientists 
should intervene in political debates to ensure that decisions 
take into account scientific evidence; 

  EU  citizens  have  a  positive  view  of  scientists,  believing  that 
important qualities for scientists include intelligence, honesty, 
reliability, and morality.

305 

Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizen’s knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Technical Specifications 

Between 13 April and 11 May 2021, Kantar - on behalf of Kantar 
Belgium - carried out the wave 95.2 of the Eurobarometer survey, 
at  request  of the  European  Commission,  Directorate-General  for 
Communication, “Media monitoring and Eurobarometer” Unit.  

Wave 95.2 covers the population of the respective nationalities of 
the  European  Union  Member  States,  resident  in  each  of  the  27 
Member States and aged 15 years and over. 

Wave  95.2  has  also  been  conducted  in  11  other  countries  or 
territories  outside  the  EU:  five  candidate  countries  (Albania, 
Montenegro,  North  Macedonia,  Serbia  and  Turkey),  as  well  as  in 
Bosnia  and  Herzegovina,  Iceland,  Kosovo,  Norway,  Switzerland 
and the United Kingdom.  

In these countries  and territories, the survey covers the national 
population  of  citizens  and  the  population  of  citizens  of  all  the 
European  Union  Member  States  that  are  residents  in  these 
countries  and  territories  and  have  a  sufficient  command  of  the 
national languages to answer the questionnaire.   

The basic sample design, applying in all countries and territories, 
was  a  multi-stage,  random  (probability)  one.  In  each  country,  a 
number of sampling points was drawn with probability proportional 
to  population  size  (for  a  total  coverage  of  the  country)  and  to 
population density.

In order to do so, the sampling points were drawn systematically 
from each of the "administrative regional units", after stratification 
by individual unit and type of area. They thus represent the whole 
territory  of  the  countries  surveyed  according  to  the  EUROSTAT 
NUTS  II  (or  equivalent)  and  according  to  the  distribution  of  the 
resident  population  of  the  respective  nationalities  in  terms  of 
metropolitan, urban and rural areas.  

In  each  of  the  selected  sampling  points,  a  starting  address  was 
drawn,  at  random.  Further  addresses  (every  Nth  address)  were 
selected by standard "random route" procedures, from the initial 
address. In each household, the respondent was drawn at random 
(following  the  "closest  birthday  rule").  If  no  one  answered  the 
interviewer in a household, or if the selected respondent was not 
available  (e.g.  not  present  or  busy),  the  interviewer  revisited  the 
same  household  up  to  three  additional  times  (four  contact 
attempts in total). Interviewers never indicated that the survey was 
conducted  on  behalf  of  the  European  Commission  beforehand; 
they  may  have  given  this  information  once  the  survey  was 
completed, upon request. 

The recruitment phase was slightly different in the Netherlands. In 
this  country,  a  sample  of  addresses  within  each  areal  sampling 
point  (1km2  grid)  were  selected  from  the  address  or  population 
register.  The  selection  of  addresses  was  done  randomly. 
Households  were  then  contacted  by  telephone  and  recruited  to 
take part in the survey.  

TS1 

Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizen’s knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

TS2 

N°POPULATIONPROPORTIONINTERVIEWS15+EU27BEBelgiumKantar Belgium1.01419/04/202105/05/20219.188.3692,45%BGBulgariaKantar TNS BBSS1.04913/04/202109/05/20215.995.1941,60%CZCzechiaKantar Czechia1.03819/04/202127/04/20218.956.7402,39%DKDenmarkKantar Gallup1.07014/04/202110/05/20214.848.6111,29%DEGermanyKantar Deutschland1.52513/04/202110/05/202171.728.39819,10%EEEstoniaKantar Emor1.02215/04/202110/05/20211.073.2240,29%IEIrelandKantar Belgium1.01119/04/202110/05/20213.896.4821,04%ELGreeceKantar Greece1.05613/04/202109/05/20219.187.5242,45%ESSpainTNS Investigación de Mercados y Opinión 1.00514/04/202109/05/202140.006.94310,65%FRFranceKantar Public France1.01513/04/202105/05/202152.732.49914,04%HRCroatiaHendal1.01613/04/202110/05/20213.488.4600,93%ITItalyKantar Italia1.01713/04/202130/04/202152.397.33113,95%CYRep. of CyprusCYMAR Market Research50613/04/202125/04/2021734.6950,20%LVLatviaKantar TNS Latvia1.00914/04/202104/05/20211.568.1240,42%LTLithuaniaTNS LT1.02814/04/202106/05/20212.300.2570,61%LULuxembourgKantar Belgium52019/04/202105/05/2021503.2750,13%HUHungaryKantar Hoffmann1.04413/04/202128/04/20218.351.0172,22%MTMaltaMISCO International52516/04/202103/05/2021426.0550,11%NLNetherlandsKantar Netherlands1.07614/04/202107/05/202114.165.6383,77%ATAustriaDas Österreichische Gallup Institut1.00713/04/202102/05/20217.580.0832,02%PLPolandKantar Polska1.00813/04/202106/05/202132.139.0218,56%PTPortugalMarktest – Marketing, Organização e Formação1.03119/04/202103/05/20218.869.0512,36%RORomaniaCentrul Pentru Studierea Opiniei si Pietei (CSOP)1.05113/04/202105/05/202116.372.2164,36%SISloveniaMediana DOO1.02414/04/202109/05/20211.767.2020,47%SKSlovakiaKantar Czechia1.07914/04/202104/05/20214.592.3791,22%FIFinlandKantar TNS Oy1.03016/04/202110/05/20214.488.0641,20%SESwedenKantar Sifo1.05114/04/202107/05/20218.149.8502,17%26.82713/04/202110/05/2021375.506.702100%*UKUnited KingdomKantar UK Limited1.00314/04/202111/05/202153.082.345TRTurkeyKantar TNS Piar1.00415/04/202110/05/202162.644.678MKNorth MacedoniaKantar TNS BBSS1.03615/04/202106/05/20211.736.495MEMontenegroTMG Insights50414/04/202109/05/2021510.415RSSerbiaTMG Insights1.00514/04/202108/05/20215.966.740ALAlbaniaIndex Kosovo1.01414/04/202105/05/20212.344.814BABosnia and HerzegovinaKantar TNS BBSS1.00914/04/202109/05/20212.987.440ISIcelandGallup Iceland52014/04/202110/05/2021289.125XKTerritory of KosovoIndex Kosovo1.05715/04/202110/05/20211.357.100NONorwayKantar Norway1.04114/04/202106/05/20214.392.175CHSwitzerlandDemo SCOPE AG1.08315/04/202110/05/20217.259.20937.10313/04/202111/05/2021518.077.238*It should be noted that the total percentage shown in this table may exceed 100% due to rounding** Recruitments in Belgium, Czechia, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal and Slovakia are carried out by Kantar Belgium, Kantar Czechia, Ronin International, Infas, Kantar Portugal and Kantar Slovakia. Non-probabilistic sample in Turkey was randomly drawn from Kantar’s LifePoints panel.TOTALCOUNTRIESINSTITUTESFIELDWORKDATESTOTAL EU27Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizen’s knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Therefore,  to  hit  the  target  number  of  interviews  within  the 
fieldwork period, additional interviews were conducted online with 
Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI) technique. 

  Online interviewing 

Ireland,  Latvia,  Lithuania, 
In  Belgium,  Czechia,  Estonia, 
Luxembourg, Portugal, Finland, Sweden, United Kingdom, Iceland, 
Norway  and  Switzerland:  face-to-face  interviews  were  not 
possible. Therefore all interviews were conducted online with CAWI 
technique. 

Recruitment for online interviews 

  In the EU 

The  online  design  in  each  country  differed  based  on  what  was 
feasible within the fieldwork period.  

Where  possible,  the  online  sample  was  based  on  a  probabilistic 
sample design. Those recruited to the online survey were recruited 
through a single mobile frame or dual frame Random Digit Dialling 
(RDD)  design.  In  this  way  the  entire  phone  owning population  in 
each country had a non-zero chance of being sampled. The choice 
of whether to use a single mobile frame or dual frame (mobile and 
landline) was dependent on the countries’ landline infrastructure. 
Where the landline infrastructure is suitably advanced to support 
a  significant  minority  of  residential  households  with  landline 
phones, a dual frame design is employed. The mix of mobile and 
landline sample is designed to maximise the representativeness of 
the responding sample. The RDD sample for both the mobile and 
landline sample is drawn from the country’s telephone numbering 
plan.  The  landline  sample  frame  is  stratified  by  NUTS3  regions 
based  on  their  prefix  and  the  mobile  by  operator  before  a 
systematic random sample of numbers is generated proportional 
in  size  to  the  total  generatable  numbers  in  each  stratum. 
Respondents were recruited using this sample design in Belgium, 
Czechia,  Estonia,  Ireland,  Latvia,  Lithuania,  Luxembourg, 
Malta, Portugal, Slovenia and Slovakia.  

In Finland, Denmark, and Sweden RDD samples were not used. 
Instead,  the  telephone  sample  was  drawn  from  the  country 
telephone  directory.  In  these  three  countries  the  telephone 
directories  offer  comprehensive  coverage  of  the  phone-owning 
population,  storing  both  landline  and  mobile  phone  numbers  for 
each individual.  

In  the  Netherlands,  a  proprietary  panel  called  “Nipobase”  was 
used, drawing a random sample from their panel. This panel uses 
a mix of probability-based sampling to recruit panellists and non-
probabilistic  approaches  to  maximise  representation  where  the 
probability-based  approach  under-represents,  such  as  in  the 
younger  age  groups.  Nipobase  uses  a  mix  of  offline  and  online 
modes. Offline modes are typically RDD samples and online modes 
are typically recruitment via targeted websites and social media 
platforms. 

  Outside the EU: 

In the UK, recruitment of respondents was carried out either via a 
face-to-face  CAPI  mode  of  data  collection  based  on  a  clustered 
multistage random sample of addresses or via a postal invite to 
an online survey using a completely unclustered random sample 
of addresses. 

In  Norway  and  Iceland, stratified  random samples  were  drawn 
from among probability-based samples. Recruitments were done 
using  offline  modes  of  data  collection  (telephone  and  postal) 
based on a probability sample design.  

Consequences of the coronavirus pandemic on fieldwork 

  Face-to-face interviewing  

Where feasible, interviews were conducted face-to-face in people's 
homes  or  on  their  doorstep  and  in  the  appropriate  national 
language.  Countries  where  only  face-to-face  interviewing  took 
place are: Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, 
Cyprus,  Hungary,  Austria,  Poland,  Romania,  Turkey,  North 
Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 
and the territory of Kosovo. In all countries and territories where 
face-to-face  interviewing  was  feasible  CAPI  (Computer  Assisted 
Personal Interviewing) was used. For all interviews conducted face-
to-face, hygiene and physical distancing measures were respected 
at  all  times  in  line  with  government  regulations,  and  whenever 
possible,  interviews  were  conducted  outside  homes  (e.g.  on 
doorsteps) to remain in open air and maintain social distance.  

  Face-to-face and online interviewing 

In Denmark, Malta, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Slovakia and Turkey: 
face-to-face interviewing was feasible but it was not possible to 
reach  the  target  number  of  face-to-face  interviews  within  the 
fieldwork period due to the impact of Covid-19 restrictions: many 
potential  respondents  were  reluctant  to  open  their  homes  to 
interviewers,  even  if  they  respected  hygiene  rules  and  physical 
distancing, such as wearing masks and using hydro-alcoholic gel. 

TS3 

N° OF CAPIN° OF CAWITOTAL N°INTERVIEWSINTERVIEWSINTERVIEWSBEBelgium1.0141.014BGBulgaria1.0491.049CZCzechia1.0381.038DKDenmark3557151.070DEGermany1.5251.525EEEstonia1.0221.022IEIreland1.0111.011ELGreece1.0561.056ESSpain1.0051.005FRFrance1.0151.015HRCroatia1.0161.016ITItaly1.0171.017CYRep. of Cyprus506506LVLatvia1.0091.009LTLithuania1.0281.028LULuxembourg520520HUHungary1.0441.044MTMalta327198525NLNetherlands7842921.076ATAustria1.0071.007PLPoland1.0081.008PTPortugal1.0311.031RORomania1.0511.051SISlovenia6943301.024SKSlovakia8172621.079FIFinland1.0301.030SESweden10511.051TOTAL EU2715.27611.55126.827UKUnited Kingdom1.0031.003TRTurkey2887161.004MKNorth Macedonia1.0361.036MEMontenegro504504RSSerbia1.0051.005ALAlbania1.0141.014BABosnia and Herzegovina1.0091.009ISIceland520520XKTerritory of Kosovo1.0571.057NONorway1.0411.041CHSwitzerland10831.083TOTAL21.18915.91437.103CAPI : Computer-Assisted Personal interviewingCAWI : Computer-Assisted Web interviewingCOUNTRIESSpecial Eurobarometer 516 
European citizen’s knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In Switzerland samples were randomly drawn from the pseudo-
probabilistic  sample  of  Demoscope,  in  which  the  frame  for 
selecting  households  was  based  on  a  probability  sample. 
Recruitment  was  done  via  the  telephone  directory  –  which  lists 
landline numbers only in Switzerland, where landline coverage is 
very high. However the selection of individuals in the households 
to join the panel was not random, as demoscope recruited the first 
person who answered the phone in each household (therefore not 
implementing any random selection method within the household). 

Please note that for some countries where the response rates were 
not  sufficiently  large  to  achieve  the  target  sample  size  in  the 
fieldwork period, we had to further supplement the samples drawn 
probabilistically  (either  face-to-face  or  phone-to-web)  with  non-
probabilistic panels. This was effectively a ‘last resort’ option when 
no other probabilistic design was feasible.  

In Turkey, the sample was supplemented with a randomly drawn 
sample  from  Kantar’s  LifePoints  non-probabilistic  sample  panel. 
The LifePoints panel is Kantar’s proprietary panel, used exclusively 
for  Kantar  clients  and  the  lead  source  for  Kantar’s  online  work, 
generating close  to  30  million  completes  per  year. Members  are 
recruited  via  online  advertising  across  a  wide  range  of web and 
social media sites. Adverts are placed with websites with very high 
footfalls to ensure maximised reach. 

Response rates 

For  each  country  a  comparison  between  the  responding  sample 
and  the  universe  (i.e.  the  overall  population  in  the  country)  was 
carried out. Weights were used to match the responding sample to 
the universe on gender by age, region and degree of urbanisation. 
For European estimates (i.e. EU average), an adjustment was made 
to the individual country weights, weighting them up or down to 
reflect their age 15+ population as a proportion of the EU age 15+ 
population.  

The response rates are calculated by dividing the total number of 
complete interviews with the number of all the addresses visited, 
apart  from  ones  that  are  not  eligible  but  including  those  where 
eligibility  is  unknown.  The  following  type  of  addresses  are 
classified  as  “not  eligible”  (hence  not  interviewed):  address  not 
found,  address  demolished,  address  empty,  ineligible  household 
(for examples non-nationals, households with no one aged 15 or 
over at home during the fieldwork period, etc), language difficulty. 
For the wave 95.2, the response rates, calculated by Kantar, are: 

In Lithuania, from Norstat’s panel. Norstat’s Lithuania panel has 
around  20.000  active  members  recruited  mostly  in  the  last  6 
in 
months.  Around  75%  of 
probabilistically (via telephone or face-to-face), while the rest are 
recruited via online advertising and self-register. 

respondents  are 

recruited 

TS4 

CAPICAWIResponse ratesResponse ratesBEBelgium26,7%BGBulgaria46,0%CZCzechia44,4%DKDenmark40,5%16,3%DEGermany19,5%EEEstonia32,4%IEIreland22,3%ELGreece27,1%ESSpain31,3%FRFrance29,7%HRCroatia47,9%ITItaly21,4%CYRep. of Cyprus44,0%LVLatvia20,9%LTLithuania27,5%LULuxembourg27,2%HUHungary61,0%MTMalta82,2%40,3%NLNetherlands65,2%48,1%ATAustria41,2%PLPoland40,5%PTPortugal37,6%RORomania55,2%SISlovenia48,2%42,0%SKSlovakia63,8%25,2%FIFinland35,3%SESweden35,7%UKUnited Kingdom50,5%TRTurkey88,1%MKNorth Macedonia67,3%MEMontenegro94,1%RSSerbia67,7%ALAlbania72,8%BABosnia and Herzegovina76,5%ISIceland26,5%XKTerritory of Kosovo75,9%NONorway46,9%CHSwitzerland8,8%COUNTRIESCAPI : Computer-Assisted Personal interviewingCAWI : Computer-Assisted Web interviewingSpecial Eurobarometer 516 
European citizen’s knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Margins of error 

Readers  are  reminded  that  survey  results  are  estimations,  the 
accuracy of which - everything being equal - rests on the sample 
size and on the observed percentage. With samples of about 1,000 
interviews,  the  real  percentages  vary  within  the  following 
confidence limits: 

TS5 

various sample sizes are in rowsvarious observed results are in columns5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%95%90%85%80%75%70%65%60%55%50%N=506,08,39,911,112,012,713,213,613,813,9N=50N=5001,92,63,13,53,84,04,24,34,44,4N=500N=10001,41,92,22,52,72,83,03,03,13,1N=1000N=15001,11,51,82,02,22,32,42,52,52,5N=1500N=20001,01,31,61,81,92,02,12,12,22,2N=2000N=30000,81,11,31,41,51,61,71,81,81,8N=3000N=40000,70,91,11,21,31,41,51,51,51,5N=4000N=50000,60,81,01,11,21,31,31,41,41,4N=5000N=60000,60,80,91,01,11,21,21,21,31,3N=6000N=70000,50,70,80,91,01,11,11,11,21,2N=7000N=75000,50,70,80,91,01,01,11,11,11,1N=7500N=80000,50,70,80,90,91,01,01,11,11,1N=8000N=90000,50,60,70,80,90,91,01,01,01,0N=9000N=100000,40,60,70,80,80,90,91,01,01,0N=10000N=110000,40,60,70,70,80,90,90,90,90,9N=11000N=120000,40,50,60,70,80,80,90,90,90,9N=12000N=130000,40,50,60,70,70,80,80,80,90,9N=13000N=140000,40,50,60,70,70,80,80,80,80,8N=14000N=150000,30,50,60,60,70,70,80,80,80,8N=150005%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%95%90%85%80%75%70%65%60%55%50%Statistical Margins due to the sampling process(at the 95% level of confidence)Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizen’s knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Questionnaire 

Q1 

In your opinion, which of the following are the most 
influential in determining the status of a country or 
group of countries in the world? 
(READ OUT – ROTATE – MAX. 2 ANSWERS) 

of the following, please indicate whether you are… 
(M) 
(READ OUT – SAME ORDER AS Q2 - ONE ANSWER PER LINE) 

Military and defence capabilities 

Export of cultural works (films, novels, language, etc.) 

Scientific and technological advancement 

Economic strength 

Availability of natural resources 

Living and working conditions and well-being 

Social, health and welfare services 

Protection of the environment 

Rule of law 

Other (SPONTANEOUS) 

Don’t know 

1, 

2, 

3, 

4, 

5, 

6, 

7, 

8, 

9, 
10
, 

11 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

New medical 
discoveries 
New scientific 
discoveries and 
technological 
developments 
Sports news 

Culture and arts 

Politics 

Environmental 
problems including 
climate change (M) 

EB73.1 QC2 

Very 
well 
inform
ed 
1 

Moderat
ely well-
informe
d 
2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

DK 

Poorly 
inform
ed 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

Q4.
ab 

Of the following list of sources of information about 
developments in science and technology, please 
choose the two main sources that you use (watch, 
read, or listen) the most    
(READ OUT – ROTATE – MAX. 2 ANSWERS) 

And now, please choose the source that you use the 
least.  
(SHOW SCREEN – READ OUT – ONE ANSWER – FOR Q4b 
PRESENT ONLY THE ITEMS NOT SELECTED IN Q4A—IF 
RESPONDENT ANSWERED ITEM 10 AT Q4a THEN SKIP Q4b) 
Television, on a TV set or via the internet  
1, 
Newspapers, either online or in print  
2, 
Online encyclopaedias e.g. Wikipedia  
3, 
Magazines, either online or in print  
4, 
Radio, including podcasts  
5, 
Books, either in print or e-books  
6, 
Online social networks and blogs (e.g. video hosting 
websites) 
Scientific journals, either online or in print  
Other (SPONTANEOUS) 
You do not look for information about developments 
in science and technology (SPONTANEOUS) 
DK 

7, 
8, 
9, 

10 
11 

NEW based on EB79.2 QD4 

NEW 

Q2 

In everyday life, we have to deal with many different 
issues, where we feel more or less interested. For 
each of the following, please indicate whether you 
are… 
(READ OUT – ROTATE - ONE ANSWER PER LINE) 

Very 
interes
ted 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

Moderat
ely 
interest
ed 
2 

Not at 
all 
interes
ted 
3 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

DK 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

New medical 
discoveries 
New scientific 
discoveries and 
technological 
developments 
Sports news 

Culture and arts 

Politics 

Environmental 
problems including 
climate change (M) 

EB 73.1 QC1 

Q3 

In everyday life, we have to deal with many different 
issues, where we feel more or less informed. For each 

Q1 

Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizen’s knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

negative or no effect on our way of life in the next 
20 years? (M) 
(READ OUT – ROTATE - ONE ANSWER PER LINE) 
Fairly 
positiv
e 
effect 
2 

Very 
positiv
e 
effect 
1 

Very 
negati
ve 
effect 
4 

Fairly 
negati
ve 
effect 
3 

No 
effe
ct 

5 

Solar 
energy 

1 

1 

1 

2 

2 

3 

3 

4 

4 

5 

5 

D
K 

6 

6 

6 

2  Wind 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

energy 
Informa
tion and 
commu
nication 
Technol
ogy (N) 
Brain 
and 
cognitiv
e 
enhance
ment 
(N) 
Vaccine
s and 
combatt
ing 
infectio
us 
disease
s (N) 
Biotech
nology 
and 
genetic 
enginee
ring 
Space 
explorat
ion 
Nanotec
hnology 
Nuclear 
energy 
for 
energy 
producti
on (M) 
Artificial 
Intellige
nce (N) 

Modified Trend 63.1 QB13 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

1 

1 

2 

2 

2 

3 

3 

3 

4 

4 

4 

5 

6 

5 

5 

6 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Q5 

Among the following categories of people and 
organisations, which are the best qualified to explain 
the impact of scientific and technological 
developments on society?  
(READ OUT – ROTATE – MAX. 3 ANSWERS) 

Scientists working at a university or government-
funded research organisation  
Scientists working in an industrial or privately 
funded research organisation 
Journalists  
Politicians 
Consumer organisations 
Environmental protection associations 
Industry and private companies  
People active on online social networks and 
bloggers  
Religious leaders or representatives  
The [NATIONALITY] government 
The military 
General practitioners and specialist doctors 
Writers and intellectuals 
Family and friends  
The European Union 
Other (SPONTANEOUS) 
None (SPONTANEOUS) 
DK 

NEW based on Trend 79.2 QD7 

Q6 

Do you think that the overall influence of science 
and technology on society is…? (M) 
(READ OUT — ONE ANSWER ONLY) 

Very positive 

Fairly positive 

Fairly negative 

Very negative 

DK 

Modified trend EB79.2 QD5 

Q7  What level of public involvement do you think is 

appropriate when it comes to decisions about 
science and technology? 
(READ OUT — ONE ANSWER ONLY) 

The public does not need to be involved in decisions 
about science and technology 
Decisions about science and technology should be 
made by scientists, engineers and politicians, but 
the public should always be informed 
The public should be consulted and public opinion 
should be seriously considered when making 
decisions about science and technology 
Public opinion should be the main concern when 
making decisions about science and technology  
Other (SPONTANEOUS) 

DK 

NEW based on Trend 73.1 QC4 

1, 

2, 
3, 
4, 
5, 
6, 
7, 

8, 
9, 
10, 
11, 
12, 
13, 
14, 
15, 
16, 
17 
18 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Q8a  The following is a list of areas where new 

technologies are currently being developed. For each 
of these, do you think it will have a positive, a 

Q2 

Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizen’s knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Q8b 

In the coming years, which of the following areas do 
you think will be affected most by research and 
innovation?  
(READ OUT – ROTATE--ITEMS 1 AND 2 ALWAYS ASKED ONE 
AFTER THE OTHER – MAX. 3 ANSWERS) 
Fight against climate change 
Protection of the environment 
Security of citizens 
Job creation 
Energy supply 
Health and medical care 
Protection of personal data 
Reduction of inequalities 
Adaptation of society to an ageing population 
Availability and quality of food 
Transport and transport infrastructure 
Education and skills 
Quality of housing 
Other (SPONTANEOUS) 
DK 

1, 
2, 
3, 
4, 
5, 
6, 
7, 
8, 
9, 
10, 
11, 
12, 
13, 
14, 
15 

1QU   NEW 

NEW 

Q9 

The following are some statements that people have 
made about science or technology. For each 
statement, please indicate to what extent you agree 
or disagree.  
(READ OUT – ROTATE - ONE ANSWER PER LINE) 

Stron
gly 
agre
e 

Tend 
to 
agre
e 

1 

2 

Neith
er 
agre
e nor 
disag
ree 
3 

Tend 
to 
disag
ree 

Stron
gly 
disag
ree 

D
K 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

Science is 
so 
complicated 
that I do not 
understand 
much about 
it 
In my daily 
life, it is not 
important 
to know 
about 
science 
Scientists 
spend 
sufficient 
time 
meeting 
people like 
me to 
explain their 
work 
I would like 
to learn 
more about 
scientific 
developmen
ts in places 
like town 
halls, 
museums 
and libraries 
The results 
of publicly 
funded 
research, 
such as 
scientific 
articles and 
data, should 
be made 
available 
online free 
of charge 
Young 
people’s 
interest in 
science is 
essential 
for our 
future 
prosperity 
Science and 
technology 
can sort out 
any 
problem 

Q3 

Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizen’s knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

8 

9 

There 
should be 
no limit to 
what 
science is 
allowed to 
investigate 
New 
inventions 
will always 
be found to 
counteract 
any harmful 
consequenc
es of 
scientific 
and 
technologic
al 
developmen
t 

NEW with trend statements from 63.1, 73.1, 79.2 

Q4 

Q10  The following are some statements that people have 
made about science and technology. For each 
statement, please indicate to what extent you agree 
or disagree. 
(READ OUT – ROTATE - ONE ANSWER PER LINE) 
Tota
lly 
agre
e 

Tend 
to 
agre
e 

Tend 
to 
disa
gree 

Tota
lly 
disa
gree 

D
K 

Neit
her 
agre
e 
nor 
disa
gree 
3 

1 

2 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

1 

2 

2 

3 

3 

4 

4 

5 

6 

5 

6 

1a 

1b 

3 

2 

(SPLIT A) Science 
and technology 
make our lives 
easier, healthier 
and more 
comfortable 
(SPLIT B) Science 
and technology 
make our lives 
healthier  
Science prepares 
the younger 
generation to act 
as well-informed 
citizens  
Thanks to 
scientific and 
technological 
advances, the 
Earth’s natural 
resources will be 
inexhaustible 
Thanks to 
science and 
technology, there 
will be more 
opportunities for 
future 
generations 
Artificial 
intelligence and 
automation will 
create more jobs 
than they will 
eliminate 
6  We depend too 

4 

5 

8 

7 

much on science 
and not enough 
on faith 
The applications 
of science and 
technology can 
threaten human 
rights 
Science makes 
our ways of life 
change too fast 
Because of their 
knowledge, 
scientists have a 
power that 
makes them 
dangerous 
Trend 63.1, 73.1, 79.2 QD9 

9 

DK 

3 

3 

3 

3 
3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

1, 
2, 
3, 
4, 
5, 
6, 
7, 
8, 
9, 
10, 
11, 
12 

Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizen’s knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Q11  To what extent do you agree with the following 

statements regarding scientists today? (M) 
(READ OUT – ROTATE - ONE ANSWER PER LINE) 

Tot
ally 
agr
ee 

Ten
d 
to 
agr
ee 

1  We can no longer trust 

1 

2 

Nei
the
r 
agr
ee 
nor 
dis
agr
ee 
3 

D
K 

Tot
ally 
dis
agr
ee 

Ten
d 
to 
dis
agr
ee 

4 

5 

6 

Q12
a 

The following is a list of characteristics that can be 
associated with scientists today. For each 
characteristic, indicate if you think it describes 
scientists well or describes them badly (N) 
(READ OUT – ROTATE – ONE ANSWER PER 
LINE) 

1 

2 

3 

4 
5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

Reliable 

Collaborative 

Narrow minded 

Bad at communicating 
Honest 

Arrogant 

Altruistic 

Immoral 

Intelligent 

Describes 
well 
1 

Describes 
badly 
2 

1 

1 

1 
1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

2 

2 
2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

scientists to tell the 
truth about 
controversial scientific 
and technological 
issues because they 
depend more and more 
on money from industry 
Trend 73.1 
Scientists only look at 
very specific issues and 
do not consider 
problems from a wider 
perspective (M) 
Trend 73.1 
Nowadays, the 
problems we are facing 
are so complex that 
scientists are no longer 
able to understand 
them 
Trend 73.1 
(split A) Scientists 
should not intervene in 
political debate when 
decisions ignore 
scientific evidence (N) 
(Split B) Scientists 
should intervene in 
political debate to 
ensure that decisions 
take into account 
scientific evidence (N) 
Scientists should be 
held accountable for 
the misuse of their 
discoveries by other 
people. (M) 
Trend 63.1 

2 

3 

4a 

4b 

5 

Trend 63.1, 73.1 (QC8) 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

10 

Know best what is good 
for people 

NEW 

Q12
b 

NEW 

Please choose the three qualities that you 
think scientists should have: (N) 
(READ OUT – ROTATE – MAX. 3 ANSWERS) 
Reliability 
Ability to work together  
Open mindedness 
Communication skills  
Honesty  
Modesty 
Altruism  
Morality 
Intelligence 
Knowledge of what is good for people 
Other (SPONTANEOUS) 
Don’t know 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Q5 

Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizen’s knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Q13  You will be shown a series of statement sets. For 
each set, which statement comes closest to your 
point of view?  
(READ OUT – ROTATE) 
Decisions about science and technology should be 
based mainly on the advice of experts  
Decisions about science and technology should be 
based mainly on what the majority of people in a 
country think 
DK 

Q13
a 

Q13
b 

Q13
c 

Q13
d 

Q13
e 

Q13
f 

Science and technology should be tightly regulated 
by the government  
Science and technology should be allowed to 
operate freely in the marketplace like a business 
DK 

Decisions about science and technology should be 
based primarily on the moral and ethical issues 
concerned  
Decisions about science and technology should be 
based primarily on the potential to make new 
scientific discoveries and develop new technologies 
DK 

The government should take responsibility to ensure 
that new technologies benefit everyone  
It is up to people themselves to seek out the 
benefits of new technologies (M) 
DK 
TREND 73.1 

The government should make private companies 
tackle climate change  
We should leave it to private companies to decide 
whether to tackle climate change  
DK 

We should co-operate enthusiastically with the rest 
of the world and not isolate ourselves  
Our lives are threatened by organised crime and 
terrorism, from which we urgently need to protect 
ourselves 
DK 

NEW BASED ON 73.1 (EXCEPT Q12D, MODIFIED TREND) 

1 

2 
3 

1 

2 
3 

1 

2 
3 

1 

2 
3 

1 

2 
3 

1 

2 
3 

Q14  And now, a few questions on how you 

engage with science and technology issues. 
Do you: (M) 
(READ OUT – ROTATE - ONE ANSWER PER LINE) 
Yes, 
regul
arly 

Hardl
y 
ever 

No, 
never 

DK 

Yes, 
occas
ionall
y 
2 

3 

4 

5 

1 

1 

Talk about 
science and 
technology-
related issues 
with family or 
friends (N) 

2  Watch 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

documentaries, or 
read science and 
technology-
related 
publications, 
magazines or 
books (N) 
Visit science and 
technology 
museums (N) 
Study science 
and technology-
related issues in 
your free time, 
for instance in a 
face-to-face or 
online course (N) 
Sign petitions or 
join 
demonstrations 
on science and 
technology 
matters such as 
nuclear power, 
biotechnology, 
the environment 
or climate change 
(M) 
Attend public 
meetings or 
debates about 
science and 
technology 
Take part in the 
activities of a 
non-
governmental 
organisation 
dealing with 
science and 
technology 
related issues 
Contact public 
authorities or 
political leaders 
about science 
and technology-
related issues (N) 
Provide personal 
data for scientific 
research (N) 
Take part in 
clinical trials (N) 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

Q6 

1 

1 

2 

2 

3 

3 

4 

4 

5 

5 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

1 

1 

2 

2 

3 

3 

4 

4 

5 

5 

11 

12 

Lend your 
computer’s 
processing power 
to contribute to 
research on 
complex scientific 
questions (N) 
Actively take part 
in scientific 
projects by 
developing 
research 
questions, 
collecting data, 
discussing the 
findings with 
others, etc. (N) 

Trend 73.1 

Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizen’s knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

Q16  Sometimes people find it difficult to engage with 
science and technology. Which of the following, if 
any, are the main barriers for you? 
(READ OUT – ROTATE – MULTIPLE ANSWERS POSSIBLE) 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

Lack of time 
Lack of financial resources 
Lack of interest 
Lack of information on activities or events related to 
science and technology 
Lack of knowledge in the field of science and 
technology 
Lack or poor quality of activities or events related to 
science and technology in the area where you live 
Feeling that you would not be welcomed or that it is 
not something for you 
Privacy concerns, e.g. fear of personal data misuse 
Other (SPONTANEOUS) 
None (SPONTANEOUS) 
DK 

1, 
2, 
3, 

4, 

5, 

6, 

7, 
8, 
9, 
10 

11 

Q15  Thinking now about the future, would you consider 
increasing your engagement with science and 
technology by doing any of the following things? 
Please select all that apply. 
(READ OUT – ROTATE – MULTIPLE ANSWERS POSSIBLE) 

NEW 

Talking about science or technology-related issues 
with family or friends 
Watching documentaries, or read science and 
technology-related publications, magazines or books 
Visiting science or technology museums 
Studying science or technology-related issues in 
your free time, for instance on a  face-to-face or 
online course 
Signing petitions or joining demonstrations on 
science and technology matters such as nuclear 
power, biotechnology, the environment or climate 
change 
Attending public meetings or debates about science 
and technology 
Taking part in the activities of a non-governmental 
organisation dealing with science and technology-
related issues 
Contacting public authorities or political leaders 
about science and technology-related issues 
Providing personal data for scientific research 
Taking part in clinical trials (N) 
Lending your computer’s processing power to 
contribute to the research on complex scientific 
questions   
Actively taking part in scientific projects by 
developing research questions, collecting data, 
discussing the findings with others, etc. (N) 
Other (SPONTANEOUS) 
None (SPONTANEOUS) 
DK 

1, 

2, 
3, 

4, 

5, 

6, 

7, 

8, 
9, 
10, 

11, 

12, 
13, 
14, 
15 

NEW 

Q7 

Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizen’s knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Q17  How strongly do you agree or disagree with each of 

the following statements? (N) 
(READ OUT – ROTATE – ONE ANSWER PER LINE) 

Stro
ngly 
agre
e 

Tend 
to 
agre
e 

1 

2 

Neit
her 
agre
e 
nor 
disa
gree 
3 

DK 

Tend 
to 
disa
gree 

Stro
ngly 
disa
gree 

7 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

consider the 
needs of all 
groups of 
people when 
developing 
new solutions 
and products 
Involving non-
scientists in 
research and 
technological 
development 
ensures that 
science and 
technology 
respond to 
the needs, 
values and 
expectations 
of society 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

8  We have no 
option but to 
trust those 
governing 
science and 
technology 

NEW 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Q8 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Science and 
technology do 
not really 
benefit 
people like 
you 
Science and 
technology 
could be used 
to improve 
everyone’s 
lives, but in 
practice they 
mostly 
improve the 
lives of 
people who 
are already 
better off 
Science and 
technology 
could be used 
to improve 
living 
conditions in 
less 
developed 
countries, but 
in practice 
they mostly 
improve living 
conditions in 
well-off 
countries 
Science and 
technology 
could be used 
to help 
improve the 
environment 
and tackle 
climate 
change, but in 
practice they 
mostly help 
companies 
make money 
Science and 
technology 
pay sufficient 
attention to 
differences 
between 
women’s and 
men’s needs 
Science and 
technology 
should 

Overall, 
promoting 
gender 
equality is 
important 
for you 
personally 
Gender 
equality in 
the science 
and 
technology 
workforce 
would 
improve the 
outcomes 
of science 
and 
technology 
Gender 
equality in 
the science 
and 
technology 
workforce 
would 
improve 
business 
profits and 
the 
economy 
Gender 
equality in 
the science 
and 
technology 
workforce 
would help 
ensure we 
live in a 
fairer and 
more equal 
society 

1 

2 

3 

4 

NEW 

Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizen’s knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Q18 

 How strongly do you agree or disagree with each of 
the following statements? (N) 
(READ OUT – ROTATE – ITEM 1 ALWAYS ASKED IN FIRST 
PLACE - ONE ANSWER PER LINE) 

Stron
gly 
agre
e 

Tend 
to 
agre
e 

1 

2 

Neith
er 
agre
e nor 
disag
ree 
3 

DK 

Tend 
to 
disag
ree 

Stron
gly 
disag
ree 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Q19  Do you think researchers in the following countries 

are ahead, behind, or at the same level as 
researchers in the European Union on average, in 
terms of making new scientific discoveries? 
(READ OUT – ROTATE - ONE ANSWER PER LINE) 

Ahead of 
researche
rs in the 
EU on 
average 

Behind 
research
ers in 
the EU 
on 
average 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

At the 
same 
level as 
research
er in the 
EU on 
average 
3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

DK 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

The United 
States 

China 

Japan 

South Korea 

India 
[OUR 
COUNTRY] 

NEW 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Q20  For each of the following statements, please indicate 

whether you believe them to be true or false. If you 
don't know, you can indicate so. (M) 
(READ OUT – ROTATE – ONE ANSWER PER LINE) 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

The earliest humans lived at 
the same time as the 
dinosaurs   
The continents on which we 
live have been moving for 
millions of years and will 
continue to move in the future 
Antibiotics kill viruses as well 
as bacteria  
The oxygen we breathe comes 
from plants  
Lasers work by focusing sound 
waves  
The world’s human population 
is currently more than 10 
billion (N) 
The methods used by the 
natural sciences and the social 
sciences are equally scientific 
(N) 
Human beings, as we know 
them today, developed from 
earlier species of animals (N) 
Climate change is for the most 
part caused by natural cycles 
rather than human activities 
(N) 
The cure for cancer exists but 
is hidden from the public by 
commercial interests (N) 
Viruses have been produced in 
government laboratories to 
control our freedom (N) 

Trend 63.1 QA10 

True 
1 

False 
2 

DK 
3 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

3 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

Q9 

Special Eurobarometer 516 
European citizen’s knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

D92
ab 

What is the highest level of education that has been 
achieved by your mother? 
(READ OUT - ONE ANSWER ONLY) 
And by your father?  
(SHOW SCREEN – READ OUT - ONE ANSWER ONLY) 
Not completed primary 
Completed primary 
Completed secondary 
Completed post-secondary vocational studies, or 
higher education to bachelor level or equivalent 
Completed upper level of education to post-
graduate or master degree or equivalent (M) 
Completed doctoral degree or equivalent (N) 
Refusal (SPONTANEOUS) 
DK  
Modified Trend 88.4 

1 
2 
3 

4 

5 
6 
7 
8 

D93  Have you or a member of your close family (parents, 
children or siblings) ever worked in research, science 
or innovative technology development? 
(READ OUT - MULTIPLE ANSWERS POSSIBLE) 
Yes, you do or did in the past 
Yes, a member of your family does or did in the 
past 
No (exclusive) 
DK 

1 

2 
3 
4 

NEW 

D90.1   On a scale of 1 to 10, how religious or spiritual do 
you consider yourself? 1 means that you are not at all 
religious or spiritual, 10 that you are very strongly 
religious or spiritual. The remaining numbers indicate 
something between these two positions. 
 (READ OUT — ONE ANSWER ONLY) 
Not at all religious or spiritual 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

Very strongly religious or spiritual 
Refusal (SPONTANEOUS) 
DK 

Do you consider yourself to be… 

NEW 

D90
.2 

(ONE ANSWER ONLY) 
Catholic 
Orthodox Christian 
Protestant 
Other Christian 
Jewish 
Muslim - Shia 
Muslim – Sunni 
Other Muslim 
Sikh 
Buddhist 
Hindu 
Atheist 
Non-believer or agnostic 
Other 
Refusal (SPONTANEOUS) 
DK 
Trend 91.4 SD2 

D91  Were you or your parents born in a country other 

than (OUR COUNTRY)? 
(READ OUT - MULTIPLE ANSWERS POSSIBLE) 

Yes, you yourself were 

Yes, your mother was 

Yes, your father was 

No, neither you nor your parents were born in another 
country (exclusive) 
Refusal (SPONTANEOUS) 

DK 

NEW 

9 
10 
11 
12 

1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 

1 

2 

3 

5 

6 

7 

Q10