European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology : Eurobarometer report.
Date: 2025-02-03
Institutions: Directorate-General for Research and Innovation
Subjects: EU research policy, artificial intelligence, civic engagement, corporate social responsibility, new technology, opinion poll, organisation of research, report, sample survey, scientific research

SPECIAL  EUROBAROMETER  557 

European citizens’ 
knowledge and 
attitudes towards 
science and 
technology 

E U R O B A R O M E T E R  R E P O R T    

F I E L D W O R K :   S E P T E M B E R– O C T O B E R   2 0 2 4 

This survey has been requested by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) 

and co-ordinated by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication (DGCOMM ‘Media monitoring and 

Eurobarometer’ Unit) 

This document does not represent the point of view of the European Commission. The interpretations and opinions contained in it 

are solely those of the authors. 

Project title 

Eurobarometer 2024 - European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards 
science and technology. 

Language version 

Media/Volume 

Catalogue number 

ISBN 

DOI 

EN 

PDF Web 

KI-01-24-081-EN-N 

978-92-68-22156-3 

10.2777/6040908 

© European Union, 2025 

https://www.europa.eu/eurobarometer 

Photo credit: Getty Images, Pixabay and Adobe Stock (@weyo, page 122, @Natali, page 154) 

Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction 

Key findings 

I. Knowledge about science  and technology

1 . Le ve l of  inf or ma t ion a bout  a nd unde r s t a nding of  s cie nce  a nd t e chnology

2 . Sour ce s  of  inf or ma t ion a bout  s cie nt if ic a nd t e chnologica l de ve lopme nt s

3 . At t it ude s  t owa r ds  s cie nce  a nd t e chnology

II. Views on the impacts of science and technology

1 . Ove r a ll inf lue nce  of  s cie nce  a nd t e chnology on s ocie t y

2 . Ar e a s  a f f e ct e d by ne w t e chnologie s

3 . Opinion on t he  be ne f it s  a nd pit f a lls  of  s cie nce  a nd t e chnology

III. Views on governance of science and technology

4 

7 

12 

1 4 
5 1 
6 3 

71 

7 2 
9 5 
1 0 2 

122 

1 . Gove r na nce  of  s cie nce  a nd t e chnology

1 2 3 
2 . Vie ws  on r e s pons ible  bodie s  r e ga r ding s e cur it y in int e r na t iona l r e s e a r ch colla bor a t ion  1 4 7
1 5 0 

3 . Public a cce s s  t o r e s e a r ch r e s ult s

IV. Perceptions of scientists

1 . Vie ws  on s cie nt is t s

2 . Cha r a ct e r is t ics  of  s cie nt is t s

V. Citizens’ engagement in science and technology

1 . De s ir e d public involve me nt  in de cis ions  a bout  s cie nce  a nd t e chnology

2 . Ba r r ie r s  t o e nga ge  wit h s cie nce  a nd t e chnology

3 . Pe ople  a nd or ga nis a t ions  qua lif ie d t o e xpla in t he  impa ct  of  s cie nt if ic a nd t e chnologica l

de ve lopme nt s  on s ocie t y

VI. Diversity, inclusiveness  and social responsibility in science and technology

1 . Young pe ople  a nd s cie nce  a nd t e chnology

2 .

Inclus ive ne s s  a nd s ocia l r e s pons ibilit y in s cie nce  a nd t e chnology

VII. Views on the use of AI for scientific research

Conclusion 

Technical Specifications 

Questionnaire 

154 

1 5 5 
1 7 5 

205 

2 0 6 
2 3 7 

2 4 3 

250 

2 5 1 
2 6 1 

272 

283 

TS1 

Q1 

Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Introduction 

Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

 Citizens’  engagement  in  science  and  technology,
including the preferred level of public involvement in
decision-making  about  science  and  technology,
current – and ideal - levels of engagement, barriers
to  engagement,  and  views  on  the  best  people  to
explain scientific and technological developments on
society;

 Diversity,  inclusiveness,  and  social  responsibility,
including  views  on  young  people  and  science  and
technology, the role of science and technology with
regards to inclusiveness and social responsibility, and
perceptions  of  gender  equality  in  science  and
technology.

 Views  on  the  use  of  AI  for  scientific  research,
including  how  well-informed  people  feel  about  the
benefits  and  risks  of  AI,  levels  of  trust  in  research
conducted with the use of AI and expectations for the
future.

The  survey  continues  in  the  tradition  of  a  long  line  of 
surveys stretching back to the late 1970s. This includes the 
following surveys on science and technology:  








EBS  225:  Social  Values,  Science  &  Technology
(2005);
EBS 340: Science and Technology (2010);
EBS 401: Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI),
Science and Technology (2013);
EBS  516:  European  citizens’  knowledge  and
attitudes towards science and technology (2021);

In order to show trends over time, the report includes trend 
comparisons  with  the  previous  Eurobarometer  survey 
conducted in 2021. 

Introduction 

Investing in research and innovation is investing in Europe’s 
future. It helps Europe to compete globally and preserve its 
unique social model. It improves the daily lives of millions 
of people in Europe and around the world, helping to solve 
some of our biggest societal challenges. 

EU  support  for  research  and  innovation  adds  value  by 
encouraging  cooperation  between  research  teams  across 
countries  and  disciplines,  which is  vital 
breakthrough discoveries. 

in  making 

Through its multiannual research and innovation framework 
programmes, the EU provides funding to: 










strengthen the EU’s position in science;
including
innovation, 
industrial 
strengthen 
investment  in  key  technologies,  greater  access  to
capital and support for small businesses;
address  major  social  concerns,  such  as  climate
renewable
change,  sustainable 
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  and
innovation.

transport  and 

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 
an  indicative  budget  of  €93.5  billion.  It  aims  to  tackle 
climate  change,  help  to  achieve  the  UN’s  Sustainable 
Development Goals and boost the EU’s competitiveness and 
growth.  

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
level  of  information  about  and  understanding  of  a
range of scientific facts, sources of information and
overall attitudes towards science and technology;

 Views  on  the  impacts  of  science  and  technology,
including its influence on society, the areas likely to
be affected in the future, and the risks and perceived
benefits of new technologies;

 Views on the governance of science and technology,
responsibility  for  security  in  international  research
collaboration, and attitudes regarding public access
to research results;

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

5 

Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Note: In this report, Member States are referred to by their 
official abbreviation, as listed below:  
Belgium 

Lithuania 

BE 

LT 

Bulgaria 

Czechia 

Denmark 

Germany 

Estonia 

Ireland 

Greece 

Spain 

France 

Croatia 

Italy 

Republic of 
Cyprus* 

Latvia 

Albania 

Bosnia and 
Herzegovina 

BG 

CZ 

DK 

DE 

EE 

IE 

EL 

ES 

EN 

HR 

IT 

CY* 

LV 

AL 

BA 

Luxembourg 

Hungary 

Malta 

Netherlands 

Austria 

Poland 

Portugal 

Romania 

Slovenia 

Slovakia 

Finland 

Sweden 

LU 

HU 

MT 

NL 

AT 

PL 

PT 

RO 

SI 

SK 

FI 

SE 

North Macedonia  MK 

Serbia 

RS 

TR 

UK 

Montenegro  ME 

Türkiye 

Kosovo1 

XK 

The United 
Kingdom 

European Union – weighted average for the 
27 Member States of the European Union 

EU27 

* Cyprus  as  a  whole  is  one  of  the  27  European  Union
Member States. However, the “acquis communautaire” has
been  suspended  in  the  part  of  the  country  which  is  not
controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus. For
practical reasons, only the interviews carried out in the part
of the country controlled by the government of the Republic
of Cyprus are included in the “CY” category and in the EU27
average.

Methodology
This  survey  was  carried  out  by  Verian  Brussels  (formerly 
Kantar Public) in the 27 EU Member States and eight non-
EU countries between 12 September and 10 October 2024. 
A  total  of  34,207 respondents  from  different  social  and 
demographic  groups  were  interviewed  in  their  mother 
tongue.  This  survey  was  commissioned  by  the  European 
Commission,  Directorate  General 
for  Research  and 
Innovation (DG RTD) 

impact  of  COVID-19, 
used  was 

Throughout the report, results are compared to those from 
the 2021 wave, Special Eurobarometer 516. In 2021, due to 
in  some  countries, the 
the 
methodology 
Computer-Assisted  Web 
Interviewing (CAWI). The countries where the methodology 
differs completely compared to 2021 are Belgium, Czechia, 
Estonia,  Ireland,  Latvia,  Lithuania,  Luxembourg,  Portugal, 
Finland, Sweden, and United Kingdom. The countries where 
the  methodology  differs  partially  compared  to  2021  are 
Denmark,  Malta,  the  Netherlands,  Slovenia,  Slovakia, and 
Türkiye. Therefore, evolutions compared to 2021 should be 
interpreted with caution. When possible, results have been 
compared  to  the Special  Eurobarometer  516  mentioned 
above.  The  technical  specification  annexed  to  this  report 
also  specifies  the  differences  in  methodologies  between 
2024 and 2021 (see pg. 307).   

The methodology used is that of Eurobarometer surveys as 
carried out for the Directorate-General for Communication 
(“Media monitoring and analysis” Unit).   

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

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

1 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 

Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Key findings 

7 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The survey covers the 27 EU Member States, as well as eight 
European countries outside of the EU. This summary focuses 
on results for the EU and the 27 Member States. All of the 
trend  results  are  based  on  comparisons  with  the  2021 
survey. 

Eight  in  ten  Europeans  feel  well  informed 
about  environmental  problems,  while  just 
over  half  feel  well  informed  about  new 
scientific  discoveries  and  technological 
developments  and  about  new  medical 
discoveries. 

  Around eight in ten EU citizens (79%) feel well informed 
about environmental problems including climate change, 
while  just  over  half  feel  well  informed  about  new 
scientific  discoveries  and  technological  developments 
(56%) and about new medical discoveries (52%).  

•

The  proportion  that  feels  ‘very  well  informed’  is
23%  for  environmental  problems,  11%  for
scientific 
technological
developments  and  10% 
for  new  medical
discoveries.

discoveries 

and 

  Respondents are less likely than in 2021 to say they feel 
well  informed  about  new  medical  discoveries  (-15 
percentage  points)  and  new  scientific  discoveries  and 
technological developments (-10 pp). 

  In  the  current  survey,  respondents  in  the  Netherlands, 
Luxembourg,  Denmark  and  Sweden  tend  to  feel  best 
informed  about  these  issues,  while  those  in  Portugal, 
Bulgaria and Hungary feel least well informed. 

When  respondents  are  asked  their  opinion 
about the correctness or falsity of scientific 
facts, incorrect answers have become more 
prevalent since 2021, including in relation to 
conspiracy theories.  

  Respondents  were  presented  with  statements  on 
scientific  issues,  which  they  were  asked  to  identify  as 
either  true  or  false.  Overall,  one  in  ten  respondents 
(10%)  correctly  answered  more  than  eight  out  of  ten 
questions, almost two in three (64%) gave between five 
and eight correct answers, and around one in four (26%) 
were able to provide fewer than five correct answers.   

that 

respondents 

(84%)  knows 

  In  terms  of  natural  history  and  geography,  a  clear 
majority  of 
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 (68%). Fewer are able 
to say that it is false that the world’s human population 

8 

is  currently  more  than  ten  billion  (42%).  These  results 
are  similar  to  those  seen  in  2021,  except  that 
respondents  are  now  more  likely  to  give  an  incorrect 
answer about the world’s population (+9 pp). 

  When it comes to citizens’ knowledge of the natural and 
physical sciences, 83% know that the oxygen we breathe 
comes from plants, and 58% 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 (53%), fewer know that lasers 
do not work by focusing sound waves (45%).  

•

Since, 2021, there has been a substantial increase
in  the  proportion  of  incorrect  answers  (between
+7pp and +10 pp), for all of these items except for
“the oxygen we breathe comes from plants”, where
there has been little change.

  With regards to the last set of scientific fact statements, 
a  majority  know  it  is  false  that  viruses  have  been 
produced  in  government  laboratories  to  control  our 
freedom (54%) and that the cure for cancer exists but is 
hidden from the public by commercial interests (55%). 
However,  the  proportion  of  incorrect  answers  has 
increased since 2021 (+7 pp and +8 pp respectively). 

Europeans  want  to 
learn  more  about 
scientific  developments,  but  often  find 
science complicated and removed from their 
daily lives.  

like  to 

  While the majority of Europeans (58%, +4 pp) agree that 
they  would 
learn  more  about  scientific 
developments, over half (53%, +7 pp) agree that science 
is  so  complicated  that  they  do  not  understand  much 
about it, and more than a third (36%, +3 pp) agree that 
in  their  daily  life  it  is  not  important  to  know  about 
science.  

  Television (61%, -2 pp) is the preferred means to obtain 
in  science  and 
information  about  developments 
technology,  followed  far  behind  by  online  social 
networks  and  blogs  (31%,  +2  pp),  online  and  printed 
newspapers (19%, -5 pp) and radio, including podcasts 
(17%, +3 pp).  

There is a clear consensus that science and 
technology  have  a  positive  influence  on 
society.  

  More than eight in ten respondents (83%, -3 pp) think 
the  overall  influence  of  science  and  technology  on 
society is positive, compared with one in seven (14%, +3 
pp)  who  say  it  is  negative.  More  than  six  in  ten 
respondents  in  every  country  think  the  influence  is 
positive, led by those in Sweden, Lithuania and Portugal. 

  Respondents  are  most  likely  to  think  that  renewable 
information  and  communication 

energies 

(87%), 

Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

to  people  themselves  to  seek  out  the  benefits  of  new 
technologies.   

  Almost  three-quarters  (73%)  think  the  government 
should make private companies tackle climate change, 
although this proportion has decreased since 2021 (-6 
pp).  A  quarter  (25%,  +5  pp)  say  we  should  leave  it  to 
private  companies  to  decide  whether  to  tackle  climate 
change.  

  Respondents  are  most  likely  to  say  that  research 
institutions should be responsible for ensuring research 
security  in  international  collaboration  (41%),  ahead  of 
governments (29%) and funding agencies (26%). 

  Eight  in  ten  Europeans  (80%,  +1  pp)  agree  that  the 
results  of  publicly  funded  research  should  be  freely 
available online, while just 5% disagree (no change). 

The  majority  think  that  scientists  should 
intervene in political debate, although there 
is some scepticism over how much scientists 
can be trusted. 

  Respondents  mostly  agree  that  scientists  should 
intervene in political debate to ensure that decisions take 
into account scientific evidence (68%, no change), with 
fewer  agreeing  with  the  opposite  statement  that 
scientists should not intervene in this way (42%, +3 pp).  

  Half of respondents (50%, no change) 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. 
One in five disagree (21%, -1 pp).  

  Just under half of respondents (48%, +3 pp) agree that 
“scientists  only  look  at  very  specific  issues  and  do  not 
consider  problems  from  a  wider  social  perspective”, 
while 21% disagree (-4 pp).  

  Just over a third of respondents (35%, +3 pp) agree that 
“nowadays, the problems we are facing are so complex 
that scientists are no longer able to understand them”, 
while a slightly larger proportion disagrees (37%, -4 pp).  

  Almost half of respondents (48%, -3 pp) disagree that 
scientists spend sufficient time meeting people like them 
to explain their work, with 27% (+4 pp) agreeing. 

  Just over half of EU citizens (52%) agree that “because 
of their knowledge, scientists have a power that makes 
them dangerous”. Agreement has increased since 2021 
(+6 pp), while disagreement has fallen (23%, -6 pp). 

technology  (79%,  -3pp)  and  vaccines  and  combatting 
infectious  diseases  (77%,  -9pp)  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%, no change) will be most affected by research 
and innovation in the coming years, while 34% (-6 pp) 
think it will be the fight against climate change, and 32% 
(no change) the energy supply.  

  Two-thirds  of  respondents  (67%,  -2  pp)  agree  that 
science and technology make our lives easier, healthier 
and more comfortable. 

  Only a minority of respondents (29%, +3 pp) agree that 
thanks  to  scientific  and  technological  advances,  the 
Earth’s  natural  resources  will  be  inexhaustible,  while 
almost half (46%, -5 pp) disagree.  

  Three  in  ten  respondents  (30%,  +1  pp)  agree  that 
artificial  intelligence  and  automation  will  create  more 
jobs than they will eliminate, while four in ten disagree 
(40%, no change).  

  The majority of respondents in the EU agree that science 
makes our ways of life change too fast (63%) and that 
the applications of science and technology can threaten 
human  rights  (56%).  Agreement  with  both  statements 
has 
(+6  pp  and  +4  pp, 
respectively). 

increased  since  2021 

A majority favour government regulation in 
science  and  technology,  with  decisions 
guided by experts   

  Just over half of respondents (53%, +1 pp) agree that 
we have no option but to trust those governing science 
and technology.  

  On balance, Europeans think that science and technology 
should  be  tightly  regulated  by  the  government  (54%), 
although more than four in ten (44%) think it should be 
allowed  to  operate  freely  in  the  marketplace  like  a 
business.  

• 

There has been a slight shift in favour of greater 
regulation since the 2021 survey (+4 pp).  

  Respondents  are  more  likely  to  think  that  decisions 
about science and technology should be based primarily 
on the moral and ethical issues concerned (57%, +2 pp) 
than to say these decisions should be based primarily on 
the  potential  to  make  new  scientific  discoveries  and 
develop new technologies (41%, -2 pp).  

  Seven in ten Europeans (70%, -2 pp) say that decisions 
about  science  and  technology  should  be  based  mainly 
on  the  advice  of  experts,  rather  than  based  mainly  on 
what the majority of people in a country think (28%, +1 
pp). 

  More than seven in ten respondents (72%, no change) 
think that the government should take responsibility to 
technologies  benefit  everyone, 
ensure 
compared with 27%, (no change) who think that it is up 

that  new 

9 

 
 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Europeans  mainly  associate  scientists  with 
positive characteristics, such as intelligence 
and reliability. 

  Respondents have  a  mostly positive  view of  scientists, 
with 89% (no change) saying that “intelligent” describes 
scientists well. More than half of respondents say that 
“reliable” (71%, +3 pp), “honest” (63%, +5 pp) and “‘know 
best  what  is  good  for  people”  (53%,  +6  pp)  are 
characteristics that describe scientists well.  

  Fewer 

respondents  see  scientists  as 

“bad  at 
communicating” (43%, +4 pp), “arrogant” (30%, +2 pp), 
“narrow  minded”  (28%,  +5  pp),  or  “immoral”  (19%,  +3 
pp).  

  Asked what qualities they want to see most in scientists, 
respondents  mention 
(49%,  -1  pp), 
followed by “honesty” (46%, +3 pp), “reliability” (41%, +2 
pp) and “morality” (35%, +1 pp). 

“intelligence” 

Europeans  want  to  be 
informed  about 
decisions on science and technology, but the 
majority think decisions should be made by 
scientists, engineers and politicians.  

  The  most  prevalent  view  among  Europeans  is  that 
“decisions about science and technology should be made 
by  scientists,  engineers  and  politicians,  but  that  the 
public  should  always  be  informed”  (52%,  no  change). 
Around  a  third  (32%,  no  change)  think  that  the  public 
should  be  consulted  and  public  opinion  should  be 
seriously  considered.  Fewer  think  that  the  public  does 
not need to be involved in decisions about science and 
technology (6%, -1 pp) or that public opinion should be 
the main concern when making decisions about science 
and technology (8%, no change).  

  Respondents are most likely to engage with science and 
technology  by  watching  documentaries  or  reading 
science and technology related publications, magazines, 
books  or  podcasts  (58%,  -1  pp)  or  by  talking  about 
science  and  technology  issues  with  family  or  friends 
(52%, -3 pp). Around three in ten (31%, -2 pp) say they 
visit science and technology museums.  

technology 

  These  are  also  the  ways  that  respondents  say  they 
would  consider  to  increase  their  engagement  with 
science  and 
the  future:  watching 
documentaries  or  reading  science  and  technology-
related  publications,  magazines,  books  or  podcasts 
(43%,  -5  pp),  talking  about  science  and  technology-
related  issues  with  family  or  friends  (39%, -7  pp)  and 
visiting science and technology museums (28%, -5 pp). 

in 

  Asked  why  they  may  sometimes  find  it  difficult  to 
engage with science and technology, respondents most 
frequently  mention  lack  of  time  (40%,  -1  pp),  lack  of 
interest (37%, +3 pp) and lack of knowledge in the field 
of science and technology (36%, -3 pp). 

10 

  Professional  scientists  are  seen  as  best  qualified  to 
explain  the  impact  of  scientific  and  technological 
developments on society; specifically, scientists working 
at  a  university  or  government-funded 
research 
organisation  (57%, -4  pp)  and  scientists working  in  an 
industrial  or  privately  funded  research  organisation 
(39%,  -1  pp).  Around  a  quarter  (26%,  -3  pp)  choose 
general practitioners and specialist doctors as one of the 
categories  of  people  and  organisations  that  are  best 
qualified to explain these issues.  

think 

Europeans 

Most 
and 
technology  should  be  inclusive  but  tend  to 
believe that currently only certain groups of 
the population benefit. 

science 

  Social responsibility is considered important for science 
and  technology,  with  77%  of  respondents  (-1  pp) 
agreeing  that  science  and  technology  should  consider 
the needs of all groups of people when developing new 
solutions and products.  

  Around six in ten (61%, +4 pp) 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.  

  Around  two-thirds  of  respondents  (68%,  -2  pp)  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 (64%, -1 pp) agree that science and 
technology  could  help  improve  the  environment  and 
tackle  climate  change,  but  that  they  mostly  help 
companies  make  money;  again,  the  majority  in  every 
Member State agrees with the statement. 

  Science is considered important for young people, with 
61% of respondents (no change) agreeing that science 
prepares the younger generation to act as well-informed 
citizens.  In  addition,  68%  (-1  pp)  agree  that  thanks  to 
science and technology, there will be more opportunities 
for future generations.  

  Gender equality in the science and technology workforce 
is considered important. Respondents agree that it would 
help ensure we live in a fairer and more equal society 
(69%, -4 pp) and that gender equality in the science and 
technology  workforce  would  improve  the  outcomes  of 
science  and  technology  (63%,  -2  pp).  Moreover,  a 
majority agrees that gender equality in the science and 
technology  workforce  would  improve  business  profits 
and the economy (55%, -3 pp).  

•  On  each  of  these  statements,  there  has  been  a 
small  decrease  since  2021  in  overall  levels  of 
agreement,  and  a  sharp  decline 
in  “strong” 
agreement (down 10 or 11 percentage points for 
each of the three statements). 

 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Around  one  in  three  EU  citizens  feel  well 
informed  about  the  potential  benefits  and 
risks of AI in science. 

  Just over a third of EU citizens (37%) feel well informed 
about  “the  potential  benefits  of  using  AI  in  scientific 
work”,  while  the  majority  (62%)  do  not  feel  well 
informed. 

  A similar proportion (35%) say they feel well informed 
about “the potential risks of using AI in scientific work,” 
with two-thirds of respondents (64%) saying they do not 
feel well informed. 

  Just  over  a  third  of  respondents  (38%)  say  they  trust 
scientific research and discoveries that are created with 
the help of AI, while a quarter (25%) distrust this type of 
research, and 35% neither trust nor distrust it. Levels of 
trust  are  highest  among  respondents  in  Denmark, 
Portugal,  Sweden  and  Malta,  and  lowest  in  Romania, 
Croatia and Hungary. 

  Half of EU citizens (50%) agree that “AI used in science 
advances scientific discoveries that will lead to solutions 
to major challenges such as climate change and serious 
diseases.” One in six respondents disagree (16%). 

11 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

I. Knowledge about science

and technology 

12 

Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

This  report  begins  with  an  examination  of  how  well-
informed  respondents  feel  about  a  range  of  everyday 
activities, including areas related to science and technology.  

The  chapter  then  explores  respondents'  actual  knowledge 
and understanding of a range of issues, covering science in 
a broad sense, including some common conspiracy theories.  

It  then  focuses  on  sources  of  information  about  scientific 
and  technological  developments,  assessing  which  sources 
respondents use the most and which they use the least. 

The final section of this chapter examines general attitudes 
towards science and technology. 

13 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

1. Level  of  information  about  and
understanding  of  science  and 
technology

The majority of Europeans feel very or moderately 
well informed about new scientific discoveries and 
technological developments 

Respondents were asked how well informed they felt about 
six  spheres  of  activity2.  More  than  half  of  Europeans  say 
they  feel  well  informed  (either  “very  well”  or  “moderately 
well”) about each of the six areas of interest. 

EU  citizens  are  most  likely  to  say  they  feel  well  informed 
about  environmental  problems  including  climate  change 
(79%), while three in four feel well informed about politics 
(75%). More than six in ten feel well informed about sports 
news (65%) and culture and the arts (63%). Just over half 
feel  well  informed  about  new  scientific  discoveries  and 
technological  developments 
(56%)  and  new  medical 
discoveries (52%). 

More  than  one  in  five  EU  citizens  say  they  are  “very  well 
informed”  about  sports  news  (26%),  politics  (24%)  and 
environmental problems (23%). 

Smaller proportions say they feel “very well informed” about 
culture  and  the  arts  (12%),  new  scientific  discoveries  and 
technological  developments 
(11%)  and  new  medical 
discoveries (10%). 

There have been some changes since the previous survey 
conducted  in  2021  (EBS  516).  Respondents  are  now  less 
likely  to  say  they  feel  well  informed  (either  “very  well”  or 
“moderately  well”)  about  new  medical  discoveries  (-15 
percentage  points)  and  new  scientific  discoveries  and 
technological developments (-10 pp). Specifically, there has 
been  a  fall  in  the  proportions  that  feel  “moderately  well 
informed” about new medical discoveries (-12 pp) and new 
scientific  discoveries  and  technological  developments  (-8 
pp),  while  there  has  been  a  corresponding  rise  in  the 
proportions that feel “poorly informed” (+16 pp and +11 pp 
respectively). 

Less  substantial  changes  can  be  observed  for  the  other 
spheres of activity. Respondents are now more likely than in 
2021 to say they feel well informed about sports news (+5 
pp), while they are slightly less likely to say they feel well 
informed about environmental problems (-3 pp) and culture 
and the arts (-3 pp).

2 QA1. In everyday life, we have to deal with many different issues, where 
we  feel  more  or  less  informed.  For  each  of  the  following,  please 

indicate  whether  you  are  …  very  well  informed;  moderately  well 
informed; poorly informed; don’t know. 

14 

Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

There is considerable variation between countries in relation 
to  how  well  informed  people  feel  about  environmental 
problems, including climate change.  

Respondents in Portugal are particularly likely to say they 
are “poorly informed” about environmental problems (51%), 
followed by those in Bulgaria (37%) and Hungary (36%). 

Among  EU  Member  States,  the  proportion  of  respondents 
who say they are “very well informed” about environmental 
problems including climate change ranges from just 3% in 
Portugal  to  almost  half  in  Luxembourg  (49%),  Denmark 
(47%) and Sweden (45%). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  people  are  most 
likely  to  say  they  are  “very  well 
informed”  about 
environmental problems in the UK (31%) and Montenegro 
(23%). Around four in ten respondents say they are “poorly 
informed” about environmental problems in Kosovo (41%) 
and Albania (39%).  

15 

 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Comparing the current survey results with those reported in 
2021, there are 15 EU Member States where the proportion 
of respondents saying they feel “very well informed” about 
environmental problems, including tackling climate change, 
has increased, with increases of more than ten percentage 
points  seen  in  Sweden  (45%,  +20  percentage  points), 
Denmark  (47%,  +15  pp),  Luxembourg  (49%,  +14  pp),  the 
Netherlands  (38%,  +13  pp),  Latvia  (21%,  +13  pp)  and 
Finland (29%, +12 pp). 

There are ten EU Member States where the proportion who 
say  they  feel  “very  well  informed”  has  dropped,  with  the 
most notable shift in Portugal (3%, -18 pp).  

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  there  has  been  a 
notable increase in the proportion of respondents who say 
they  feel  “very  well 
informed”  about  environmental 
problems in Montenegro (23%, +15 pp) and in the UK (31%, 
+11 pp). The proportion has fallen substantially in Türkiye 
(15%, -14 pp). 

16 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Variation  between  EU  Member  States  is  less  marked  in 
relation  to  how  well  informed  people  feel  about  new 
medical discoveries.  

By  contrast,  less  than  a  third  of  respondents  feel  “poorly 
informed” in Denmark (30%), Luxembourg (31%) and in the 
Netherlands and Sweden (both 32%).  

Relative to the EU average of 10%, respondents are most 
likely  to  say  they  feel  “very  well  informed”  about  new 
medical discoveries in Denmark (23%), Luxembourg (19%) 
and Sweden (18%), while they are least likely to say they 
are  “very  well  informed”  in Portugal  (2%) and  in  Bulgaria, 
Italy  and  Hungary  (all  3%).  Respondents  are  particularly 
likely to say they feel “poorly informed” about new medical 
discoveries  in  Portugal  (77%),  Hungary  (70%)  and  in 
Bulgaria and Italy (both 66%).     

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 to 
20% in Montenegro. The proportion of respondents saying 
they are “poorly informed” about new medical discoveries is 
highest in Serbia (61%) and North Macedonia (55%). 

17 

 
 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Comparing the current survey results with those reported in 
2021,  there  are  seven  EU  Member  States  where  the 
proportion  of  respondents  who  say  they  feel  “very  well 
informed”  about  new  medical  discoveries  has  increased, 
with the largest increases seen in Sweden (18%, +8 pp) and 
the Netherlands (14%, +7 pp).  

There are 15 EU Member States where the proportion who 
say  they  feel  “very  well  informed”  has  dropped,  with  the 
most notable declines in Spain (13%, -7 pp), Romania (4%, 
-6 pp), Malta (10%, -6 pp) and Portugal (2%, -6 pp). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  Montenegro  again 
shows a notable increase in the proportion of respondents 
saying they feel “very well informed” (20%, +13 pp), while 
there has been a decrease in Türkiye (9%, -8pp). 

18 

 
 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

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  (26%),  Luxembourg  (25%)  and 
Sweden (20%) are the most likely to say they are “very well 
informed”, while those in Portugal (2%) and in Bulgaria, Italy 
and Hungary (all 4%) 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 Portugal  (71%) and 
Hungary and Bulgaria (both 62%).  

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  3%  in  Serbia  to  19%  in  Montenegro. 
Respondents  in  Serbia  (57%)  are  particularly  likely  to  say 
they are “poorly informed” about new scientific discoveries 
and technological developments.  

19 

 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Comparing the current results with those reported in 2021, 
there are nine 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  Denmark 
(26%, +6 pp) and Luxembourg (25%, +6 pp).  

Among the 17 EU Member States where the proportion who 
say  they  feel  “very  well  informed”  has  dropped,  the  most 
notable change is in Portugal (2%, -8 pp). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  most  notable 
changes are again in Montenegro, where the proportion of 
respondents  saying  they  feel  “very  well  informed”  about 
new scientific discoveries and technological discoveries has 
increased  (19%,  +13  pp);  and  in  Türkiye,  where  there  has 
been a marked decline (12%, -12 pp).  

20 

 
  
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

 Socio-demographic table 

21 

 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

This  section  of  the  report  explores  people’s  actual 
knowledge  and  understanding  of  science.  This  was 
conducted using a ‘quiz’ format, in which respondents were 
given a set of ten statements – some true and others false 
–  and  were  asked  to  say  whether  they  believed  each 
statement to be true or false3. The results are grouped into 
three broad topic areas: natural history, demographics and 
geography; the natural and physical sciences; and common 
conspiracy theories. A final section then examines the total 
number  of  correct  answers  given,  in  order  to  summarise 
respondents’  knowledge  and  understanding  of  scientific 
issues.  

For  each  statement,  respondents  were  offered  a  ‘don’t 
know’ option (the “don’t know” answer option was read out 
loud in face-to-face interviewing). 

This  section  examines  the  four  statements  that  relate  to 
natural  history,  demographics  and  geography.  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);  

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

earlier species of animals” (TRUE).  

3 QA17. 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. 

22 

 
 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Of the four questions, respondents 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”.  More  than 
eight in ten EU citizens (84%, + 2 percentage points since 
2021) correctly say that this statement is true. Just one in 
ten respondents (10%, +1 pp) incorrectly say that it is false, 
with 6% (-3 pp) unable to say if it is true or false.  Around 
two-thirds of respondents (68%) correctly say that it is false 
that “the  earliest  humans  lived  at  the  same  time  as 
the  dinosaurs”  (+2  pp).  Almost  one  in  four  respondents 
(23%, +3 pp) incorrectly say this is true. Around one in ten 
respondents (9%, -5 pp) say they don’t know whether the 
statement is true or false.  

Two-thirds of Europeans (67%, no change) correctly say it 
is  true  that  “human  beings,  as  we  know  them  today, 
developed from earlier species of animals”. 

Just over one in four respondents (27%, +4 pp) incorrectly 
identify  this  as  false,  with  a  small  proportion  (6%,  -4  pp) 
unable  to  say  if  this  statement  is  true  or  false.  There  is 
limited  awareness  of  the  world’s  current  population:  just 
over  two-fifths  (42%,  -1  pp)  of  respondents  correctly  say 
that  it  is  false  that  “the  world’s  human  population  is 
currently  more  than  10  billion”.  A  slightly  higher 
proportion (46%, +9 pp) incorrectly identify it as true, with 
around one in eight (12%, -8 pp) unable to say if it is true 
or  false.  The  main  change  since  the  2021  survey  is  that 
respondents are now more likely to say incorrectly that it is 
true  that  “the world’s human  population  is currently  more 
than 10 billion” (+9 pp). 

Since the 2021 survey, all statements have seen a fall in 
the proportion of “don’t know” answers.  

23 

 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In  25  out  of  27  Member  States,  more  than  half  of 
respondents correctly say that it is false that “the earliest 
humans lived at the same time as the dinosaurs”. 

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  (91%),  the  Netherlands  (81%)  and 
Luxembourg (80%). Less than half of respondents correctly 
say  this  is  false  in  Bulgaria  (43%)  and  Greece  (45%).  In 
Greece, a particularly high proportion (40%) incorrectly say 
that this statement is true. 

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 Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia (both 66%), 
with less than half of respondents giving a correct answer 
in Montenegro (45%) and Albania (47%). Montenegro has a 
notably high proportion of respondents (53%) who think this 
statement is true.  

24 

 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

 Comparing the findings with those from 2021, there are 17 
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 Malta (77%, +17 pp), Slovenia (71%, 
+14 pp) and Romania (58%, +13 pp).  

Among the ten EU Member States where the proportion who 
correctly say this statement is false has dropped, the most 
notable  decreases  are  in  Portugal  (56%, -16  pp),  Belgium 
(71%, -11 pp) and Czechia (72%, -10 pp). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  there  are  three 
countries  where  there  has  been  a  sharp  rise  in  the 
proportion of respondents who correctly say that it is false 
that  the  earliest  humans  lived  at  the  same  time  as  the 
dinosaurs:  Albania  (47%,  +21  pp),  Kosovo  (54%,  +20  pp) 
and Türkiye (59%, +17 pp). The proportion has fallen most 
strongly in Montenegro (45%, -15 pp).   

25 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In  25  out  of  27  EU  Member  States,  at  least  half  of 
respondents  correctly  say  that  it  is  true  that  “human 
beings,  as  we  know  them  today,  developed  from 
earlier species of animals”.  

Respondents  are  most  likely  to  correctly  say  that  human 
beings developed from earlier species of animals in Sweden 
(88%) Denmark (85%) and Spain (79%). Less than half of 
respondents  correctly  say  that  this  is  true  in  Cyprus  and 
Slovakia (both 46%).  

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, respondents in the 
UK (78%) are most likely to correctly say that it is true that 
human  beings  developed  from  earlier  species  of  animals, 
while those in Kosovo (30%), Türkiye (39%) and Bosnia and 
Herzegovina (40%) are the least likely to say this.  

26 

 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Comparing the current survey findings with those of 2021, 
there  are  15  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.  

The most notable changes can be seen in Greece (60%, +12 
pp),  Latvia  (50%,  +11  pp),  Slovenia  (65%,  +10  pp)  and 
Slovakia (46%, +10 pp). Among the 11 EU Member States 
where  the  proportion  who  correctly  say  this  statement  is 
true has dropped, the most notable decreases can be seen 
in Malta (54%, -20 pp) and Luxembourg (16%, -13 pp).  

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  most  notable 
changes are the large increases in correct answers seen in 
Montenegro (57%, +17 pp) and Albania (60%, +11 pp).  

27 

 
 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In 15 EU Member States, a majority of respondents correctly 
say  it  is  false  that  “the  world’s  human  population  is 
currently more than 10 billion”. In 11 EU Member States, 
the majority view is that this statement is true, while there 
is an equal split of “true” and “false” responses in France. 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  more  than  half  of 
respondents  in  Serbia  (55%)  and  Bosnia  and  Herzegovina 
(53%)  correctly  say  it  is  false  that  the  world’s  human 
population  is  more  than  10  billion,  while  those  in  Türkiye 
(28%) are least likely to give a correct answer.  

Respondents are most likely to correctly say that it is false 
that  the  world’s  population  is  more  than  10  billion  in 
Luxembourg  (65%),  Slovenia  (54%)  and  Germany  (53%), 
with  the  lowest  proportions  of  correct  answers  given  in 
Portugal (15%), Spain (25%) and Malta (30%).  

28 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In 13 EU countries, there has been an increase since 2021 
in  the  proportion  that  correctly  says  it  is  false  that  the 
world’s  population  is  more  than  10  billion.  The  largest 
increases  can  be  observed  in  Cyprus  (42%,  +18  pp)  and 
Romania (47%, +11 pp).  

There has been a decrease in 12 EU countries, most notably 
in  Czechia  (36%, -24  pp), Portugal  (15%, -19  pp), Estonia 
(45%, -17 pp) and Belgium (37%, -14 pp). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  there  has  been  a 
large increase in correct answers in Albania (45%, +22 pp), 
Montenegro (43%, +12 pp) and Kosovo (42%, +11 pp). The 
largest decrease can be seen in Türkiye (28%, -10 pp). 

29 

 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  proportion  of 
respondents that answer correctly ranges from 87% in the 
UK and 84% in Türkiye, to 59% in Kosovo.  

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.”  

There are four EU Member States where more than 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: Sweden (96%), the Netherlands (93%) and Denmark 
and Luxembourg (both 91%). The lowest proportions are in 
Romania (64%), Cyprus (69%) and Bulgaria (70%).  

30 

 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Comparing current survey findings with those of 2021, there 
are  14  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  Italy 
(84%, +8 pp) and Finland (90%, +6 pp).  

Among the ten EU Member States where the proportion who 
correctly say this statement is true has dropped, the most 
notable changes are in Ireland (81%, -10pp), Belgium (82%, 
-8 pp) and Portugal (78%, -8 pp).  

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  there  have  been 
large increases in the proportions giving a correct answer in 
Kosovo  (59%,  +24  pp),  Albania  (77%,  +23  pp)  and  North 
Macedonia (75%, +15 pp). 

31 

 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Socio-demographic table 

32 

 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

This  section  focuses  on  four  statements  that  relate  to 
knowledge of the natural and physical sciences:  

Less than one in ten respondents (8%, -5 pp) are unable to 
say if it is true or false.  

  “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). 

Across the four statements, respondents are most likely to 
correctly say it is true that “the oxygen we breathe comes 
from plants” (83%, +1 percentage point since 2021). One 
in seven respondents (14%, +1 pp) incorrectly say that it is 
false. A very small minority (3%, -2 pp) are unable to say if 
it is true or false.  

Almost six in ten respondents (58%, -7 pp) correctly say it 
is  false  that  “climate  change  is  for  the  most  part 
caused  by  natural  cycles  rather  than  human 
activities”. More than a third of respondents (35%, +9 pp) 
incorrectly say that the statement is true. Less than one in 
ten (7%, -2 pp) are unable to say whether it is true or false.  

Over half of EU citizens (53%, -2 pp) correctly say it is false 
that “antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria”. Four 
in ten respondents (39%, +7 pp) incorrectly think that the 
statement is true. 

Less than half of respondents correctly say it is false that 
“lasers  work  by  focusing  sound  waves”  (45%,  +3  pp). 
More than a third of respondents (36%, +10 pp) incorrectly 
think that this is true, while one in five respondents (19%, -
13 pp) are unable to give an answer.  

Since  2021,  there  has  been  a  notable  increase  in  the 
proportion of incorrect answers. Respondents are now more 
likely to say that “climate change is for the most part caused 
by  natural  cycles  rather  than  human  activities”  (+9 
percentage points), while the proportion correctly saying this 
is  false  has  decreased  (-7  pp).  There  has  also  been  an 
increase in the proportion that incorrectly say that it is true 
that “antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria” (+7 pp); and 
in  the  proportion  incorrectly  saying  it  is  true  that  “lasers 
work  by  focusing  sound  waves”  (+10  pp).  On  this  last 
statement, there has been a notable fall in the proportion of 
“don’t know” responses (-13 pp). 

33 

 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

At least seven in ten respondents in every EU Member State 
correctly say it is true that “the oxygen we breathe comes 
from plants.”  

The proportion of respondents correctly saying that it is true 
that the oxygen we breathe comes from plants ranges from 
97% in Slovenia and 93% in both Finland and Latvia, to 71% 
in Romania and 75% in Belgium.  

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  respondents  in 
Albania (93%) are most likely to say correctly that it is true 
that the oxygen we breathe come from plants. The lowest 
proportion can  be seen  among  respondents  in  Bosnia  and 
Herzegovina (79%).  

34 

Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Comparing the current results with those from 2021, there 
are  19  EU  Member  States  where  the  proportion  of 
respondents who correctly say it is true that the oxygen we 
breathe comes from plants has increased. The most notable 
changes  can  be  observed  in  Austria  (91%,  +10  pp)  and 
Portugal (91%, +7 pp).  

There are just four EU Member States where the proportion 
who correctly say this statement is true has dropped, with 
the most notable shift in Cyprus (76%, -10 pp).  

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, the largest increase 
in the proportion of correct answers can be seen in Albania 
(93%,  +41  pp),  followed  by  Kosovo  (87%,  +16  pp).  The 
largest  decrease  can  be  seen  in  Bosnia  and  Herzegovina 
(79%, -8 pp).    

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European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In  21  out  of  27  EU  Member  States,  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.” In the other six Member States, 
respondents  are  more  likely  to  say  this  statement  is  true 
than say it is false. 

Respondents in Finland (80%), the Netherlands (78%) and 
Malta (72%) are most likely to correctly say it is false that 
climate change is for the most part caused by natural cycles 
rather than human activities. By contrast, more than half of 
respondents incorrectly say this statement is true in Poland 
(52%) and in Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary (all 51%).  

Among the non-EU countries, respondents in the UK (58%), 
Serbia (57%) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (55%) are most 
likely to correctly say it is false that climate change is for 
the most part caused by natural cycles rather than human 
activities. By contrast, a majority of respondents incorrectly 
say this statement is true in Türkiye (64%) and Montenegro 
(59%).  

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European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In six EU Member States, there has been an increase since 
2021  in  the  proportions  that  correctly  say  it  is  false  that 
“climate  change  is  for  the  most  part  caused  by  natural 
cycles rather than human activities.” The largest increases 
can be seen in Finland (80%, +8 pp) and Sweden (71%, +7 
pp).  

There are 19 EU countries where the proportion of correct 
answers has fallen. This includes some large decreases in 
Portugal  (57%,  -27  pp),  Ireland  (59%,  -18  pp),  Czechia 
(41%, -17 pp) and Estonia (43%, -14 pp). 

In the non-EU countries, the proportion of correct answers 
has  increased  substantially  in  Albania  (53%,  +31  pp)  and 
Kosovo  (45%,  +10  pp),  while  there  have  been  large 
decreases in Türkiye (34%, -21 pp) and Montenegro (40%, -
14 pp).  

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European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In  13  EU  Member  States,  the  majority  of  respondents 
correctly  say  it  is  false  that  “antibiotics  kill  viruses  as 
well as bacteria.” However, in the other 14 Member States, 
the majority view is that this statement is true. 

Respondents in Sweden (81%) are most likely to correctly 
say it is false that antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria, 
followed  by  those  in  Finland  and  the  Netherlands  (both 
72%).  The  lowest  proportions  of  respondents  correctly 
saying this is false are in Greece (23%), Cyprus (31%) and 
Bulgaria (32%).  

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  UK  is  the  only 
country  where  the  majority  correctly  say  it  is  false  that 
“antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria” (51%). Less than 
a  quarter  of  respondents  correctly  say  the  statement  is 
false in Kosovo (14%) and Albania (20%). 

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European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Comparing the results with those from 2021, there are nine 
EU  Member  States  where  the  proportion  of  respondents 
correctly saying it is false that antibiotics kill viruses as well 
as  bacteria  has  increased.  The  largest  increases  can  be 
observed in Cyprus (31%, +11 pp) and Bulgaria (32%, +10 
pp).  

Among the 16 EU Member States where the proportion of 
correct answers has dropped, there have been some large 
decreases in Portugal (40%, -31 pp), Czechia (44%, -29 pp), 
Belgium (55%, -28 pp) and Ireland (56%, -21 pp).  

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  there  have  been 
large  falls  in  the  proportion  of  correct  answers  in  the  UK 
(51%, -20 pp) and Montenegro (26%, -15 pp).  

39 

Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

There  are  seven  EU  countries  where  more  than  half  of 
respondents correctly say that it is false that “lasers work 
by  focusing  on  sound  waves”.  The  highest  proportions 
giving a correct answer can be seen in Sweden (69%), the 
Netherlands (62%) and in Luxembourg and Slovenia (both 
60%).  The  lowest  proportions  are  reported  in  Bulgaria 
(25%), Greece (31%) and Portugal (33%). The proportion of 
‘don’t  know’  responses  is  particularly  high  in  Lithuania 
(37%) and Portugal (36%). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  UK  (52%)  and 
Serbia  (46%)  are  the  only  ones  where  a  majority  of 
respondents  correctly  say  it  is  false  that  lasers  work  by 
focusing  on  sound  waves.  The  countries  with  the  lowest 
proportion of respondents correctly saying this is false are 
Kosovo (23%) and Montenegro (27%).  

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European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Comparing the current results with the 2021 findings, there 
are  20  EU  Member  States  where  the  proportion  of 
respondents who correctly say it is false that lasers work by 
focusing  on  soundwaves  has  increased,  with  the  most 
notable increases in Malta (57%, +20 pp), Cyprus (39%, +17 
pp), Romania (44%, +16 p) and Sweden (69%, +16 pp).  

Among the seven EU Member States where the proportion 
who correctly say this statement is false has dropped, the 
most  notable  changes  are  in  Portugal  (33%,  -19  pp)  and 
Czechia (45%, -18 pp).  

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  most  notable 
change  is  in  Türkiye,  where the  proportion  of  respondents 
who correctly say it is false that lasers work by focusing on 
soundwaves has increased (39%, +16 pp).   

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European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Socio-demographic table 

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European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

The  final  part  of  this  section  looks  at  two  statements 
examining belief in conspiracy theories:  

  “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).  

Over  half  of  EU  citizens  (55%,  -1  percentage  point  since 
2021)  correctly  say  it  is  false  that  “the  cure  for  cancer 
exists  but  is  hidden  from  the  public  by  commercial 
interests”.  One  in  three  respondents  (34%,  +8  pp) 
incorrectly say that this is true. Around one in ten (11%, -7 
pp) is unable to say whether it is true or false.  

A similar proportion of respondents (54%, -1 pp) correctly 
say  it  is  false  that  “viruses  have  been  produced  in 
government  laboratories  to  control  our  freedom”. 
Around  one  in  three  respondents  (35%,  +7  pp)  think 
incorrectly that this is true. Around one in ten respondents 
(11%, -6 pp) do not know whether it is true or false.  

On both statements, there has been an increase since 2021 
in  the  proportion  saying  incorrectly  that  the  statement  is 
true, and a fall in the proportion of “don’t know” answers.  

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European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, the UK (57%) is the 
only one where a majority of respondents correctly say it is 
false that a cancer cure exists but is hidden from the public 
by commercial interests. By contrast, no more than one in 
five  respondents  say  it  is  false  in  Kosovo  (18%),  Albania 
(19%) and North Macedonia (20%).  

There  are  20  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”. In the other seven Member States, 
the majority view is that this statement is true. 

In  four  EU  Member  States,  more  than  three-quarters  of 
respondents correctly say it is false that a cancer cure exists 
but  is  hidden  from  the  public  by  commercial  interests: 
Sweden  (86%),  Denmark  (83%)  and  Finland  and  the 
Netherlands  (both  78%).  By  contrast,  less  than  a  third  of 
respondents say the statement is false in Bulgaria (25%), 
Cyprus (26%) and Greece (31%).  

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European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In 13 EU Member States, there has been an increase since 
2021 in the proportions that correctly say it is false that “the 
cure  for  cancer  exists  but  is  hidden  from  the  public  by 
commercial interests.” The largest increases can be seen in 
Slovakia (52%, +10 pp) and Malta (48%, +10 pp).  

There has been a decrease in 11 EU countries, most notably 
in  Ireland  (49%,  -16  pp),  Luxembourg  (54%,  -13  pp)  and 
Spain (46%, -13 pp). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries,  the  largest  increase  in  the 
proportion  of  correct  answers  can  be  seen  in  Montenegro 
(35%, +12 pp). However, there have been large decreases 
in the UK (57%, -14 pp) and Albania (19%, -10 pp).  

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European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, only in the UK do a 
majority  correctly  say  it  is  false  that  viruses  have  been 
produced in government laboratories to control our freedom 
(54%). Only around one in five respondents give a correct 
answer in Albania (19%) and North Macedonia (21%). 

There  are  18  EU  Member  States  where  the  majority  of 
respondents correctly say that it is false that “viruses have 
been produced in government laboratories to control 
In  the  other  nine  Member  States, 
our  freedom”. 
respondents  are  more  likely  to  say  this  statement  is  true 
than to say it is false. 

Respondents  in  Sweden  (83%),  Denmark  (82%)  and  the 
Netherlands (76%) are most likely to correctly say it is false 
that viruses have been produced in government laboratories 
to  control  our  freedom.  The  lowest  proportions  giving  the 
correct  answer  can  be  found  in  Portugal  (23%),  Bulgaria 
(24%) and Spain (31%). 

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European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In 14 EU Member States, there has been an increase since 
2021  in  the  proportions  correctly  saying  it  is  false  that 
“viruses have been produced in government laboratories to 
control our freedom.” The largest increases can be seen in 
Malta  (60%,  +25  pp),  Slovakia  (61%,  +17  pp),  Slovenia 
(50%, +14 pp) and Romania (43%, +12 pp).  

The proportion of correct answers has decreased in 12 EU 
countries, most notably in Portugal (23%, -27 pp), Belgium 
(57%, -17 pp), Ireland (56%, -17 pp) and Luxembourg (53%, 
-13 pp).

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, the largest increase 
in  the  proportion  of  correct  answers  can  be  seen  in 
Montenegro (35%, +13 pp), while the largest decrease can 
be seen in the UK (54%, -15 pp).  

47 

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Socio-demographic table 

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European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  respondents  are 
most  likely  to  be  able  to  give  more  than  eight  correct 
answers in the UK (13%). Respondents in Kosovo (67%) and 
Albania (52%) are most likely to give fewer than five correct 
answers. 

It is not possible to compare these overall numbers with the 
2021 survey, as the number of ‘quiz’ questions has changed 
(11 in 2021, 10 in 2024).  

This  section  presents  an  overview  of  the  number  of 
correct  and  incorrect  answers  given  by  respondents 
across  all  ten  ‘quiz’  questions  that  were  included  in  the 
survey.  

One in ten Europeans (10%) answered more than eight out 
of ten questions correctly, while almost two in three (64%) 
gave  between  five  and  eight  correct  answers,  and  around 
one in four (26%) were correct with fewer than five of their 
answers.   

In  the  EU,  respondents  are  most  likely  to  be  able  to  give 
more than eight correct answers in Sweden (26%), Denmark 
(22%) and in the Netherlands and Finland (both 19%). The 
countries where respondents are most likely to give fewer 
than  five  correct  answers  are  Cyprus  and  Bulgaria  (both 
55%) and Greece (51%).  

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Socio-demographic table 

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European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

2. Sources  of 
scientific 
developments

information  about
technological 

and 

Television  is  the  most  widely  used  information 
source for developments in science and technology 

Respondents  were  offered  a  list  of  different  sources  of 
information  that  may  be  used  to  find  out  about 
developments in science and technology and were asked to 
choose the two main sources that they use4.  

Around six in ten Europeans say they that television, either 
via  a  TV  set  or  via  the  internet,  is  one  of  their  two  main 
sources  of  information  (61%,  -2  percentage  points  since 
2021). This is the most widely used source, well ahead of 
online social networks and blogs (31%, +2 pp). Around one 
in five (19%, -5 pp) use online or printed newspapers, and a 
slightly  smaller  proportion  use  radio,  including  podcasts 
(17%, +3 pp).  

One 
in  ten  EU  citizens  say  that  they  use  online 
encyclopaedias (10%, -3 pp), while less than one in ten use 
online  or  printed  magazines  (9%,  no  change),  online  or 
printed  scientific  journals  (8%, -2  pp) and  books,  either in 
print or e-books (6%, -1 pp). 

A  small  proportion  of  respondents  (5%,  +2  pp)  say 
spontaneously that they do not look for information about 
developments in science and technology. 

4 QA2a. 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. (MAX. 2 ANSWERS) 

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European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Television 
is  the  most  commonly  used  source  of 
information about developments in science and technology 
in 23 EU Member States, and it also ranks joint highest in 
Latvia. 

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, respondents in the 
UK (16%) are most likely to use radio, including podcasts as 
a main source of information, while the lowest proportions 
are among those in Albania (1%) and Kosovo (3%). 

The analysis now looks at the remaining sources that can be 
used  for  information  about  developments  in  science  and 
technology.  

The proportion of respondents in EU countries using online 
encyclopaedias  as  one  of  their  two  main  sources  of 
information ranges from a high of 27% in Greece and 24% 
in Latvia, to a low of 4% in both Spain and Portugal. In non-
EU countries, the proportions range from 15% in the UK to 
5% in Albania.  

In  the  EU,  magazines,  either  online  or  in  print  are 
mentioned  most  frequently  by  respondents  in  Sweden 
(15%),  Belgium  (14%)  and  Germany  (13%),  and  least 
frequently  by  those  in  Bulgaria  (2%)  and  in  Spain  and 
Portugal  (both  4%).  In  non-EU  countries,  the  proportions 
range  from  8%  in  both  Montenegro  and  Bosnia  and 
Herzegovina, to 2% in Albania. 

Finland  (22%)  is  the  EU  Member  State  with  the  highest 
proportion of respondents using scientific journals as one 
of their two main sources of information. This is followed by 
Luxembourg  (16%)  and  Denmark  (15%),  while  the  lowest 
proportions can be seen in Bulgaria (2%) and in Cyprus and 
Czechia  (both 4%).  In  non-EU  countries,  proportions  range 
from a high of 10% in the UK to a low of 2% in Albania. 

Within  the  EU,  the  use  of  books,  either  in  print  or  e-
books  is  most  widespread  in  Luxembourg  (10%)  and  in 
Austria  and  the  Netherlands  (both  8%).  It  is  least  widely 
mentioned  as  a  source  of  information  by  respondents  in 
Cyprus and Portugal (both 3%).  

In non-EU countries, respondents in the UK (9%) are most 
likely  to  mention  books  as  an  information  source,  while 
those in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia (5%) 
are least likely to do so.

Respondents are most likely to say television is one of their 
two main sources in Portugal (75%), Bulgaria and Italy (both 
69%) and in Hungary (68%). Respondents are least likely to 
mention television as a main source of information about 
developments in science and technology in the Netherlands 
(46%), Luxembourg (47%) and in Cyprus and Austria (both 
48%).  

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  respondents  are 
most  likely  to  mention  television  as  a  main  source  of 
information about developments in science and technology 
in Albania (69%), Türkiye (67%) and Serbia (66%), while it 
is  mentioned  least  frequently  by  respondents  in  the  UK 
(57%).  

Using  online  social  networks  and  blogs  is  the  most 
widely mentioned source of information in two EU Member 
States:  Cyprus  (57%)  and  Malta  (51%).  It  also  ranks  joint 
highest in Latvia (53%). By contrast, less than a quarter of 
respondents mention this as a main source of information 
about developments in science and technology in Portugal 
(21%), Italy (23%) and Belgium (24%).  

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  online  social 
networks  and  blogs  is  the  most  frequently  mentioned 
information source in Kosovo (65%) and is also mentioned 
by  more  than  half  of  respondents  in  Albania  (64%)  and 
Montenegro (56%). The lowest proportions can be seen in 
Serbia (34%) and Türkiye (41%). 

Among  EU  countries,  the  proportion  of  respondents 
mentioning  newspapers  (either  online  or  in  print)  is 
highest  in  the  Netherlands  (55%),  where  it  is  the  most 
frequently  mentioned  information  source.  The  proportions 
mentioning newspapers as a main information source are 
also relatively high in Sweden (43%) and Finland (38%). In 
five  Member  States,  less  than  one  in  ten  respondents 
mention this as a main source of information: Romania and 
Poland  (both  5%),  Hungary  (8%)  and  Bulgaria  and  Cyprus 
(both 9%). 

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, respondents in the 
UK and Serbia (both 24%) are most likely to use newspapers 
as a main source of information, while those in Albania (4%) 
and North Macedonia (5%) are least likely to do so. 

In  the  EU,  radio,  including  podcasts  is  mentioned  most 
frequently as a main information source by respondents in 
Sweden  (29%),  Denmark  (27%)  and  Malta  (25%).  By 
contrast, less than one in ten respondents mention this as a 
main source of information in Portugal (6%), Greece (8%) 
and in Italy and Romania (both 9%).

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European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Comparing  the  results  with  the  2021  survey,  there  have 
been some notable changes at the national level. 

In  the  non-EU  countries,  the  largest  shift  is  a  six-point 
decrease in Albania (1%, -6 pp). 

There  has  been  a  large  increase  in  the  proportions  using 
online  social  networks  and  blogs  as  an  information 
source in Latvia (53%, +18 pp), Slovenia (45%, +13 pp) and 
Finland  (28%,  +11  pp).  Within  the  EU,  by  far  the  largest 
decrease can be seen in Portugal (21%, -11 pp). 

There  have  been  large  increases  in  the  non-EU  countries, 
most notably in Albania (64%, +42 pp). 

Looking  at  the  largest  changes  for  the  other  sources  of 
information: 

  In  Belgium,  there  has  been  a  sharp  decrease  in  the 
proportion that mention online encyclopaedias as one 
of their two main sources of information (7%, -10 pp). 

  There  have  been  large  declines  in  the  proportions 
mentioning scientific journals in Portugal (6%, -16 pp) 
and in Estonia (9%, -11 pp). 

  Outside of the EU, there have been decreases in Türkiye 
in the proportions mentioning scientific journals (8%, 
-10 pp) and books (7%, -10 pp).  

Among the seven EU Member States where there has been 
an  increase  in  the  proportion  mentioning  television  as  a 
main source of information about developments in science 
and technology, the largest is seen in Slovakia (64%, +6 pp). 
Large  decreases  can  be  observed  in  Malta  (49%,  -12  pp) 
and the Netherlands (46%, -12 pp). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  there  has  been  a 
large increase in Albania (69%, +23 pp), while the proportion 
has fallen substantially in Bosnia and Herzegovina (59%, -
17 pp). 

The  Netherlands  is  the  only  EU  country  where  there  has 
been  a  substantive  increase  in  the  proportion  mentioning 
newspapers (55%, +4 pp). However, in several EU countries 
there has been a marked fall in the proportion mentioning 
this  as  a  main  information  source:  Ireland  (20%,  -22  pp), 
Portugal (11%, -21 pp), Estonia (21%, -17 pp) and Slovenia 
(10%, -13 pp). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  most  notable 
shift is a large decrease in the UK (24%, -17 pp). 

In Malta, there has been a large increase in the proportion 
mentioning  radio, 
including  podcasts  as  a  main 
information source (25%, +14 pp). Large increases can also 
be seen in Denmark (27%, +10 pp) and Sweden (29%, +10 
pp).  The  largest  decrease  among  EU  countries  can  be 
observed in Ireland (21%, -9 pp). 

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European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

55 

 
 
 
 
 
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European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Socio-demographic table

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European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Respondents  were  then  asked  to  choose  the  information 
source that they use least often for finding information 
about developments in science and technology5. 

EU citizens are most likely to say they use scientific journals 
least  often  as  a  source  of  information  about  science  and 
technology developments (18%, +1 percentage point since 
2021). 

This is followed by online social networks and blogs (17%, -
2 pp), radio, including podcasts (13%, -2 pp), books, either 
printed or e-books (12%, -1 pp), and online encyclopaedias 
(12%,  +2  pp).  One  in  ten  say  they  use  online  or  printed 
newspapers the least (10%, +1 pp), while respondents are 
least likely to mention online or printed magazines (8%, no 
change) and television (8%, +1 pp). 

5 QA2b. And now, please choose the source that you use the least. 

57 

 
 
 
 
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European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

Slovakia (30%), Sweden (29%) and Czechia (25%) are the 
EU  countries  with  the  highest  proportion  of  respondents 
saying they use online or printed scientific journals the 
least  as  a source  of  information.  The  lowest  proportion  is 
seen in Cyprus (9%). Among the non-EU countries surveyed, 
the  highest  proportions  are  found  in  the  UK  (20%)  and 
Serbia  (19%),  with  the  lowest  in  Montenegro  (7%)  and 
Kosovo (8%).  

Across  EU  Member  States,  the  countries  with  the  highest 
proportions of respondents saying they use online social 
networks  and  blogs  least  often  are  Sweden  (23%)  and 
Austria  and  Germany  (both  22%).  The  lowest  proportions 
are reported in Malta (6%) and in Greece and Cyprus (both 
7%). Looking across the non-EU countries, proportions range 
from  a  high  of  17%  in  Bosnia  and  Herzegovina  to  3%  in 
Kosovo.  

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 8% in Slovakia to 20% in Finland. Within non-
EU countries, the highest proportions of respondents saying 
they  use  radio  the  least  are  found  in  Kosovo  (31%)  and 
Türkiye (27%), with the lowest proportion in the UK (9%).  

Across  the  EU  Member  States,  the  highest  proportion  of 
respondents  saying  they  use  printed  books  or  e-books 
least  often  are  Hungary  and  Croatia  (both  21%),  with  the 
lowest  proportion  in  Spain  (8%).  Among  the  non-EU 
countries surveyed, proportions range from a high of 19% 
in both Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to a low of 7% 
in the UK.  

Within the EU, online encyclopaedias are most likely to be 
used the least by respondents in Spain and Germany (both 
16%), with the lowest proportions seen in Sweden (5%) and 
in  Cyprus  and  Latvia  (both  6%).  In  non-EU  countries, 
proportions range from a high of 17% in Türkiye to a low of 
9% in both Bosnia and Herzegovina and the UK.  

Online or printed newspapers are most likely to be used 
least often within the EU in Cyprus (25%), with the lowest 
proportions  reported  in  Finland  and  Sweden  (both  5%).  In 
non-EU countries, newspapers are most likely to be used the 
least in the UK (19%), with the lowest proportions reported 
in Serbia (4%).  

Online or printed magazines are most likely to be used 
the least within the EU in Denmark (13%) and Ireland (12%), 
with the lowest proportion seen in Sweden (4%). In non-EU 
countries,  the  UK  (14%)  has  the  highest  proportion  and 
Serbia and Kosovo (both 6%) the lowest. 

Within the EU, television (on a TV set or via the internet) is 
most likely to be used the least in Greece (18%), with the 
lowest proportion reported in Portugal and Denmark (both 
3%).  

In non-EU countries, television is most likely to be used least 
often in North Macedonia (8%), with the lowest proportions 
seen in Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina (all 4%). 

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The main changes in the findings compared with 2021 are 
as follows. 

information  for 

In Portugal, there has been an increase in the proportion that 
says they use scientific journals least often as a source 
of 
information  about  science  and 
technology developments (24%, +8 pp). Within the EU, this 
proportion has decreased the most in Ireland (22%, -7 pp) 
and Latvia (17%, -7 pp). In the non-EU countries, there has 
been a large decrease in the UK (20%, -10 pp). 

In  the  EU,  the  proportion  saying  they  use  online  social 
networks and blogs least often as an information source 
has  decreased  markedly  in  Finland  (17%,  -10  pp),  Ireland 
(10%,  -10  pp)  and  Denmark  (13%,  -8  pp).  There has  also 
been a sharp fall in Albania (8%, -11 pp). 

Within  the  EU,  the  proportion  mentioning  books,  either 
printed  or  e-books,  has  increased  the  most  in  Denmark 
(20%,  +5  pp),  while  the  largest  decrease  can  be  seen  in 
Slovenia  (13%,  -9  pp).  Among  the  non-EU  countries,  the 
largest shift is the increase in Serbia (19%, +5 pp). 

There  has  been  an  increase  in  the  proportion  mentioning 
online  encyclopaedias  as  their  least  used  source  in 
Finland (11%, +6 pp) and Germany (16%, +6 pp). The largest 
shift outside of the EU is the increase in Kosovo (15%, +5 
pp). 

The proportions mentioning newspapers has increased the 
most in Slovenia (20%, +10 pp) and Ireland (14%, +9 pp). 
Outside of the EU, large increases can also be seen in the 
UK (19%, +11 pp) and Montenegro (16%, +9 pp). 

There have been some declines in the proportions that say 
they use radio, including podcasts least often. The largest 
falls can be seen in Estonia (11%, -9 pp) and Portugal (10%, 
-8  pp).  In  the  non-EU  countries,  there  has  been  a  large 
increase in Albania (24%, +14 pp) and a large decrease in 
Montenegro (21%, -15 pp). 

The proportion saying they use television least often has 
increased the most in Latvia (11%, +6 pp) and Cyprus (10%, 
+5  pp).  Outside  of  the  EU,  it  has  decreased  markedly  in 
Albania (4%, -14 pp). There have been no changes of five 
percentage points or more in the proportioning mentioning 
online or printed magazines. 

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Socio-demographic table 

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3. Attitudes  towards  science  and

technology

Most  Europeans  would  like  to  learn  more  about 
scientific  developments,  although  science 
is 
commonly  perceived  as  being  too  complicated  to 
understand 

This  section  examines  respondents’  attitudes  towards 
learning and knowledge in science. They were asked to what 
extent  they  agreed  or  disagreed  with  the  following  three 
statements6:  

  “Science is so complicated that you do not understand 

much about it”;  

  “You  would  like  to  learn  more  about  scientific 
developments in places like town halls, museums and 
libraries”; 

  “In your daily life, it is not important to know about 

science”.  

Almost  six  in  ten  Europeans  (58%,  +4  percentage  points 
since  2021)  agree  that  they  would  like  to  learn  more 
about  scientific  developments  in  places  like  town 
halls,  museums  and  libraries,  with  almost  one  in  five 
(18%, +2 pp) saying that they “strongly agree”. Around one 
in five respondents (19%, -3 pp) disagree that they would 
like  to  learn  more,  with  less  than  one  in  ten  (6%,  -2  pp) 
saying  they  “strongly  disagree”.  Just  over  one  in  five 
respondents (22%, -1 pp) neither agree nor disagree. 

Just  over  half  of  EU  citizens  (53%,  +7  pp)  agree  that 
science is so complicated that they don’t understand 
much  about  it,  with  one  in  six  (17%,  +2  pp)  saying  that 
they  “strongly  agree”.  One  in  four  respondents  disagree 
(24%,  -4  pp),  with  7%  (-3  pp)  saying  that  they  “strongly 
disagree”.  Just  over  one  in  five  respondents  (22%,  -3  pp) 
neither agree nor disagree with the statement.  

A minority of respondents agree that it is not important 
in  their  daily  lives  to  know  about  science.  More  than 
one in three respondents (36%, +3 pp) agree that it is not 
important, with one in ten (10%, no change) saying that they 
“strongly agree”. Just over four in ten respondents (43%, -3 
pp) disagree with the statement, including one in six (16%, 
-4  pp)  who  “strongly  disagree”.  One  in  five  respondents
(20%, no change) neither agree nor disagree.

For  all  three  statements,  levels  of  agreement  have 
increased since 2021. The largest increase is in agreement 
that  science  is  so  complicated  that  they  don’t  understand 
much about it (+7 pp).  

6 QA7. 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. 

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

Looking first at the statement “You  would  like  to  learn 
more  about  scientific  developments  in  places  like 
town  halls,  museums  and  libraries”,  respondents  in 
Spain  are  most  likely  to  agree  with  the  statement  (74%), 
followed by those in Cyprus (72%) and Luxembourg (71%). 
The lowest levels of agreement on this measure are seen in 
Croatia (43%) and Romania (45%).  

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, a high proportion of 
respondents in Türkiye (79%) agree that they would like to 
learn more about scientific developments in places like town 
halls, museums and libraries. Respondents in Serbia (41%) 
and Bosnia and Herzegovina (42%) are least likely to agree. 

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Compared  with  2021,  agreement  with  the  statement  “I 
would  like  to  learn  more  about  scientific  developments  in 
places like town halls, museums and libraries” has increased 
in 21 EU Member States. The largest increases can be seen 
in  Denmark  (62%,  +19  pp),  Sweden  (68%,  +18  pp)  and 
Spain  (74%,  +14  pp).  In  Portugal,  there  has  been  a  large 
decrease in agreement (63%, -17 pp), by far the largest of 
the six EU countries where agreement has fallen since 2021. 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  there  has  been  a 
very large increase in agreement in Albania (57%, +33 pp), 
with other substantial increases seen in Kosovo (72%, +13 
pp), Montenegro (64%, +12 pp) and Serbia (41%, +11 pp). 

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Attitudes vary across EU Member States in relation to the 
statement “science is so complicated that you do not 
understand much about it”.  

Respondents  in  Lithuania  (71%),  Portugal  (67%)  and 
Bulgaria (66%) are particularly likely to agree that science 
is so complicated that they do not understand much about 
it.  In  three  Member  States,  a  majority  disagrees  with  the 
statement: the Netherlands (23% agree vs. 54% disagree), 
Luxembourg (35% vs. 44%) and Finland (41% vs. 45%). 

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 Albania 
(68%)  and  in  Kosovo  and  Serbia  (both  59%),  while 
agreement is lowest in the UK (41%) and Türkiye (46%). 

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The proportion that agrees that “science is so complicated 
that  you  do  not  understand  much  about  it”  has  increased 
since 2021 in 20 EU Member States. The largest increases 
can  be  observed  in  Ireland  (52%,  +28  pp), Belgium  (48%, 
+25 pp) and Estonia (54%, +23 pp).  

Of the seven EU countries showing a decrease in agreement, 
by far the largest can be seen in Romania (40%, -16 pp). 

Among the non-EU countries, by far the largest change is 
the rise in agreement in Albania (68%, +44 pp). 

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Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  at  least  half  of 
respondents agree that it is not important for them to know 
about  science  in  their  daily  lives  in  Serbia  (51%)  and 
Montenegro (50%). The non-EU countries where the lowest 
proportion of respondents agree with this statement are the 
UK (27%) and North Macedonia (34%).  

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

There  are  ten  EU  Member  States  where  the  majority  of 
respondents agree that it is not important for them to know 
about  science  in  their  daily  lives.  Respondents  are  most 
likely to agree in Slovakia (58%), Poland (54%) and Bulgaria 
(52%).  In  16  EU  countries,  the  majority  disagree  with  the 
statement,  with  at  least  three-quarters  of  respondents 
disagreeing  in  the  Netherlands  (77%)  and  in  Finland  and 
Malta (both 75%). There is an equal split of agreement and 
disagreement in Romania (both 37%). 

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Comparing  the  current  national  level  results  with  those 
reported in 2021, there are 15 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.  

The  largest  rises  can  be  seen  in  Czechia  (45%,  +29  pp), 
Portugal (44%, +26 pp), Latvia (40%, +22 pp) and Estonia 
(49%,  +20  pp).  Among  the  12  EU  countries  where 
agreement has decreased, by far the largest can be seen in 
Greece (33%, -20 pp).  

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  most  notable 
change is in Albania, where there has been a large increase 
in  the  proportion  of  respondents  who  agree  that  it  is  not 
important for them to know about science in their daily lives 
(41%, +21 pp).  

The  largest  decrease  can  be  found  in  North  Macedonia 
(34%, -7 pp). 

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Socio-demographic table 

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II. Views on the impacts of
science and technology 

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This chapter considers Europeans’ views on the impacts of 
science  and  technology.  It  starts  by  examining  attitudes 
towards the overall influence of science and technology on 
society,  and  then  looks  at  different  areas  where  new 
technologies are being developed, asking whether they will 
have a positive or negative effect on people’s lives in the 
future. 

The chapter then examines views on the areas that will be 
most  affected  by  research  and  innovation  in  the  coming 
years. It then looks at opinions on the benefits and pitfalls 
of science and technology. 

1. Overall influence  of  science  and

technology on society

More than eight in ten EU citizens think science and 
technology have a positive influence on society 

Respondents were asked whether they thought the overall 
influence of science and technology on society is positive or 
negative7.  More  than  eight  in  ten  EU  citizens  (83%,  -3 
percentage points since 2021) say that the overall influence 
is positive, including 15% (-6 pp) who say it is “very positive”. 
Around  one  in  seven  (14%,  +3  pp)  think  the  influence  of 
science and technology is negative, with 2% (+1 pp) saying 
it is “very negative”. A small proportion (3%, no change) say 
they don’t know.  

Attitudes have become slightly less positive since 2021. In 
particular, there has been a six-percentage point decrease 
in  the  proportion  who  think  science  and  technology  has  a 
“very positive” influence on society. 

7 QA4. Do you think that the overall influence of science and technology on 

society is…? 

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In every EU Member State, the majority of respondents think 
that  the  overall  influence  of  science  and  technology  on 
society  is  positive,  with  proportions  ranging  from  94%  in 
Sweden and 92% in both Lithuania and Portugal, to 65% in 
Romania, 72% in Austria and 73% in France. Romania is the 
only  country  where  more  than  a  quarter  of  respondents 
think the overall influence is negative (32%).  

The  proportion  of  respondents  who  think  the  overall 
influence  is  “very  positive”  is  highest  in  Sweden  (36%), 
Ireland (33%) and Denmark (30%).  

At least seven in ten respondents in every non-EU country 
think  the  overall  influence  of  science  and  technology  is 
positive.  Respondents  in  Türkiye  (93%)  and  Kosovo  (89%) 
are most likely to think this way.  

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In just two EU Member States, there has been an increase 
since 2021 in the proportion that thinks the overall influence 
of science and technology is positive: Slovakia (87%, +4 pp) 
and Italy (84%, +2 pp).  

In the other 25 EU Member States, respondents are now less 
likely  to  think  it  has  a  positive  influence,  with  the  largest 
decreases  in  Latvia  (81%,  -11  pp),  Austria  (72%,  -8  pp), 
Estonia (88%, -8 pp) and Luxembourg (86%, -8 pp). 

Outside the EU, respondents in three countries are now more 
likely than in 2021 to say the influence is positive, while in 
the other five countries respondents are less likely to see a 
positive influence than they were in 2021. 

The largest decrease is in the UK (85%, -11 pp).  

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Socio-demographic table 

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Most Europeans expect new technologies to have a 
positive  impact  in  the  future,  and  this  applies 
particularly to renewable energies 

Respondents were asked about the effect of different areas 
of technology on our way of life in the next 20 years8.  

Almost  nine  in  ten  EU  citizens  (87%)  think  renewable 
energies9 will have a positive effect, while more than three 
in  four  say  this  about  information  and  communication 
technology  (79%,  -3  pp)  and  vaccines  and  combatting 
infectious diseases (77%, -9 pp).  

Around  three-quarters  (76%,  +3  pp)  of  respondents  think 
nanotechnology  will  have  a  positive  impact  on  life  in  the 
next 20 years, while a similar proportion (73%, +2 pp) say 
this about brain and cognitive enhancements. 

from 
two-thirds  expect  a  positive  effect 
Around 
biotechnology  and  genetic  engineering  (67%,  -3  pp)  and 
from space exploration (65%, -4 pp).  

Respondents  are  least  likely  to  think  nuclear  energy  for 
energy production (56%, +10 pp) and artificial intelligence 
(55%, -6 pp) will have a positive impact.  

In comparison with the 2021 survey, respondents are now 
more likely to say nuclear energy for energy production will 
have a positive effect (+10 pp). However, respondents are 
now less likely to be positive about vaccines and combatting 
infectious diseases (-9 pp) and artificial intelligence (-6 pp). 

8 QA6a. 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 negative or no effect on our way of life in the next 20 years? 

9 New item not included in the 2021 survey 

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More than six in ten respondents in every EU Member State 
think that renewable energies will have a positive impact 
in  the  next  20  years.  Almost  all  respondents  in  Sweden 
(96%) and in Denmark, Portugal and Finland (all 95%) think 
this  way.  The  lowest  proportions  can  be  observed  in 
Romania  (62%),  Estonia  (71%)  and  Bulgaria  (74%).  There 
are ten EU countries where more than half of respondents 
think renewable energies will have a “very positive” effect, 
led by Sweden (68%) and Denmark (67%).  

Outside  the  EU,  the  proportion  of  respondents  who  think 
renewable energies will have a positive effect range from 
92% in the UK to 73% in Montenegro. 

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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  89%  in 
Albania to 72% in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

in 

The majority of respondents in every EU country think new 
technologies 
information  and  communication 
technology will have a positive effect on life in the next 20 
years. This opinion is most widespread in Cyprus and Ireland 
(both  89%)  and 
in  Greece  and  Malta  (both  88%). 
Respondents are least likely to predict a positive effect in 
Romania (62%), France (69%) and Austria (73%). 

Respondents  in  Malta  (54%)  are  most  likely  to  expect 
information and communication technology to have a “very 
positive”  effect,  followed  by  those  in  Cyprus  (49%)  and 
Ireland (46%).  

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Since 2021, there has been an increase in five EU Member 
States  in  the  proportion  that  says  new  technologies  in 
information  and  communication  technology  will  have  a 
positive  effect  on  life  in  the  next  20  years.  The  largest 
increase can be seen in Hungary (84%, +4 pp).  

In 21 EU countries, respondents are now less likely to have 
a  positive  outlook,  most  notably  in  Austria  (73%,  -12  pp), 
Portugal (87%, -11 pp) and Romania (62%, -10 pp). 

Among the non-EU countries, the proportion with a positive 
outlook has increased markedly in Albania (89%, +31 pp), 
while  the  largest  decrease  can  be  seen  in  Bosnia  and 
Herzegovina (72%, -11 pp).  

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Outside  the  EU,  the  proportion  of  respondents  who  think 
new  technologies  in  vaccines  and  combatting  infectious 
diseases will have a positive effect range from 86% in the 
UK to 60% in both Albania and North Macedonia. 

At least half 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. 
More  than  nine  in  ten  respondents  in  Sweden  (95%), 
Denmark and Finland (both 93%) and Portugal (91%) think 
this  way,  while  the  lowest  proportions  can  be  seen  in 
Romania (50%), Slovenia (57%) and Latvia (60%). There are 
four countries where more than half of respondents think 
new  technologies  for  vaccines  and  combatting  infectious 
diseases will have a “very positive” effect: Sweden (68%), 
Finland (64%), Denmark (56%) and Portugal (55%).  

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The proportion that thinks new technologies in vaccines and 
combatting infectious diseases will have a positive impact 
in the next 20 years has declined in every EU Member State, 
except for Denmark where it has remained unchanged.  

There  have  been  some  large  decreases,  most  notably  in 
Malta  (69%,  -24  pp),  Estonia  (66%,  -23  pp)  and  Cyprus 
(64%, -19 pp). 

Among the non-EU countries, positive views have increased 
marginally in Albania (60%, +1 pp), but have declined in the 
other  seven  countries,  most  notably  in  Türkiye  (67%,  -23 
pp),  Bosnia  and  Herzegovina  (61%,  -19  pp)  and  North 
Macedonia (60%, -17 pp).   

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countries, 

think 
In  non-EU 
nanotechnology will have a positive effect ranges from 85% 
of respondents in Türkiye to 61% in Bosnia and Herzegovina.  

the  proportion 

that 

In  all  EU  countries,  more  than  half  of  respondents  think 
nanotechnology will have a positive effect on our way of 
life in the next 20 years, with respondents in Sweden (90%), 
the Netherlands (89%) and Finland (88%) the most likely to 
think  this  way.  At  the  other  end  of  the  scale,  54%  in 
Romania,  67%  in  Bulgaria  and  68%  in  both  Croatia  and 
Austria think the effect will be positive.  

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Respondents in 14 EU Member States are now more likely 
than  those  in  2021  to  say  nanotechnology  will  have  a 
positive effect on our way of life. The largest increases can 
be seen in Poland (78%, +13 pp) and Hungary (76%, +9 pp).  

In  11  EU  countries,  positive  views  have  declined,  and  this 
applies  in  particular  to  Lithuania  (70%,  -17  pp),  Portugal 
(80%, -16 pp), Estonia (77%, -15 pp) and Latvia (70%, -15 
pp). 

In  the  non-EU  countries,  there  have  been  some  large 
increases  in  the  proportion  that  think  the  effect  will  be 
positive: North Macedonia (67%, +24 pp), Kosovo (62%, +24 
pp) and Albania (72%, +23 pp). The largest decrease can be 
seen in the UK (75%, -11 pp).  

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At least half of respondents in every EU Member State think 
that the effect of new technologies in brain and cognitive 
enhancement  will  be  positive.  This  applies  to  88%  of 
respondents in Spain, 87% in Portugal and 86% in Finland. 
At the other end of the scale, 51% in Romania and 61% in 
Austria think the impact will be positive. 

In  Spain  (52%)  and  Malta  (50%),  at  least  half  of 
respondents expect new technologies in brain and cognitive 
enhancement to have a “very positive” effect.  

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 
84% in Türkiye to 58% in Serbia. 

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In 11 EU countries, there has been an increase since 2021 
in the proportion that thinks the effect of new technologies 
in brain and cognitive enhancement will be positive. By far 
the largest increase can be seen in Sweden (70%, +32 pp), 
followed by Greece (70%, +15 pp) and Poland (72%, +14 
pp).  

Among the 15 EU Member States that register a decrease 
in  positive  views,  the  largest  are  in  Latvia  (64%,  -13  pp), 
Estonia (75%, -11 pp) and Lithuania (71%, -11 pp). 

Outside  of  the  EU,  respondents  in  Albania  are  now  much 
more  likely  than  in  2021  to  think  that  the  effect  of  new 
technologies  in  brain  and  cognitive  enhancement  will  be 
positive (73%, +26 pp).  

There  have  also  been  large  increases  in  North  Macedonia 
(73%, +17 pp) and Kosovo (74%, +13 pp), while the largest 
decrease can be seen in the UK (73%, -10 pp).  

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In  most  EU  Member  States,  the  majority  of  respondents 
think the effect of new technologies in biotechnology and 
genetic  engineering  will  be  positive.  The  highest 
proportions taking this view are in Finland (81%), Sweden 
(80%)  and  in  Spain  and  Portugal  (both  78%).  The  one 
exception  is  Austria,  where  equal  proportions  predict  a 
positive and a negative effect (both 43%). The proportions 
expecting a positive effect are also relatively low in Romania 
(49%) and Bulgaria (53%).  

In countries outside the EU, the proportion of respondents 
who  think  the  effect  will  be  positive  ranges  from  79%  in 
Türkiye to 47% in Serbia.  

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Opinion has become more positive in three countries since 
2021, with the largest increase observed in Denmark (70%, 
+7 pp).  

In the other 24 EU countries, positive views have declined, 
particularly amongst respondents in Estonia (74%, -16 pp), 
Portugal  (78%,  -15  pp),  Lithuania  (66%,  -14  pp)  and 
Luxembourg (63%, -13 pp). 

Outside of the EU, the positive view has increased markedly 
in Kosovo (62%, +13 pp) and in Albania (61%, +12 pp), while 
it has decreased the most in Bosnia and Herzegovina (55%, 
-9 pp).  

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At least 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 most widely held by respondents in 
(74%). 
Greece 
Respondents in Romania (50%), Malta (54%) and in France 
and Austria (both 56%) are least likely to predict a positive 
effect.  

(75%)  and  Hungary 

(76%),  Czechia 

In the non-EU countries included in the survey, respondents 
in Türkiye (79%) and Kosovo (72%) are most likely to say 
space exploration will have a positive effect on life in the 
next 20 years, while those in Bosnia and Herzegovina (48%) 
and Serbia (51%) are least likely to say this. 

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The  proportion  that  think  space  exploration  will  have  a 
positive  effect  has  increased  in  five  EU  countries  since 
2021,  with  no  increases  of  more  than  three  percentage 
points.  

The  positive  view  has  declined  in  21  EU  countries, 
particularly amongst respondents in Portugal (62%, -24 pp) 
and Estonia (68%, -12 pp).  

Outside  of  the  EU,  the  positive  view  has  also  increased 
markedly in Kosovo (72%, +15 pp) and Albania (68%, +12 
pp). The largest decreases can be seen in the UK (62%, -12 
pp) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (48%, -12 pp).   

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There  is  a  broad  range  of  opinions  about  the  effect  of 
nuclear  energy  for  energy  production.  In  24  EU 
countries the majority think the effect will be positive, with 
respondents  in  Czechia  (77%),  Finland  (71%)  and  Poland 
(69%) the most likely to do so. There are three EU Member 
States where the majority think the effect will be negative: 
Austria (67%), Greece (47% vs. 43% positive) and Germany 
(45% vs. 44% positive).  

Opinion in countries outside the EU also varies considerably, 
with  the  proportion  that  think  the  effect  will  be  positive 
ranging from 78% in Türkiye to 38% in Serbia.  

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In 16 EU countries, the proportion that thinks the effects of 
new  technologies  in  nuclear  energy  for  energy  production 
will  be  positive  has  increased  since  2021.  The  largest 
increases  can  be  observed  in  Denmark  (66%,  +22  pp), 
France (66%, +21 pp) and Germany (44%, +19 pp).  

On  the  other hand,  in eight EU countries, respondents  are 
now less likely to be positive, with the largest decline seen 
in Malta (49%, -13 pp).  

Outside  of  the  EU,  respondents  in  Kosovo  are  now  much 
more likely to hold a positive view (64%, +20 pp), while the 
largest  decrease  can  be  seen  in  Bosnia  and  Herzegovina 
(47%, -7 pp).  

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In  every  Member  State  except  one,  the  majority  of 
respondents  think  artificial  intelligence  will  have  a 
positive effect on our way of life in the next 20 years. This 
view  is  held  by  69%  of  respondents  in  Malta,  68%  in 
Portugal, 67% in Denmark and 66% in Hungary. 

Among  the  non-EU  countries,  respondents  in  Türkiye  are 
particularly likely  to  think  artificial  intelligence  will  have a 
positive effect on our way of life in the next 20 years (81%), 
while  the  lowest  proportion  can  be  seen  in  Bosnia  and 
Herzegovina (42%). 

The one exception is Romania, where respondents are more 
likely to expect a negative effect than a positive one (48% 
vs.  40%).  Less  than  half  of  respondents  also  expect  a 
positive outcome in France (44%), Austria (45%) and Latvia 
(47%).  

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There  are  five  EU  Member  States  where  respondents  are 
now  more  likely  than  in  2021  to  say  that  artificial 
intelligence will have a positive effect on our way of life in 
the  next  20  years.  The  largest  increase  can  be  seen  in 
Hungary (66%, -7 pp).  

Positive  views  have  decreased  in  22  EU  countries,  led  by 
Luxembourg (54%, -15 pp), Latvia (47%, -14 pp) and Ireland 
(56%, -14 pp). 

Outside  of  the  EU,  there  has  been  a  large  increase  in  the 
proportion predicting a positive effect in Kosovo (60%, +13 
pp), while the largest decreases can be seen in the UK (55%, 
-13 pp) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (42%, -12 pp).  

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2.   Area s 

af f ected 

by 

new 

t echnologies

Health  and  medical  care  is  the  area  which  is 
expected to be affected the most by research and 
innovation in the coming years 

Respondents were  offered a  list of  areas  and were asked 
which they thought would be affected most by research and 
innovation in the coming years10.  

EU citizens are most likely to say that health and medical 
care is an area that will be affected most by research and 
innovation (47%, no change since 2021). Around a third of 
respondents  mention  the  fight  against  climate  change 
(34%, -6 percentage points) and the energy supply (32%, no 
change).  

Around one in five think protection of the environment (21%, 
-4 pp) and education and skills (21%, +2 pp) will be affected
most by research and innovation in the coming years, while
one in six mention the availability and quality of food (17%,
-2 pp) and transport and transport infrastructure (17%, no
change).

More  than  one  in  ten  respondents  think  the  security  of 
citizens (15%, +3 pp), the adaption of society to an ageing 
population (15%, +4 pp) and job creation (12%, -3 pp) will 
be  most  affected.  Fewer  than  one  in  ten  mention  the 
protection  of  personal  data  (9%,  no  change),  quality  of 
housing (8%, +1 pp) or a reduction of inequalities (7%, -1 
pp)  as  areas  that  will  be  most  affected  by  research  and 
innovation in the coming years.  

10 QA6b. In 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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Overall, almost half (47%) of EU citizens think health and 
medical  care  will  be  most  affected  by  research  and 
innovation. At a country level, the proportions that think this 
way range from 63% in Malta, 58% in the Netherlands and 
57% in Greece, to 25% in Romania and 30% in Portugal. In 
the non-EU countries surveyed, the proportion ranges from 
56% in Albania to 26% in North Macedonia.  

In the EU, health and medical care is the most frequently 
mentioned area in 23 countries, as well as being the joint 
highest response in Italy.  

Respondents  in  Sweden  (57%),  Denmark  (48%)  and  the 
Netherlands  (45%)  are  the  most  likely  to  say  the  fight 
against climate change will be most affected, particularly 
when compared to those in Romania (17%), Lithuania (18%) 
and  Estonia  and  Latvia  (both  19%).  Amongst  the  non-EU 
countries surveyed, respondents in Serbia (37%) are most 
likely to mention the fight against climate change, and this 
is  also  the  area  that  ranks  highest  in  North  Macedonia 
(32%). Respondents in Montenegro (17%) are least likely to 
say this is an area that will be most affected by research 
and innovation.  

The proportion of respondents who think energy supply will 
be  the  most  affected  by  research  and  innovation  varies 
considerably between countries: from 63% in Sweden, 52% 
in Denmark and 51% in the Netherlands, to 11% in Portugal, 
12% in Cyprus and 14% in Romania. This is also the most 
mentioned  area  in  Sweden  (63%)  and  Slovenia  (40%),  as 
well as being the joint highest answer in Italy (40%). 

In  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  energy  supply  is  most 
often  mentioned  by  those  in  Serbia  (36%)  and  is  least 
frequently mentioned by those in Kosovo (11%).  

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  (28%)  and  Italy  and  Denmark  (both 
26%). At the other end of the scale 11% of respondents in 
Sweden, 14% in the Netherlands and 15% in Portugal give 
the  non-EU  countries  surveyed, 
this 
respondents  in  Serbia  (28%)  are  most  likely  to  mention 
protection of the environment as being affected by research 
and innovation, while those in Montenegro (16%) are least 
likely to do so.  

response. 

In 

Education  and  skills  are  most  often  mentioned  by 
respondents  in  Greece  and  Malta  (both  32%)  and  Cyprus 
(31%), and least often mentioned by those in Sweden (13%) 
and  Belgium  and  Austria  (both  16%).  The  proportion  of 
respondents  in  non-EU  countries  mentioning  this  area 

96 

ranges  from  40%  in  Kosovo  (the  highest  of  any  country 
surveyed) to 16% in North Macedonia.  

The Netherlands (26%) is the only country where at least a 
quarter of respondents think the availability and quality 
of  food  will  be  the  most  affected  by  research  and 
innovation in the coming years, although 24% in Hungary, 
Finland and Sweden also mention this area. This contrasts 
with 14% of respondents in Malta, Spain and Latvia. In non-
EU  countries,  30%  of  respondents  in  Serbia  think  the 
availability and quality of food will be the most affected by 
research  and  innovation  in  the  coming  years,  while  the 
lowest proportion is seen in Kosovo (8%).  

Respondents in Sweden (28%) and in Austria and Czechia 
(both  24%)  are  most  likely  to  think  transport  and 
transport  infrastructure  will  be  the  most  affected  by 
research and innovation in coming years. At the other end 
of the scale, 10% in Cyprus and 12% in both Portugal and 
Romania  think  the  same  way.  Outside  of  the  EU, 
respondents in Türkiye (23%) are the most likely to mention 
transport and transport infrastructure, while those in North 
Macedonia (5%) are the least likely to do so.  

Respondents in Cyprus (24%), Romania (23%) and Estonia 
(22%)  are  the  most  likely  to  mention  the  security  of 
citizens. This compares with 10% of respondents in each 
of  Denmark,  the  Netherlands,  Slovenia  and  Lithuania. 
Amongst  non-EU  countries,  the  proportion  of  respondents 
mentioning security ranges from 26% in Kosovo to 10% in 
both the UK and Türkiye.  

Portugal  (27%)  is  the  only  country  where  more  than  a 
quarter  think  the  adaption  of  society  to  an  ageing 
population  will  be  most  affected  by  research  and 
innovation,  followed  by  21%  of  respondents  in  the 
Netherlands.  At  the  other  end  of  the  scale,  this  area  is 
mentioned  by  10%  of  respondents  in  each  of  Czechia, 
Bulgaria, Slovakia and Latvia. In countries outside of the EU, 
adaption  of  society  to  an  ageing  population  is  most 
frequently mentioned by respondents in Montenegro (16%) 
and least by those in North Macedonia (7%).  

Job creation is the area that is mentioned most frequently 
by  respondents  in  Portugal  (33%)  and  is  also  mentioned 
relatively  often  by  respondents  in  Cyprus  (31%)  and 
Romania (24%). It is least frequently mentioned by those in 
the Netherlands and Denmark (both 4%). Among countries 
surveyed  outside  of  the  EU,  respondents  in  Türkiye  (19%) 
are  most  likely  to  mention  job  creation,  with  the  lowest 
proportion in Serbia (12%).  

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The proportion of respondents who mention the protection 
of personal data ranges from 19% in Cyprus and 17% in 
Ireland, to 6% in Sweden and Malta. In non-EU countries the 
proportion  ranges  from  24%  of  respondents  in Albania  to 
9% in the UK.  

in  Belgium 

The quality of housing is mentioned most frequently by 
Ireland  and 
respondents 
Luxembourg  (both  13%),  but  by  only  1%  in  Sweden.  In 
countries  outside  the  EU  proportions  range  from  16%  in 
North Macedonia to 3% in Albania. 

(14%)  and 

in 

Finally, France (12%) and Luxembourg (11%) are the only 
countries where more than one in ten thinks the reduction 
of  inequalities  will  be  most  affected  by  research  and 
innovation.  This  compares  to  2%  of  respondents  in  Malta 
and 3% in each of Sweden, Lithuania and the Netherlands. 
The highest proportion of respondents mentioning this area 
is found outside of the EU in Montenegro (17%).  

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In the EU overall, there has been no change since the 2021 
survey in the proportion of respondents who think health 
and medical care will be most affected by research and 
innovation. However, there have been some large shifts at 
the country level. In eight EU Member States, respondents 
are now more likely to say health and medical care will be 
most affected by research and innovation, led by Denmark 
(55%, +15 pp) and France (56%, +7 pp). In 18 EU countries, 
there  has  been  a  decrease  in  the  proportion  mentioning 
health and medical care. The largest decreases can be seen 
in  Czechia  (46%, -20  pp), Portugal  (30%, -18  pp), Estonia 
(44%, -15 pp) and Belgium (50%, -10 pp). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  there  has  been  a 
large  increase  in  Albania  (56%,  +39  pp),  as  well  as  large 
decreases in North Macedonia (26%, -16 pp) and Bosnia and 
Herzegovina (37%, -12 pp). 

In just four EU countries, there has been an increase in the 
proportion that say the fight against climate change will 
be most affected by research and innovation in the coming 
years. The largest increase can be seen in Greece (32%, +7 
pp).  There  has  been  a  decrease  in  23  EU  Member  States, 
including large falls in Portugal (21%, -31 pp), Ireland (29%, 
-21 pp), Lithuania (18%, -18 pp) and Estonia (19%, -18 pp).
Outside the EU, the largest increase can be seen in Albania
(36%, +30 pp), while the largest decrease can be found in
the UK (28%, -21 pp).

There are 14 EU Member States where respondents are now 
more  likely  than  in  2021  to  mention  energy  supply.  The 
largest increase can be seen in Spain (20%, +6 pp). There 
has been a decrease in the other 13 EU countries, including 
very large declines in Ireland (27%, -24 pp), Estonia (27%, -
23 pp), Belgium (33%, -22 pp) and Portugal (11%, -21 pp). 
In the eight other countries surveyed, the largest increase 
can  be  seen  in  Albania  (21%,  +16  pp),  while  the  largest 
decrease can be found in the UK (32%, -15 pp). 

There are only four EU countries where there has been an 
increase in the proportions choosing the protection of the 
environment  as  an  area  that  will  be  most  affected  by 
research  and  innovation.  None  of  these  increases  are 
greater than three percentage points. By contrast, a decline 
can be observed in 20 EU Member States, most notably in 
Czechia (21%, -13 pp), Ireland (19%, -12 pp) and Portugal 
(15%, -10 pp). 

Outside the EU, the largest increase is again seen in Albania 
(16%, +12 pp), while the largest decrease can be found in 
Montenegro (16%, -10 pp).  

In 18 EU Member States, there has been an increase since 
2021  in  the  proportion  that  thinks  education  and  skills 
will be affected the most by research and innovation. The 
largest increases can be seen in Ireland (29%, +13 pp) and 

98 

Spain (27%, +11 pp). There has been a decrease in seven 
EU countries, the largest being in Cyprus (31%, -11 pp) and 
Greece (32%, -10 pp). 

In  the  non-EU  countries,  the  largest  changes  are  the 
increases seen in Albania (26%, +16 pp) and the UK (28%, 
+12 pp).

In 20 EU countries, respondents are now more likely than in 
2021  to  think  the  security  of  citizens  will  be  most 
affected by research and innovation. The largest increases 
can be seen in Estonia (22%, +15 pp), Ireland (14%, +10 pp) 
and Latvia (18%, +10 pp). There are just five EU countries 
where there has been a decrease, none by more than three 
percentage  points.  Outside  the  EU,  the  only  shift  of  more 
than three percentage points is in North Macedonia (17%, -
5 pp). 

In most EU countries, there have been only small changes 
since 2021 in the proportions mentioning the availability 
and  quality  of  food.  Of  the  eight  countries  showing  an 
increase, the largest is in Malta (14%, +6 pp). The largest 
decrease can be seen in Denmark (15%, -7 pp), among the 
13 EU countries where there has been a decrease. 

In the non-EU countries, there have been large increases in 
Albania  (17%,  +11  pp)  and  Serbia  (30%,  +10  pp),  and  a 
large decrease in Türkiye (13%, -11 pp). 

There are nine EU Member States where there has been an 
increase 
in  the  proportion  choosing  transport  and 
transport infrastructure, the largest being in Malta (20%, 
+7 pp) and Cyprus (10%, +7 pp). Of the nine EU countries
where there has been a decrease, the largest can be seen in
Latvia (17%, -10 pp) and Sweden (28%, -8 pp).

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, the largest shift can 
be seen in Albania (19%, +9 pp). 

In 20 EU Member States, respondents are now more likely 
than  in  2021  to  think  the  adaption  of  society  to  an 
ageing population will be most affected by research and 
innovation.  The  largest  increases  can  be  seen  in  the 
Netherlands (21%, +8 pp), Cyprus (14%, +7 pp) and Sweden 
(15%, +7 pp). There has been a decrease in six EU countries, 
all  of  no  more  than  three  percentage  points.  In  the  eight 
non-EU  countries,  the  largest  change  can  be  observed  in 
Montenegro (16%, +7 pp) 

There are seven EU Member States where there has been 
an increase in mentions of job creation, the largest being 
in Portugal (33%, +18 pp) and Ireland (19%, +9 pp). There 
has  been  a  decrease  in  19  EU  countries,  most  notably  in 
Croatia (11, -9 pp). 

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In the non-EU countries, there have been large decreases in 
Kosovo (17%, -19 pp), North Macedonia (13%, -10 pp) and 
Montenegro (16%, -10 pp).  

For  the  remaining  areas,  which  are  less  frequently 
mentioned overall, the largest changes are as follows: 

  In Cyprus, there has been an increase in the proportion 
that  thinks  the  protection  of  personal  data  will  be 
most affected by research and innovation in the coming 
years (19%, +8 pp), while the largest decrease in the EU 
can  be  seen  in  Portugal  (11%,  -7  pp).  In  the  non-EU 
countries, the largest shift can be seen in Albania (24%, 
+16 pp).

  With regards to the quality of housing, large increases 
can be seen in Belgium (14%, +10 pp), Ireland (13%, +9 
pp),  Portugal  (11%,  +8  pp)  and  Czechia  (10%,  +7  pp). 
Outside  the  EU,  the  largest  change  can  be  seen  in 
Montenegro (15%, +8 pp). 

  The only substantial change in the proportion mentioning 
a reduction of inequalities is seen in Albania (5%, -24 
pp).  

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Socio-demographic table 

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3. Opinion  on  the  benefits  and

pitfalls of science and technology

Most Europeans think that science and technology 
make  our 
lives  easier,  healthier  and  more 
comfortable  

they  agreed  or 
Respondents  were  asked  whether 
disagreed  with  a  number  of  statements  regarding  the 
benefits  and  pitfalls of science and technology11. 

Across  the  EU,  two-thirds  of  respondents  (67%)  agree 
that  science  and 
lives 
easier,  healthier  and  more  comfortable,  with  19% 
saying they agree ‘totally’. 

technology  make  our 

Just one in ten (10%) disagrees, while 22% are neutral. 

These results are similar to those seen in the 2021 survey, 
with  respondents  now  slightly  less  likely  to  agree  (-2 
percentage points), but with no change in the proportion that 
disagrees. 

11 QA8.1. 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. 

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The majority of respondents in each EU Member State agree 
that science and technology make our lives easier, healthier 
and more comfortable, with proportions ranging from 82% 
in Finland, Malta and Sweden, to 49% in Romania. There are 
only five countries where more than one in ten disagrees: 
Romania  (23%),  Slovenia  (15%),  Austria  (13%),  France 
(12%) and Germany (11%).  

The majority of respondents in all of the non-EU countries 
also  agree  with  this  statement,  with  the  highest  levels  of 
agreement seen in Türkiye (81%) and the lowest in Bosnia 
and Herzegovina (51%).  

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Compared  to  2021,  respondents  in  nine  EU  countries  are 
now more likely to agree, with the largest increases seen in 
Latvia  (77%,  +8  pp),  Slovakia  (70%,  +7  pp)  and  Sweden 
(82%, +7 pp).  

By  contrast,  respondents  in  17  EU  countries  are  now  less 
likely  to  agree,  most  notably  Czechia  (68%,  -9  pp)  and 
Estonia (73%, -8 pp).  

Outside of the EU, agreement has increased substantially in 
Albania  (65%,  +35  pp),  while  the  largest decrease  can be 
seen in Bosnia and Herzegovina (51%, -8 pp).  

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Socio-demographic table 

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

Around  three  in  ten  respondents  (29%)  agree  with  the 
statement, with 7% saying they “totally agree”. 

Almost  half  (46%)  disagree,  while  21%  neither  agree  nor 
disagree.  

Agreement has increased since 2021 (+3 pp), while levels 
of disagreement have decreased (-5 pp). 

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In non-EU countries, more than half of respondents agree in 
Kosovo (58%) and in Albania and Türkiye (both 52%). Levels 
of agreement are lowest in the UK (30%). 

Fewer than half of the respondents in each EU country agree 
that,  thanks  to  scientific  and  technological  advances,  the 
Earth’s  natural  resources  will  be  inexhaustible.  However, 
agreement is the most common opinion in seven countries, 
with  the  highest  levels  of  agreement  seen  in  Poland  and 
Italy  (both  44%)  and  Croatia  (42%).  By  contrast,  10%  of 
respondents  in  Sweden,  14%  in  Finland  and  15%  in  both 
Denmark and France agree with the statement. The largest 
proportions  of  respondents  who  disagree  are  observed  in 
Sweden (80%) and Finland (70%).  

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Respondents in 15 EU countries are now more likely than in 
2021 to agree that “thanks to scientific and technological 
advances, 
resources  will  be 
inexhaustible”. The largest increases can be seen amongst 
those in Ireland (41%, +25 pp), Portugal (37%, +22 pp) and 
Belgium (30%, +17 pp).  

the  Earth’s  natural 

In  eight  EU  countries  agreement  has  declined,  with  the 
largest  decreases  seen  in  Romania  (28%,  -10  pp)  and 
Hungary (36%, -9 pp).  

Agreement has increased in three non-EU countries: Albania 
(52%, +21 pp), the UK (30%, +16 pp) and Serbia (39%, +10 
pp). Agreement has declined in the other five countries, most 
notably in Bosnia and Herzegovina (33%, -10 pp).  

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Socio-demographic table 

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Respondents were asked whether they agreed or disagreed 
that “artificial intelligence and automation will create 
more jobs than they will eliminate”.  

Results are very similar to the 2021 survey, with agreement 
showing a marginal increase (+1 percentage point) and no 
change in the proportion that disagrees. 

Three in ten Europeans agree (30%), including 7% who say 
they  “totally  agree”.  However,  a  greater  proportion  of 
respondents  disagree  (40%),  and  this  includes  15%  who 
“totally disagree”. Just over one-quarter (26%) are neutral 
(neither agree nor disagree).  

This question is relevant to the final chapter of the report, 
which  examines  views  on  the  use  of  AI  for  scientific 
research. These later findings also show a range of different 
views on the impact of AI (see Chapter 7 for further details). 

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in  Türkiye  (69%)  and 
Outside  the  EU,  respondents 
Montenegro (54%) are the most likely to agree, particularly 
compared with those in the UK (21%).  

In  every  EU  Member  State,  less  than  half  of  respondents 
agree that artificial intelligence and automation will create 
more jobs than they will eliminate, However, agreement is 
the  prevailing  view  in  five  countries:  Italy  (48%),  Poland 
(43%), Hungary (39%), Austria (36%) and Denmark (35%). 
At the other end of the scale, respondents in Sweden and 
France (both 19%) and Latvia (20%) are the least likely to 
agree that artificial intelligence and automation will create 
more  jobs  than  they  will  eliminate.  Overall,  there  are  22 
countries  where  respondents  are  more  likely  to  disagree 
than agree.  

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In  13  EU  Member  States,  there  has  been  an  increase  in 
agreement since 2021, the largest being in Belgium (30%, 
+9  pp)  and  Austria  (39%,  +9  pp).  In  12  EU  countries,
respondents  are  now  less  likely  to  agree  that  artificial
intelligence and automation will create more jobs than they
will eliminate.

The largest decreases can be seen in Cyprus (26%, -7 pp) 
and Lithuania (23%, -5 pp). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries,  the  largest  shifts  are  the 
increases in agreement seen in Türkiye (69%, +13 pp) and 
Montenegro (54%, +10 pp).  

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Socio demographic table 

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More  than  half  of  respondents  (56%)  agree  that  the 
applications of science and technology can threaten 
human rights. One in six (16%) disagree, while around one 
in four (24%) neither agree nor disagree.  

Compared  to  2021,  respondents  are  now  more  likely  to 
agree  with  this  statement  (+4  pp)  and  are  less  likely  to 
disagree (-6 pp).  

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Within the EU, respondents in Spain (69%), Sweden (68%) 
and in Cyprus, the Netherlands and Finland (all 65%) are the 
most likely to agree that the applications of science and 
technology  can  threaten  human  rights.  Agreement  is 
the  majority  view  in  every  EU  country  but  is  lowest  in 
Romania (44%) and in Czechia and Hungary (both 46%). 

In the non-EU countries, respondents in Serbia (60%) are the 
most  likely  to  agree,  particularly  compared  to  those  in 
Kosovo (43%). Again, agreement is the majority view in each 
country.  

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Compared to 2021, respondents in 21 EU countries are now 
more  likely  to  agree  that  the  applications  of  science  and 
technology  can  threaten  human  rights,  with  the  largest 
increases  seen  in  Lithuania  (61%,  +22  pp),  Estonia  (51%, 
+17 pp) and Sweden (68%, +16 pp).

By contrast, respondents in six EU Member States are now 
less  likely  to  agree,  with  the  largest  decreases  seen  in 
Cyprus (65%, -11 pp) and Romania (44%, -8 pp). 

Outside of the EU, the proportion of respondents that agree 
that the applications of science and technology can threaten 
human rights has increased the most in Albania (53%, +25 

pp) and the UK (51%, +15 pp), while the largest decrease 
can be seen in Montenegro (51%, -15 pp).  

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More than six in ten EU citizens (63%) agree that science 
makes  our  ways  of  life  change  too  fast.  One  in  six 
(17%)  disagree  with  the  statement,  while  a  similar 
proportion (19%) is neutral. 

Respondents are now more likely to agree than they were in 
2021 (+6 pp), while disagreement has fallen (-4 pp).  

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In every EU Member State, a majority of respondents agree 
that science makes our ways of life change too fast. 
The  highest  levels  of  agreement  can  be  seen  in  Greece 
(90%),  Cyprus  (87%)  and  Spain  (23%),  while  the  lowest 
levels are recorded in Denmark and the Netherlands (both 
43%) and in Finland (45%).  

Across  non-EU  countries,  agreement  ranges  from  82%  of 
respondents 
in  each  of  Türkiye,  Albania  and  North 
Macedonia, to 46% in the UK.  

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Since 2021, agreement that science makes our ways of life 
change too fast has increased in 20 EU Member States, with 
the  largest  rises  seen  in  Ireland  (57%,  +27  pp),  Estonia 
(62%, +21 pp) and Belgium (63%, +21 pp).  

Decreases  in  agreement  are  recorded  in  just  five  EU 
countries, the largest being in Cyprus (87%, -7 pp).  

In the non-EU countries surveyed, there has been little or no 
change  in  six  of  the  countries,  but  there  have  been  large 
increases in Albania (82%, +50 pp) and the UK (46%, +19 
pp).  

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III. Views on governance of
science and technology

I. 

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This  chapter  focuses  on  the  governance  of  science  and 
technology. It starts by examining the public’s trust in those 
governing  science  and  technology,  before  looking  more 
closely at issues related to governance and decision-making 
about  science  and  technology.  It  then  examines  views  on 
who should be responsible for ensuring research security in 
international  collaboration  among  research  institutions.  It 
finishes  by  examining  attitudes  towards  public  access  to 
research findings. 

1. Governance  of 

science  and

technology

Over half of Europeans agree that there is no option 
but to trust those governing science and technology 

Respondents  were  asked  to  what  extent  they  agreed  or 
disagreed  that  “we  have  no  option  but  to  trust  those 
governing science and technology”12.  

Just  over  half  of  EU  citizens  agree  (53%,  +1  percentage 
point), with 14% (-2 pp) saying they “strongly agree”. Just 
over  one  in  five  disagrees  (22%,  -3  pp),  with  6%  (-2  pp) 
“strongly disagreeing”. Just over one in five (23%, +2 pp) are 
neutral, while 2% (no change) say they don’t know.  

Findings have remained broadly in line with those seen in 
the 2021 survey. 

12  QA15.6.  How  strongly  do  you  agree  or  disagree  with  the  following 
statements? We have no option but to trust those governing science 
and technology. 

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In  every  EU  Member  State  except  Sweden,  a  majority  of 
respondents agree that we have no option but to trust those 
governing  science  and  technology.  The  highest  levels  of 
agreement can be seen in Spain (65%), Portugal (64%) and 
Lithuania (63%). In Sweden, 32% agree and 52% disagree, 
while levels of agreement are also relatively low in Romania 
and Finland (both 41%) and in the Netherlands (42%). 

In countries outside the EU, the proportions that agree are 
consistent,  ranging  from  53%  in  Serbia  to  44%  in  Bosnia 
and Herzegovina. In each country, the majority agrees with 
the statement. 

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In 15 EU Member States, respondents are now more likely 
than in 2021 to agree that “we have no option but to trust 
those  governing  science  and  technology.”  The  largest 
increases can be seen in Ireland (55%, +19 pp), Lithuania 
(63%, +13 pp) and Portugal (64%, +12 pp).  

There are 11 EU countries where agreement has decreased, 
most notably Bulgaria (55%, -11 pp), Cyprus (52%, -9 pp) 
and Hungary (60%, -8 pp). 

In  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  there  has  been  a  large 
increase  in  agreement  in  Albania  (48%,  +20  pp),  while 
agreement  has  fallen  sharply  in  Bosnia  and  Herzegovina 
(44%, -14 pp) and Montenegro (46%, -10 pp).   

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Respondents  were  read  out  a  series  of  paired  statements 
and were asked to choose which one of the two statements 
was closest to their point of view13.  

There are differing views on the regulation of science and 
technology.  Just  over  half  of  EU  citizens  (54%)  think 
“science  and  technology  should  be  tightly  regulated 
by  the  government”,  while  more  than  four  in  ten  (44%) 
think  it  “should  be  allowed  to  operate  freely  in  the 
marketplace”. Just 2% say they don’t know.  

There has been a slight shift in favour of greater regulation 
since the 2021 survey (4 pp.). Respondents are now more 
likely to say that science and technology should be tightly 
regulated by the government (+4 pp), while there has been 
a  corresponding  fall  in  the  proportion  saying  it  should  be 
allowed to operate freely in the marketplace (-4 pp). 

13 QA11. You will be shown a series of statement sets. For each set, which 

statement comes closest to your point of view? 

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At  a  country  level,  the  majority  of  respondents  in  15  EU 
Member States say science and technology should be tightly 
regulated by the government, with the highest proportions 
in Portugal (78%), Ireland (68%) and Italy (64%). In 11 EU 
countries,  the  majority  opinion 
is  that  science  and 
technology  should  be  allowed  to  operate  freely  in  the 
marketplace,  with  those  in  Finland  (72%),  Czechia  (67%) 
and  Sweden  (64%)  the  most  likely  to  think  this  way.  In 
Romania,  equal  proportions  take  each  point  of  view  (both 
49%). 

In all 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 
Türkiye (64%) and Albania (62%). 

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In 16 EU Member States, there has been an increase since 
2021 in the proportion of respondents that say science and 
technology should be tightly regulated by the government. 
The largest increases can be seen in Portugal (78%, +20 pp), 
Lithuania (54%, +19 pp) and Estonia (36%, +15 pp). 

In seven EU countries, the proportion that thinks science and 
technology should be tightly regulated by the government 
has fallen, with the largest decreases seen in Malta (40%, -
10 pp), Romania (49%, -9 pp) and Slovakia (39%, -7 pp). 

In the non-EU countries, the proportion that thinks science 
and  technology  should  be  tightly  regulated  by  the 
government has increased markedly in Türkiye (64%, +22 
pp)  and  Bosnia  and  Herzegovina  (61%,  +11  pp),  and  has 
decreased sharply in Montenegro (57%, -17 pp) and Albania 
(62%, -13 pp).   

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

  “Decisions  about  science  and  technology  should  be 
based  primarily  on  the  moral  and  ethical  issues 
concerned”; 

More  than  half  of  EU  citizens  say  that  decisions  about 
science  and  technology  should  be  based  primarily  on  the 
moral  and  ethical  issues  concerned  (57%,  +2  pp  since 
2021), while around four in ten say these decisions should 
be based primarily on the potential to make new scientific 
discoveries and develop new technologies (41%, -2 pp). Just 
2% (no change) don’t know.  

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

discoveries 

develop 

and 

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In 22 EU Member States, a majority of respondents say that 
decisions  about  science  and  technology  should  be  based 
primarily  on  the  moral  and  ethical  issues  concerned.  The 
highest  proportions  are  seen  in  Portugal  (68%)  and  in 
Austria, Bulgaria and Greece (all 65%). In four EU 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: Finland (57%), Latvia (53%), Malta (51%) and 
Estonia (49%). Opinion in Denmark is evenly divided (49% 
for both responses).  

In all but two 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. Respondents in Serbia (77%) are most likely to 
hold this view. Albania (54%) and Kosovo (50%) are the two 
countries  where  a  majority  of  respondents  think  these 
decisions  should  be  based  primarily  on  the  potential  to 
make  new  scientific  discoveries  and  develop  new 
technologies. 

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In 18 EU Member States, there has been an increase since 
2021  in  the  proportion  of  respondents  that  say  decisions 
about science and technology should be based primarily on 
the  moral  and  ethical  issues  concerned.  The  largest 
increases can be seen in Portugal (68%, +22 pp), Lithuania 
(63%, +16 pp) and the Netherlands (53%, +13 pp). 

In six EU countries, there has been a fall in the proportion 
that thinks decisions about science and technology should 
be  based  primarily  on  the  moral  and  ethical  issues 
concerned.  The  largest  decrease  can  be  seen  in  Czechia 
(53%, -7 pp). 

In the non-EU countries surveyed, respondents in Türkiye are 
much more likely than in 2021 to say that decisions about 
science  and  technology  should  be  based  primarily  on  the 
moral and ethical issues concerned (56%, +16 pp).  

There have been large decreases in the proportion holding 
this view in Albania (45%, -20 pp) and Montenegro (59%, -
10 pp).  

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Seven in ten Europeans (70%, -2 pp since 2021) hold the 
view  that  “decisions  about  science  and  technology 
should  be  based  mainly  on  the  advice  of  experts”, 
while  28%  (+1  pp)  say  that  “decisions  about  science  and 
technology should be based mainly on what the majority of 
people in a country think”.  

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In  every  EU  Member  State  except  Romania,  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 Malta (88%), the Netherlands 
(86%) and in Finland and Sweden (both 83%).  

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  Romania 
(49%)  and  Austria  (42%).  In  Romania,  equal  proportions 
(49%) give the two response options. 

Looking  at  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  respondents  in 
the UK (76%) and Albania (75%) are most likely to say that 
‘decisions  about  science  and  technology  should  be  based 
mainly  on  the  advice  of  experts’,  and  this  is  the  majority 
view 
in  Bosnia  and 
Herzegovina  (39%)  and  Montenegro  (37%)  are  the  most 
likely to say that decisions should be based mainly on what 
the majority of people in a country think. 

in  each  country.  Respondents 

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There  are  nine  EU  countries  where  respondents  are  more 
likely than in 2021 to say that “decisions about science and 
technology  should  be  based  mainly  on  the  advice  of 
in  the 
experts”.  The 
Netherlands (86%, +9 pp).  

increase  can  be  seen 

largest 

The  proportion  who  take  this  view  has  declined  in  18  EU 
Member States, with the largest decreases in Estonia (72%, 
-18 pp), Czechia (75%, -17 pp), Latvia (63%, -16 pp) and
Belgium (67%, -16 pp).

In the non-EU countries, the largest change since 2021 is in 
the UK, where respondents are now less likely to say that 
“decisions  about  science  and  technology  should  be  based 
mainly on the advice of experts” (76%, -11 pp). 

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Within the EU, just over seven in ten respondents (72%, no 
change  since  2021)  think  that  “the  government  should 
take  responsibility  to  ensure  that  new  technologies 
benefit  everyone”,  while  just  over  one  in  four  (27%,  no 
change) say that “it is up to people themselves to seek out 
the benefits of new technologies”.  

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The majority of respondents in all EU Member States think 
that  “the  government  should  take  responsibility  to  ensure 
new technologies benefit everyone”. Respondents are most 
likely to hold this view in Portugal (85%), Ireland (82%) and 
in Spain, Italy and Malta (all 79%). 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 Romania (45%), Slovakia (39%) and in Estonia and Cyprus 
(both 37%).  

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, respondents 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 proportion 
in Bosnia and Herzegovina (66%).  

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Comparing the current results with those from 2021, there 
are  14  EU  Member  States  where  the  proportion  of 
respondents  who  think  that  the  government  should  take 
responsibility  to  ensure  that  new  technologies  benefit 
everyone  has  increased,  with  the  most  marked  increases 
seen  in  Poland  (69%,  +12  pp),  Cyprus  (63%,  +8  pp)  and 
Croatia (75%, +8 pp).  

Among the 12 EU Member States where the proportion of 
respondents  who  take  this  view  has  fallen,  the  largest 
decreases can be found in Belgium (73%, -10 pp), Estonia 
(60%, -10 pp) and Bulgaria (62%, -9 pp). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  most  notable 
change is an increase in the proportion of respondents who 
think  the  government  should  take  responsibility  to  ensure 
new technologies benefit everyone in Kosovo (71%, +11 pp). 

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More than seven in ten respondents (73%) believe that “the 
government  should  make  private  companies  tackle 
climate  change”,  while  one  in  four  respondents  (25%) 
think that “we should leave it to private companies to decide 
whether to tackle climate change”.  

There  has  been  a  change  since  the  2021  survey. 
Respondents are now less likely to say that the 

government should make private companies tackle climate 
change  (73%, -6  pp),  while  there has  been  an  increase  in 
the proportion saying it should be left to private companies 
to decide whether to tackle climate change (25%, +5 pp). 

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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 say this in Sweden (88%) and in Portugal and Malta 
(both  84%).  Respondents  are  least  likely  to  think  this  in 
Estonia and Slovenia (both 51%) and Romania (53%).  

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  proportion  in  the  UK  (82%),  and  the  lowest  in 
Montenegro (66%).  

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In  seven  EU  Member  States,  there  has  been  an  increase 
since  2021  in  the  proportion  of  respondents  that  say  the 
government should make private companies tackle climate 
change. The largest increase can be seen in Finland (75%, 
+4 pp).

In  19  EU  countries,  the  proportion  that  thinks  the 
government should make private companies tackle climate 
change  has  fallen,  with  the  largest  decreases  seen  in 
Czechia (55%, -19 pp), Estonia (51%, -19 pp) and Belgium 
(73%, -14 pp). 

In  the  non-EU  countries,  the  proportion  that  thinks  the 
government should make private companies tackle climate 
change has increased the most in North Macedonia (74%, 
+8 pp) and has decreased sharply in Montenegro (66%, -15
pp).

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2. Views  on  responsible  bodies

regarding 

security

in 

international 

collaboration 

research

Research  institutions  are  most  commonly  seen  as 
being responsible for ensuring research security in 
international collaboration 

Respondents  were  asked  who  should  be  responsible  for 
ensuring  research  security  in  international  collaboration 
among research institutions, choosing from the options of 
governments, funding agencies and research institutions14. 

The  most  frequent  response  is  that  research  institutions 
should be responsible for ensuring research security (41%), 
while  29%  say  that  responsibility  should 
lie  with 
governments and 26% with funding agencies. 

14 QA18. Which of the following should be the main responsible for ensuring research 

security in international collaboration among research institutions? 

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In 22 EU Member States, respondents are most likely to say 
that  research  institutions  should  be  responsible  for 
ensuring  research  security  in  international  collaboration. 
More than half of respondents give this answer in Finland 
(63%), Slovenia (60%) and Sweden (51%), while the lowest 
proportions are seen in Ireland (32%) and in Portugal, Spain 
and Italy (all 34%).  

In  four  EU  countries,  governments  are  most  likely  to  be 
seen  as  the  organisation  that  should  be  responsible  for 
ensuring  research  security  in  international  collaboration 
(42%), 
institutions:  the  Netherlands 
among  research 
Denmark (41%), Portugal (40%) and Ireland (37%). 

The  proportion  choosing  governments  is  also  high  in 
Lithuania (37%). This answer is chosen least frequently in 
Sweden (17%) and in Slovenia and Finland (both 18%). 

In Hungary, respondents are most likely to say that funding 
agencies  should  be  responsible  for  ensuring  research 
security  (38%).  Among  EU  countries,  the  proportion 
choosing  funding  agencies  is  also  high  in  Romania  (34%) 
and in Italy and Croatia (both 32%). The lowest proportions 
can  be  seen  in  Lithuania  (15%)  and  in  Finland  and  the 
Netherlands (both 16%). 

In the non-EU countries surveyed, the proportion that thinks 
research  institutions  should  be  responsible  ranges  from 
47% in Serbia to 32% in Türkiye. 

Outside the EU, the proportion that say governments should 
be responsible ranges from 40% in both Türkiye and the UK 
to 17% in Montenegro. 

In the eight non-EU countries, almost half of respondents in 
Montenegro  (46%)  say  that  funding  agencies  should  be 
responsible  for  ensuring  research  security  in  international 
collaboration, while the proportion is lowest in Serbia (15%). 

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3. Public access to research results

Eight  in  ten  Europeans  agree  that  the  results  of 
publicly funded research should be freely available 
online. 

Respondents  were  asked  how  strongly  they  agreed 
or  disagreed  that  “the  results  of  publicly  funded 
research  should  be  made  available  online  free  of 
charge”15.  

Eight in ten EU citizens agree with the statement (80%, +1 
percentage  point  since  2021),  including  41%  (-2  pp)  who 
‘strongly agree’. Just 5% disagree (no change), while 13% 
neither agree nor disagree (no change).  

15 QA7.5. 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. The results of publicly funded research, 

such as scientific articles and data, should be made available online 
free of charge. 

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At a country level, more than half of respondents in every 
EU Member State agree that the results of publicly funded 
research  should  be  freely  available  online.  Levels  of 
agreement range from 91% in Finland, 90% in Cyprus and 
89% in both Ireland and Sweden, to 55% in Romania and 
71%  in  each  of  Bulgaria,  Hungary  and  Poland.  In  ten  EU 
countries, at least half of respondents “strongly agree”, with 
the largest proportions in Cyprus (71%) and Sweden (68%). 

Romania is the only EU country where more than one in ten 
respondents disagree (20%).  

In  all  non-EU  countries,  more  than  six  in  ten  respondents 
agree  with  the  statement,  with  the  highest  proportions  in 
the UK (86%), Albania (81%) and Türkiye (80%). The lowest 
level of agreement is seen in Bosnia and Herzegovina (66%). 

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In 13 EU Member States, respondents are now more likely 
than  in  2021  to  agree  that  the  results  of  publicly  funded 
research  should  be  freely  available  online.  The  largest 
increases in agreement can be seen in Spain (88%, +9 pp), 
Denmark (85%, +8 pp) and Slovakia (82%, +7 pp).  

Among the 11 EU countries where agreement has declined 
since 2021, the largest decreases can be found in Portugal 
(79%, -17 pp) and Czechia (78%, -13 pp). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  agreement  has 
increased substantially in Albania (81%, + 51 pp), with large 
increases  also  seen  in  Serbia  (79%,  +16  pp)  and  Kosovo 
(77%, +13 pp). 

The largest decrease in agreement can be seen in Türkiye 
(80%, -10 pp).  

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IV. Perceptions of scientists
II. 

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This  chapter looks  at  public  perceptions  of  scientists.  It 
starts  by  assessing  citizens’  attitudes  towards  scientists, 
specifically  their  role  in  decision  making,  their  position  in 
society and their interactions with the public. It then looks 
at the characteristics that people associate with scientists 
today,  as  well  as  the  qualities  that  respondents  think 
scientists should have. 

1. Views on scientists

There  are  mixed  views  as  to  whether  scientists 
should intervene in political debate.’ 

respondents  are  slightly  more  likely  to  agree  (42%,  +3 
percentage points) than disagree (33%, -4 pp).  

This  section  examines public  perceptions  of  scientists,  in 
terms  of  their  role  in  decision  making,  their  position  in 
society and their interactions with the public.  

In  order  to  provide  a  balanced  assessment  of  views  on 
whether scientists should intervene in political debate, the 
sample  was  randomly  divided  into  two,  with  half of 
respondents asked a ‘positive’ statement and the other half 
a  ‘negative’  statement16.  On  balance,  this  indicates a 
preference for scientists intervening in political debate: two-
thirds agree (68%, no change since 2021) that “scientists 
should  intervene  in  political  debate  to  ensure  that 
decisions take into account scientific evidence”, while 
just  11%  disagree  (no  change).  With  the  alternative 
‘negative’ wording, that “scientists should not intervene 
in  political  debate  when  decisions  ignore  scientific 
evidence”, results are more evenly balanced, although  

Europeans express a degree of mistrust when asked about 
the  credibility  of  scientists.  Half  of  EU  citizens  (50%,  no 
change) 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”, while 21% disagree (-1 
pp).  

Just  under  half  of  respondents  (48%,  +3  pp)  agree  that 
“scientists only look at very specific issues and do not 
consider  problems  from  a  wider  social  perspective”, 
while 21% disagree (-4 pp).  

Just  over  a  third  of  EU  citizens  (35%,  +3  pp)  agree  that 
“nowadays,  the  problems  we  are  facing  are  so 
complex  that  scientists  are  no  longer  able  to 
understand  them”,  while  a  slightly  larger  proportion 
disagrees (37%, -4 pp).  

16  QA9.  To  what  extent  do  you  agree  with  the  following  statements 

regarding scientists today? 

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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 17 Member States where 
the majority of respondents agree with this statement, led 
by Cyprus (63%), Italy (61%) and Hungary (58%). However, 
disagreement  outweighs  agreement  in  the  other  ten 
Member States, with disagreement particularly high in the 
Netherlands (72%) and Sweden (68%).  

In  the  eight  other  countries  surveyed,  the  UK  is  the  one 
country where respondents are more likely to disagree than 
agree  that  scientists  should  not  intervene  (49%  vs.  30%). 
Otherwise,  agreement  is  the  majority  view,  particularly  in 
Montenegro  (55%)  and  in  North  Macedonia  and  Kosovo 
(both 53%). 

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Compared  with  2021,  there  have  been  increases  in 
agreement  in  17  EU  Member  States,  over  the  issue  of 
whether scientists should not intervene in political debate. 
The largest increases can be observed in Belgium (46%, +25 
pp), Ireland (32%, +16 pp) and Portugal (33%, +15 pp).  

Agreement has decreased in nine EU countries, the largest 
being  in  France  (43%,  -15  pp),  Bulgaria  (41%,  -7  pp)  and 
Lithuania (34%, -7 pp). 

In the non-EU countries, there have been large increases in 
agreement in the UK (30%, +17 pp) and Albania (45%, +15 
pp).  

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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 Sweden 
(83%),  Finland  (81%)  and  in  Spain  and  the  Netherlands 
(both  77%).  Levels  of  agreement  are  lowest  in  Romania 
(45%), Hungary (48%) and Croatia (51%).  

In the non-EU countries covered by the survey, agreement 
with the statement ranges from 69% in the UK to 52% in 
Albania. 

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In 13 EU Member States, agreement as to whether scientists 
should  intervene  in  political  debate  has  increased  since 
2021. The largest increases can be seen in the Netherlands 
(77%, +14 pp), Sweden (83%, +12 pp) and Denmark (76%, 
+11 pp).

Among the 14 EU countries where agreement has fallen, the 
largest  decreases  can  be  seen  in  Estonia  (69%,  -16  pp), 
Romania (45%, -13 pp) and Portugal (66%, -12 pp). 

In  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  there  has  been  a  large 
increase  in  agreement  in  Albania  (52%,  +16  pp),  while 
agreement has fallen the most in Montenegro (59%, -8 pp). 

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Looking  at  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  agreement 
ranges from 60% in Bosnia and Herzegovina to 41% in the 
UK.  

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  27  EU  Member  States,  a  majority  of 
respondents agree with the statement.  

Respondents are most likely to agree with the statement in 
Cyprus  (69%),  Lithuania  (62%)  and  Italy  (60%),  while 
agreement is lowest in Romania (40%) and in Denmark and 
Ireland (both 42%).  

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There  has  been  an  increase  in  agreement  with  this 
statement in 14 EU Member States since 2021. The largest 
increases can be seen in Italy (60%, +11 pp) and Czechia 
(47%, +8 pp).  

Agreement has declined in nine EU countries, most notably 
in Germany (44%, -9 pp) and Portugal (45%, -8 pp).  

There  have  also  been  large  increases  in  the  non-EU 
countries surveyed, the largest being in Albania (52%, +23 
pp) and the UK (41%, +14 pp 

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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  social 
perspective”. The exception is Denmark, where 36% agree 
and 37% disagree.  

In  the  other  countries  surveyed,  respondents  in  North 
Macedonia are most likely to agree that scientists only look 
at very specific issues (57%), with agreement lowest in the 
UK (40%). Overall, a majority agrees with the statement in 
each of the eight countries. 

Respondents are most likely to agree with the statement in 
Cyprus (59%), Italy (57%) and in Croatia and Slovenia (both 
55%),  while  the  proportion  that  disagrees  is  highest  in 
Denmark  and  the  Netherlands  (both  37%)  and  in  Sweden 
(34%). 

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There have been some large increases in agreement in EU 
Member  States  since  2021,  the  largest  being  in  Estonia 
(45%,  +15  pp),  Luxembourg  (52%,  +14  pp)  and  Belgium 
(51%, +14 pp).  

Overall,  there  are  19  EU  countries  where  agreement  has 
increased and six where it has decreased, with the largest 
decreases seen in Slovakia (45%, -6 pp) and Greece (48%, 
-5 pp).

Looking  at  the  eight  other  countries  surveyed,  by  far  the 
largest shift is the increase in agreement in Albania (54%, 
+24 pp).

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In ten 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  Lithuania 
(52%), Croatia (49%) and Italy (47%). In 16 Member States, 
respondents are more likely to disagree than agree with the 
statement. Respondents are most likely to disagree in the 
Netherlands (63%), Sweden (62%) and Malta (60%). Equal 
proportions agree and disagree in Greece (both 33%) 

In  the  eight  other  countries  covered  by  the  survey, 
respondents in Montenegro (52%) are most likely to agree 
that “nowadays, the problems we are facing are so complex 
that  scientists  are  no  longer  able  to  understand  them”. 
Agreement is the majority view in every country except the 
UK,  where  respondents  are  more  likely  to  disagree  than 
agree (45% vs. 25%). 

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There has been an increase in agreement in 17 EU Member 
States since 2021, the largest being in Portugal (44%, +26 
pp),  Belgium  (34%,  +19  pp),  Estonia  (31%,  +18  pp)  and 
Ireland (29%, +16 pp).  

Among  the  ten  EU  countries  where  agreement  has 
decreased, the largest can be seen in Spain (36%, -8 pp) and 
Romania (33%, -8 pp).  

In  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  largest  shift  in 
agreement can be seen in the UK (25%, +15 pp).  

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Socio-demographic table 

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Almost half of the respondents disagree (48%, -3 pp) that 
“scientists spend sufficient time meeting people like 
you  to  explain  their  work”,  including  21%  (-2  pp)  who 
“strongly disagree”17.  

More  than  a  quarter  of  Europeans  (27%,  +4  percentage 
points  since  2021)  agree,  with  6%  (+1  pp)  saying  they 
“strongly agree” and 21% (+3 pp) that they “tend to agree”. 

17 QA7.3. 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: Scientists spend sufficient time meeting 
people like you to explain their work. 

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In  every  EU  Member  State  except  Poland,  a  majority  of 
respondents disagree with the statement. Respondents are 
most  likely  to disagree  in Malta  (68%),  France  (63%)  and 
Cyprus (61%). 

In  Poland,  42%  agree  and  32%  disagree.  Levels  of 
agreement  are  also  relatively  high  in  Italy  and  Hungary 
(both 36%) and in Austria and Portugal (both 34%).  

Looking  at  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  a  majority  of 
respondents  agree  with  the  statement  in  Türkiye  (54%), 
Montenegro (45%) and Kosovo (41%), while disagreement 
is the majority view in the other countries, notably Albania 
(58% disagree). 

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Since 2021, there has been an increase in agreement in 22 
EU  Member  States.  The  largest  increases  can  be  seen  in 
Belgium (30%, +14 pp), Portugal (34%, +13 pp) and Austria 
(34%, +12 pp).  

Agreement has decreased in just four EU countries, with the 
largest  declines  seen  in  Malta  (17%,  -8  pp)  and  Romania 
(24%, -7 pp).

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  there  has  been  a 
large increase in agreement in Türkiye (54%, +17 pp) and 
the UK (23%, +12 pp). 

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Socio-demographic table 

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Just  over  half  of  Europeans  (52%,  +6  percentage  points 
since  2021)  agree  that  “because  of  their  knowledge, 
scientists have a power that makes them dangerous”. 
This  includes  14%  (-1  pp)  who  “totally  agree”  with  the 
statement.  Just  under  one  in  four  disagree  (23%,  -6  pp), 
including 6% (-3 pp) who “totally disagree”18.  

The  findings  show  a  change  from  the  2021  survey,  with 
respondents  now  more  likely  to  agree  with  the  statement 
(+6 pp) and less likely to disagree (-6 pp). 

18 QA8.8. 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: Because of their knowledge, scientists 
have a power that makes them dangerous. 

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In 23 EU Member States, a majority of respondents agree 
that “because of their knowledge, scientists have a power 
that  makes  them  dangerous”.  The  highest  levels  of 
agreement can be seen in Malta (68%), Portugal (64%) and 
Italy (63%). In the four other Member States, respondents 
are more likely to disagree than agree with the statement: 
the Netherlands (54% disagree), Denmark and Finland (both 
49%) and Sweden (48%).  

Looking at the non-EU countries surveyed, agreement is the 
majority view in every country. Levels of agreement range 
from 64% in Serbia to 40% in the UK. 

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There has been a rise in agreement that “because of their 
knowledge,  scientists  have  a  power  that  makes  them 
dangerous”  in  most  EU  Member  States  since  2021,  the 
largest being in Ireland (52%, +28 pp), Portugal (64%, +26 
pp), Estonia (40%, +20 pp) and Belgium (52%, +20 pp).  

Agreement  has  fallen  in  just  four  EU  countries,  with  the 
largest decrease seen in Romania (42%, -8 pp). 

Looking  at  the  eight  other  countries  surveyed,  there  has 
been  a large  increase  in  agreement  in  Albania  (56%,  +31 
pp)  and  in  the  UK  (40%,  +14  pp),  while  agreement  has 
decreased the most in Kosovo (49%, -8 pp).  

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Socio-demographic table 

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2. Characteristics of scientists

‘Intelligent’  and  ‘reliable’  are  the  words  that 
frequently  associate  with 
Europeans  most 
scientists. 

focuses  on 

This  section 
that 
Europeans  associate  with  scientists,  as  well  as  the 
qualities that they think they should have.  

the  characteristics 

When  presented  with  ten  words  or  phrases  that  describe 
possible 
Europeans 
of 
are  generally  more  likely  to  associate  scientists  with 
positive  characteristics rather than negative ones. 

characteristics 

scientists, 

Overall, around a third of respondents (35%) only associate 
scientists with positive characteristics, while 61% mention 
a combination of positive and negative characteristics. Just 
1% only associate scientists with negative characteristics19. 

19 QA10a. 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. 

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‘Intelligent’ is the characteristic most frequently associated 
with  scientists  (89%  say  this  describes  scientists  well,  no 
change  from  the  2021  survey).  More  than  half  of 
respondents choose ‘reliable’ (71%, +3 percentage points), 
‘honest’  (63%,  +5  pp)  and  ‘know  best  what  is  good  for 
people’  (53%,  +6  pp)  as  characteristics  that  describe 
scientists  well.  The  positive  characteristics  that  are  less 
frequently  associated  with  scientists  are  ‘open  to  engage 
with citizens‘20 (49%) and ‘altruistic’ (43%, +3 pp).  

Looking  at  the  negative  characteristics  included  in  the 
question,  ‘bad  at  communicating’  is  the  one  that  is  most 
commonly associated with scientists (43%, +4 pp), followed 
by ‘arrogant’ (30%, +2 pp), ‘narrow minded’ (28%, +5 pp), 
and ‘immoral’ (19%, +3 pp). In each case, respondents are 
more  likely  to  say  the  negative  characteristic  describes 
scientists ‘badly’ than say it describes them ‘well’.  

20 This item was not included in the 2021 survey. 

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At least three-quarters of respondents in every EU Member 
State say that ‘intelligent’ describes scientists well. Almost 
all  respondents  give  this  answer  in  Spain  (97%)  and  the 
Netherlands  (96%).  The  lowest  proportions  are  found  in 
Romania (75%) and Latvia (80%). Romania has by far the 
largest  proportion  of  respondents  who  say  ‘intelligent’ 
describes scientists badly (21%).  

Looking  at  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  proportion 
that says ‘intelligent’ describes scientists well ranges from 
99% in Türkiye to 83% in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

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In ten EU Member States, respondents are now more likely 
than  in  2021  to  say  that  ‘intelligent’  describes  scientists 
well. The largest increases can be observed in Poland (85%, 
+6 pp) and Hungary (94%, +6 pp).

The proportion has decreased in 13 EU countries, with the 
largest in Portugal (86%, -10 pp) and Estonia (86%, -8 pp). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  there  has  been  a 
large  increase  in  Albania  in  the  proportion  that  says 
‘intelligent’ describes scientists well (97%, +40 pp). 

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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 Sweden (82%) and in Hungary, 
the Netherlands and Poland (all 80%), while the proportion 
is  lowest  in  Latvia  and  Cyprus  (both  55%)  and  in  Estonia 
(59%).  

Respondents  in  Cyprus  (37%)  are  most  likely  to  say  that 
‘reliable’  describes  scientists  badly,  followed  by  those  in 
Romania, Croatia and Slovenia (all 27%).  

The  proportion  that  give  a  ‘don’t  know’  answer  varies 
considerably across Member States. 

In some countries, less than one in ten respondents say they 
‘don’t  know’,  but  it  accounts  for  at  least  a  fifth  of 
respondents  in  Latvia  (25%),  Portugal  (22%)  and  Estonia 
(20%).  

Looking at the non-EU countries surveyed, more than half 
of respondents in each country say that ‘reliable’ describes 
scientists well.  

The proportion ranges from 91% in Türkiye to 53% in Bosnia 
and Herzegovina.  

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Since 2021, the proportion of respondents that say ‘reliable’ 
describes  scientists  well  has  increased  in  14  EU  Member 
States. The largest increases can be seen in Poland (80%, 
+8 pp) and France (68%, +8 pp).

In  12  EU  countries,  this  proportion  has  decreased,  most 
notably  in  Estonia  (59%,  -20  pp)  and  Portugal  (69%,  -14 
pp). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  there  have  been 
large  increases  in  the  proportions  that  say  ‘reliable’ 
describes  scientists  well  in  Albania  (76%,  +23  pp)  and 
Montenegro  (74%,  +20  pp).  The  largest  decrease  can  be 
seen in the UK (73%, -12 pp).  

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In 17 EU Member States, respondents are more likely to say 
that ‘open  to  engage  with  citizens’ describes scientists 
well than to say it describes them badly. Respondents are 
most  likely  to  say  this  describes  scientists  well  in  Poland 
(65%)  and  Hungary  and  Slovakia  (both  61%).  However, 
there are ten Member States where respondents are more 
likely  to  say  ‘open  to  engage  with  citizens’  describes 
scientists  badly  as  say  it  describes  them  well.  In  fact,  at 
least  half  of  respondents  in  Cyprus  (53%),  Luxembourg 
(52%) and Italy (50%) say this describes scientists badly. 

Respondents  in  Bulgaria  and  Portugal  (both  22%)  are 
particularly likely to give a ‘don’t know’ answer.  

Looking at the eight other countries surveyed, the proportion 
that says ‘open to engage with citizens’ describes scientists 
well ranges from 76% in Türkiye to 38% in both Serbia and 
Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

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In  six  EU  Member  States,  more  than  seven  in  ten 
respondents  think  that  ‘honest’  describes  scientists  well: 
Sweden  (80%),  the  Netherlands  (77%),  Denmark  (73%), 
Hungary  (72%)  and  Poland  and  Finland  (both  71%).  By 
contrast, only around half of respondents take this view in 
Cyprus (49%) and Austria (50%).  

Respondents are most likely to say that ‘honest’ describes 
scientists  badly  in  Cyprus  (43%)  and  in  Croatia  and 
Luxembourg (both 33%). 

Around  a  quarter  of  respondents  say  they  ‘don’t  know’  in 
Bulgaria and Portugal (both 25%) and in Latvia (24%). 

Looking at the eight other countries surveyed, respondents 
in  Türkiye  (88%)  are  the  most  likely  to  say  that  ‘honest’ 
describes  scientists  well,  while  those  in  Bosnia  and 
Herzegovina (51%) are least likely to say this.  

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Since 2021, the proportion of respondents that say ‘honest’ 
describes  scientists  well  has  increased  in  14  EU  Member 
States.  

The largest increases can be seen in Poland (80%, +8 pp) 
and France (68%, +8 pp). In 12 EU countries, this proportion 
has decreased, most notably in Estonia (59%, -20 pp) and 
Portugal (69%, -14 pp). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  there  have  been 
large increases in the proportions that say ‘honest’ describes 
scientists  well  in  Albania  (76%,  +23  pp)  and  Montenegro 
(74%, +20 pp). The largest decrease can be seen in the UK 
(73%, -12 pp).   

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

It is the majority view in 17 countries, led by Spain (77%), 
Greece (73%), Italy (71%) and Portugal (70%). In nine EU 
Member  States,  a  majority  thinks  that  this  is  a  bad 
description of scientists. Respondents are most likely to take 
this  view  in  the  Netherlands  (61%),  Sweden  (54%)  and 
Finland  (50%).  Equal  proportions  say  this  describes 
scientists well and badly in Estonia (both 40%). 

At  least  one  in  five  respondents  say  they  ‘don’t  know’  in 
Slovakia (23%) and Estonia (20%).  

Looking  at  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  proportion 
that  say  ‘know  best  what  is  good  for  people’  describes 
scientists well ranges from 86% in Türkiye to 43% in Bosnia 
and Herzegovina. Bosnia and Herzegovina is the one country 
where ‘badly’ is the majority view (48%). 

184 

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There are 18 EU countries where respondents are now more 
likely than in 2021 to say that ‘know best what is good for 
people’ describes scientists well. The largest increases can 
be seen in Portugal (70%, +17 pp) and Poland (64%, +12 
pp).  

In  nine  EU  countries,  this  proportion  has  decreased,  most 
notably in Finland (33%, -10 pp), Lithuania (46%, -8 pp) and 
Sweden (35%, -8 pp). 

Outside of the EU, there have been large increases in the 
proportions  that  say  ‘know  best  what  is  good  for  people’ 
describes  scientists  well  in  Albania  (78%,  +32  pp)  and 
Montenegro (74%, +24 pp).  

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In 20 EU Member States, a majority of respondents say that 
‘altruistic’  describes  scientists  well.  The  proportion  is 
highest in Hungary (58%) and in Italy and Malta (both 56%). 

Looking at the eight other countries surveyed, respondents 
in  Türkiye  (90%)  are  most  likely  to  say  that  ‘altruistic’ 
describes scientists well.  

In seven Member States, respondents are more likely to say 
this describes scientists badly as say it describes them well. 
More  than  half  of  respondents  say  ‘altruistic’  describes 
scientists badly in the Netherlands (60%) and Austria and 
Belgium (both 55%).  

More than a third of respondents give a ‘don’t know’ answer 
in Latvia (37%) and Bulgaria (36%). 

Respondents are more likely to say this describes scientists 
badly  as  say  it  describes  them  well  in  Bosnia  and 
Herzegovina (52% badly), Serbia (42% badly vs. 41% well) 
and North Macedonia (39% badly vs. 40% well).  

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Since  2021,  the  proportion  of  respondents  that  say 
‘altruistic’ describes scientists well has increased in 12 EU 
Member  States.  The  largest  increases  can  be  seen  in 
Bulgaria (35%, +12 pp), Italy (56%, +8 pp) and Poland (49%, 
+8 pp).

In  13  EU  countries,  this  proportion  has  decreased,  most 
notably  in  Estonia  (35%,  -22  pp)  and  Portugal  (40%,  -18 
pp). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  there  has  been  a 
large  increase  in  Albania  in  the  proportion  that  says 
‘altruistic’  describes  scientists  well  (57%,  +20  pp).  The 
largest decrease can be seen in the UK (48%, -10 pp).  

187 

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In seven EU Member States, a majority of respondents say 
that ‘bad at communicating’ describes scientists well. The 
largest proportions can be seen in Italy (55%), Luxembourg 
(53%)  and  Belgium  (49%).  In  18  Member  States,  the 
prevailing view is that it describes scientists badly, and this 
view is held most strongly by respondents in Hungary (69%), 
Malta  (58%)  and  in  Portugal  and  Romania  (both  55%).  In 
other two EU countries, equal proportions say this describes 
scientists well and say it describes them badly: Croatia (both 
45%) and Sweden (both 46%).  

Looking at the non-EU countries surveyed, the majority view 
in North Macedonia is that ‘bad at communicating’ describes 
scientists well (53%), while equal proportions in Serbia say 
it describes them well and badly (both 47%).  Otherwise, the 
prevailing  view  is  that  ‘bad  at  communicating’  describes 
scientists badly, particularly in Türkiye (79%).  

188 

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In 16 EU Member States, there has been an increase since 
2021  in  the  proportion  of  respondents  that  say  ‘bad  at 
communicating’  describes  scientists  well.  The 
largest 
increases  can  be  seen  in  Croatia  (45%,  +13  pp),  Poland 
(44%, +12 pp), Bulgaria (28%, +11 pp), Italy (55%, +11 pp), 
and Cyprus (42%, +11 pp).  

There  are  eight  EU  countries  where  respondents  are  less 
likely than in 2021 to say this describes scientists well, most 
notably in Portugal (18%, -20 pp), Lithuania (32%, -11 pp) 
and Finland (40%, -9 pp). 

Outside of the EU, there have been large increases in the 
proportions  that  say  ‘bad  at  communicating’  describes 
scientists  well  in  North  Macedonia  (53%,  +20  pp),  Serbia 
(47%,  +13  pp),  the  United  Kingdom  (45%,  +10  pp),  and 
Bosnia  and  Herzegovina  (40%,  +10pp).  The  only decrease 
can be seen in Türkiye (19%, -14 pp). 

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The  proportion  of  respondents  who  describe  scientists  as 
‘arrogant’ varies considerably by Member State, from 53% 
in Cyprus to 14 in Hungary. Overall, there are two countries 
where a majority think ‘arrogant’ describes scientists well: 
Cyprus (53%) and Poland (49% well, 43% badly).  

In the remaining 25 Member States, a majority thinks that 
‘arrogant’  is  a  bad  description  for  scientists.  The  highest 
proportions are seen in Hungary (77%), Sweden (72%) and 
the Netherlands (71%). 

Looking  at  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  prevailing 
view  in  Montenegro  is  that  ‘arrogant’  describes  scientists 
well (55%).  

However, in the other countries a majority say this describes 
scientists badly, especially in Türkiye (84%). 

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Respondents in 19 EU countries are more likely than in 2021 
to say that ‘arrogant’ describes scientists well. The largest 
increases can be seen in Cyprus (53%, +12 pp) and Estonia 
(24%, +11 pp).  

This  proportion  has  declined  in  seven  EU  Member  States, 
with  the  largest  decreases  seen  in  Greece  (43%,  -7  pp), 
Finland (20%, -7 pp) and Lithuania (22%, -7 pp). 

Of  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  largest  increase  in 
the proportion that say ‘arrogant’ describes scientists well 
can  be  seen  in  Montenegro  (55%,  +29  pp).  The  largest 
decrease can be seen in Türkiye (14%, -14 pp). 

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Respondents  in  Slovenia  (47%)  are  the  most  likely  to  say 
that ‘narrow minded’ describes scientists well, followed by 
those in Poland (42%) and Luxembourg (39%). Respondents 
are least likely to think ‘narrow minded’ is a good description 
of  scientists  in  Malta  (7%),  Finland  (11%)  and  the 
Netherlands (15%).  

the  majority  of 
In  every  country  except  Slovenia, 
respondents think that ‘narrow minded’ describes scientists 
badly,  led  by  those  in  Malta  (85%)  and  the  Netherlands 
(80%).  

Looking  at  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed, the  majority  in 
each country say that ‘narrow minded’ describes scientists 
badly, the proportion ranging from 90% in Türkiye to 50% 
in North Macedonia.  

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Since 2021, the proportion of respondents that say ‘narrow 
minded’  describes  scientists  well  has  increased  in  22  EU 
Member  States.  The  largest  increases  can  be  seen  in 
Bulgaria (27%, +13 pp), Poland (42%, +12 pp) and Estonia 
(27%, +10 pp).  

This proportion has decreased in just four EU countries, with 
the largest decrease seen in Finland (11%, -5 pp). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  there  have  been 
large increases in the proportions that say ‘narrow minded’ 
describes  scientists  well,  the  largest  being  in  Montenegro 
(38%,  +17  pp)  and  North  Macedonia  (40%,  +15  pp).  The 
largest decrease can be seen in Türkiye (9%, -9 pp).  

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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  Sweden  (85%),  the 
Netherlands (82%) and Hungary (81%).  

Respondents are most likely to say that ‘immoral’ describes 
scientists well in Poland (36%), Slovenia (30%) and Austria 
(28%).  

Looking at the eight other countries surveyed, respondents 
in  Montenegro  (38%)  are  the  most  likely  to  say  that 
‘immoral’  describes  scientists  well,  while  respondents  in 
Türkiye  are  most  likely  to  say  this  describes  them  badly 
(93%).  

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In comparison with 2021, the proportion of respondents that 
say ‘immoral’ describes scientists well has increased in 15 
EU  Member  States.  The  largest  increases  can  be  seen  in 
Cyprus (25%, +11 pp), Austria (28%, +9 pp), Croatia (27%, 
+9 pp), Belgium (25%, +9 pp) and Poland (36%, +9 pp).

In  ten  EU  countries,  this  proportion  has  decreased,  most 
notably in Lithuania (13%, -8 pp) and Malta (23%, -8 pp). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  there  has  been  a 
large  increase  in  Montenegro  in  the  proportion  that  says 
‘immoral’  describes  scientists  well  (38%,  +24  pp).  The 
largest decrease can be seen in Türkiye (6%, -9 pp).  

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Overall, around a third of EU citizens (35%) only associate 
scientists  with  positive  characteristics.  This  proportion  is 
highest  among  respondents  in  Hungary  (53%),  Bulgaria 
(50%) and Malta (48%).  

The  proportion  is  lowest  in  Luxembourg  (22%),  Poland 
(24%) and Slovenia (25%). 

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, the proportions that 
only associate scientists with positive characteristics range 
from 68% in Türkiye to 18% in Montenegro. 

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There are just four EU Member States where respondents 
are now more likely than in 2021 to only associate scientists 
with  positive  characteristics.  These  are:  Finland  (46%,  +8 
pp),  Greece  (39%,  +5  pp),  Slovakia  (46%,  +3  pp)  and 
Lithuania (44%, +3 pp). The proportion has stayed the same 
in France (34%) and Malta (48%), while it has decreased in 
the other 21 EU countries.  

In  four  countries,  there  has  been  a  fall  of  more  than  ten 
percentage  points  in  the  proportion  that  only  associates 
scientists  with  positive  characteristics:  Cyprus  (29%,  -14 
pp),  Croatia  (33%,  -14  pp),  Bulgaria  (50%,  -13  pp)  and 
Estonia (40%, -13 pp). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  there  have  been 
large  increases  in  the  proportions  that  only  associate 
scientists with positive characteristics in Albania (57%, +19 
pp) and Türkiye (68%, +18 pp).  

There has been no change in Kosovo (47%), but there have 
been  large  decreases  in  the  other  five  countries,  most 
notably in Montenegro (18%, -24 pp) and the UK (33%, -16 
pp).  

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Socio-demographic table 

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Respondents were  shown  a  list  of  ten characteristics, and 
were  asked  to  choose  up  to  three  qualities  that  they 
think scientists should have21. 

Europeans  are  most  likely  to  choose  ‘intelligence’  as  a 
quality  that  they  think  scientists  should  have  (49%,  -1 
percentage point since 2021), closely followed by ‘honesty’ 
(46%, +3 pp) and ‘reliability’ (41%, +2 pp). Just over one in 
three choose ‘morality’ (35%, +1 pp). While around one in 
four  respondents  say  that  scientists  should  have  ‘open 
mindedness’ (26%, no change) and ‘knowledge of what is 
good for people’ (25%, no change).  

Other qualities are ranked lower in importance: the ‘ability 
to work with citizens22’ (18%), ‘communication skills’ (17%, 
+1 pp), ‘altruism’ (12%, no change) and ‘modesty’ (10%, +2
pp).

The  results  are  broadly  consistent  with  the  2021  survey, 
with no changes of more than three percentage points. 

In  general,  the  qualities  that  respondents  think  are 
important  are  consistent  with  the  characteristics  they 
associate with scientists. For example, ‘intelligence’ is most 
likely to be seen as a quality that scientists should have, and 
it  is  also  the  characteristic  that  is  most  frequently 
associated  with  scientists.  This  suggests  that  Europeans 
hold a generally favourable view of scientists and associate 
them with positive characteristics that are in line with the 
things they see as important.  

21 QA10b. Please choose the three qualities that you think scientists should 

22 This item was not included in the 2021 survey. 

have (MAX. 3 ANSWERS). 

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Estonia (22%), while respondents in Ireland (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  and  Romania  (both 
17%).  

Comparing  the  eight  non-EU  countries,  respondents  in 
Türkiye are the most likely to say that ‘intelligence’ (62%) 
and  ‘altruism’  (28%)  are  qualities  that  scientists  should 
have, while respondents in the UK are most likely to choose 
‘intelligence’  and  ‘honesty’  (both  58%)  as  well  as  ‘open 
mindedness’  (33%)  as  desired  qualities.  Respondents  in 
Albania  are  the  most  likely  to  mention  ‘reliability’  (54%), 
while  those  in  Kosovo  are  most  likely  to  say  that 
‘communication  skills’  (24%)  is  a  desired  quality  in 
scientists. 
is  chosen  most  frequently  by 
respondents  in  Bosnia  and  Herzegovina  (15%).  While 
‘morality‘  is  chosen  most  frequently  by  respondents  in 
Serbia (39%), and the ‘ability to work with citizens’ is most 
likely to be seen as a desired quality by respondents in North 
Macedonia (24%). ‘Knowledge of what is good for people’ is 
chosen  most  frequently  in  North  Macedonia,  along  with 
Serbia (both 37%).  

‘Modesty’ 

in  Czechia 

(67%),  Portugal 

There are variations in the findings for EU Member States. 
Respondents 
(65%)  and 
Luxembourg  (62%)  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 Greece 
(34%)  and  Poland  (37%).  There  are  14  Member  States 
where 
the  quality  most  commonly 
‘intelligence’ 
mentioned by respondents. 

is 

‘Honesty’ is mentioned most frequently by respondents in 
Ireland (58%), Lithuania (57%) and Malta (56%), and least 
frequently by those in Czechia (20%) and Romania (22%). It 
is the response given most frequently in eight EU countries. 

Respondents in the Netherlands are most likely to say that 
‘reliability’ is a quality that scientists should have (58%), 
followed by those in Finland (52%) and Hungary (49%). It is 
least  likely  to  be  mentioned  by  respondents  in  Portugal 
(28%) and in Austria and Slovenia (both 30%). This is the 
highest  ranked  answer  in  three  Member  States:  the 
Netherlands, Hungary and Italy. 

‘Morality’  is  chosen  most  frequently  by  respondents  in 
Greece (52%), Cyprus (51%), Denmark (49%) and Slovakia 
(48%), while the proportion is lowest in Latvia and Lithuania 
(both 20%).  This  is  the  most  commonly  chosen  answer  in 
Greece and Slovakia. 

Respondents  in  Austria  (25%)  and  in  France  and  Croatia 
(both 23%) are most likely to say the ‘ability to work with 
citizens’ is a desired quality for scientists, while this is least 
likely  to  be  chosen  by  those  in  Sweden  (10%)  and  in 
Slovakia, Italy and the Netherlands (all 14%).  

‘Open mindedness’ is particularly valued by respondents in 
Sweden  (40%),  Latvia  (36%)  and  Poland  (35%),  with 
respondents  least  likely  to  choose  this  quality  in  Croatia 
(8%) and Slovenia (16%).  

Respondents in Bulgaria (50%) and Croatia (42%) are the 
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 Luxembourg (8%) and the 
Netherlands (9%).  

‘Communication skills’ are mentioned most frequently by 
respondents in Germany (26%) and in Czechia and Ireland 
(both 24%), and least frequently by those in Poland (10%) 
and in Greece and Slovakia (both 11%).  

‘Altruism’  is  a  quality  that  is  most  highly  valued  for 
scientists  in  the  Netherlands  (35%),  Hungary  (25%)  and 

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Member States, most notably in Latvia (36%, -15 pp) and 
Ireland (29%, -13 pp).  

Outside  of  the  EU,  the  largest  increase  can  be  seen  in 
Albania (25%, +15 pp), while the largest decrease is in the 
UK (33%, -11 pp). 

In ten EU countries, respondents are now more likely to say 
that ‘knowledge of what is good for people’ is a quality 
that  scientists  should  have.  This  includes  some  large 
increases in Portugal (35%, +12 pp) and Ireland (31%, +11 
pp).  The  proportion  that  mentions  ‘knowledge  of  what  is 
good  for  people’  has  decreased  in  16  EU  Member  States, 
with the largest decrease seen in Slovenia (37%, -9 pp). 

In the non-EU countries, the proportion choosing ‘knowledge 
of  what  is  good  for  people’  as  an  important  quality  has 
increased markedly in Albania (36%, +19 pp), while it has 
decreased substantially in Montenegro (27%, -17 pp). 

The main changes for the other attributes are as follows: 

  The  proportion  choosing  ‘communication  skills’  has 
not changed by more than five percentage points in any 
EU country. However, there has been a large increase in 
Kosovo (24%, +10 pp). 

  Within  the  EU,  the  largest  shifts  in  the  proportions 
choosing ‘altruism’ as an important quality can be seen 
in Portugal (8%, -7 pp) and Estonia (22%, -7 pp). There 
has also been a large increase in Türkiye (28%, +11 pp). 

  Among EU countries, the proportion choosing ‘modesty’ 
has  increased  the  most  in  Czechia  (15%,  +8  pp),  and 
there has also been an equivalent increase in Bosnia and 
Herzegovina (15%, +8 pp). 

In eight EU Member States, there has been an increase since 
2021  in  the  proportion  of  respondents  who  say  that 
‘intelligence’ is a quality that scientists should have. The 
largest  increases  can  be  observed  in  Latvia  (42%,  +8  pp) 
and  Slovenia  (43%,  +6  pp).  In  17  EU  countries,  the 
proportion has declined, with the largest decreases seen in 
Bulgaria (43%, -11 pp) and Czechia (67%, -11 pp). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  there  has  been  a 
large increase in Albania (55%, +31 pp), while the largest 
decrease can be seen in Bosnia and Herzegovina (52%, -14 
pp) 

There  has  been  an  increase  in  22  EU  countries  in  the 
proportion choosing ‘honesty’ as an important quality for 
scientists.  The  largest  increases  can  be  found  in  the 
Netherlands  (44%,  +9  pp),  Slovakia  (44%,  +8  pp),  Spain 
(51%, +8 pp) and Cyprus (55%, +8 pp). The proportion has 
remained the same in three EU countries and has decreased 
in two. 

In  the  non-EU  countries,  the  proportion  that  chooses 
‘honesty’ has increased markedly in Albania (41%, +23 pp) 
and Serbia (38%, +11 pp), while it has decreased the most 
in Türkiye (35%, -8 pp). 

In 16 EU Member States, respondents are more likely than 
in 2021 to say that ‘reliability’ is a quality that scientists 
should have, with the largest increases in Ireland (34%, +19 
pp) and Lithuania (45%, +11 pp). There has been a decrease 
in ten EU countries, most notably in Estonia (38%, -11 pp). 

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, the largest change 
is the increase in Albania (54%, + 23 pp).  

The proportion choosing ‘morality’ as an important quality 
has  increased  in  nine  EU  Member  States,  with  the  largest 
increase in Bulgaria (30%, +8 pp) and Spain (30%, +7 pp). 
Among the 17 EU countries showing a decrease, the largest 
are seen in Czechia (43%, -13 pp), Ireland (26%, -11 pp) and 
Latvia (20%, -11 pp). 

Outside of the EU, the largest change is in Serbia (39%, +9 
pp). 

There are 12 EU countries where there has been an increase 
since  2021  in  the  proportion  that  says  scientists  should 
have ‘open mindedness’. The largest increases can be seen 
in Czechia (20%, +5 pp), Bulgaria (19%, +5 pp) and Estonia 
(24%,  +5  pp).  This  proportion  has  decreased  in  12  EU 

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Socio-demographic table 

204 

V. Citizens’ engagement in
science and technology

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This chapter focuses on citizens’ engagement with science 
and technology. It starts by considering the appropriate level 
of  public  involvement  in  decisions  about  science  and 
technology,  and  then  examines  aspects  of  the  public’s 
involvement and engagement in activities related to science 
and technology. It then looks at ways in which citizens might 
consider increasing their engagement. 

then  examines  Europeans’  barriers 
looks  at 

to 
The  chapter 
engagement,  and  finally 
the  people  and 
organisations that are considered best qualified to explain 
the impact of scientific and technological development on 
society. 

1. Desired  public  involvement 

in

decisions  about  science  and 
technology

Europeans want to be informed about decisions on 
science  and  technology,  but  the  majority  think 
decisions  should  be  made  by  scientists,  engineers 
and politicians.  

Respondents were asked for their views on the appropriate 
level of public involvement in decision-making about science 
and technology.  

Four in ten Europeans (40%, no change since 2021) think 
there should be some form of public consultation in decision 
making about science and technology. Specifically, 8% (no 
change) say that ‘public opinion should be the main concern 
when making decisions about science and technology’, while 
32% (no change) say that ‘the public should be consulted, 
and public opinion should be seriously considered’. 

23 QA5. What level of public involvement do you think is appropriate when 

it comes to decisions about science and technology? 

206 

However,  the majority of  respondents think  that  decisions 
should  be  made  by  specialists.  More  than  half  say  that 
‘decisions about science and technology should be made by 
scientists,  engineers  and  politicians,  but  the  public  should 
always  be  informed’  (52%,  no  change),  while  6%  (-1  pp) 
think  that  ‘the  public  does  not  need  to  be  involved  in 
decisions about science and technology’23.  

These results have remained virtually unchanged since the 
2021 survey. 

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In  three  EU  Member  States,  a  majority  of  respondents 
support public involvement in decision-making, particularly 
saying  that  public  opinion  should  be  seriously  considered 
when  making  decisions  about  science  and  technology: 
Finland (48%), Denmark (42%) and Romania (40%).  

In 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 state that decisions on these 
matters  should  be  made  by  scientists,  engineers  and 
politicians,  but  the  public  should  be  informed  in  the 
Netherlands (65%), Spain (64%) and Portugal (63%). 

Looking at the non-EU countries surveyed, across the board 
respondents believe that decisions on these matters should 
be  made  by  scientists,  engineers  and  politicians,  but  the 
public should be informed, the prevalence of the opinion is 
led by Albania and Kosovo (both 59%) and Türkiye (53%). 

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In 16 EU Member States, there has been an increase since 
2021 in the proportion that supports public involvement in 
decision making (saying either that public opinion should be 
the main concern or at least seriously considered).  

The largest increases can be seen in Latvia (42%, +17 pp), 
Finland  (52%,  +13  pp)  and  Lithuania  (46%,  +13  pp).  This 
proportion  has  decreased  in  eight  EU  countries,  led  by 
Austria (44%, -8 pp). 

In  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  support  for  public 
involvement in decision making has increased the most in 
the  UK  (50%,  +13  pp)  and  Montenegro  (39%,  +13  pp). 
Türkiye  is  the  only  country  where  this  proportion  has 
decreased (30%, -6 pp). 

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Socio-demographic table 

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signing 

petitions 

occasionally: 

joining 
least 
demonstrations  on  science  and  technology  matters  (21%, 
+2 pp), and providing personal data for scientific research
(19%, no change). These activities are done regularly by 4%
(no change) and 3% (-1 pp) respectively.

or 

More  than  one  in  ten  say  they  attend  public  meetings  or 
debates about science and technology (14%, no change), or 
actively take part in scientific projects (14%, +2 pp) at least 
occasionally. These activities are done regularly by 3% (no 
change) and 4% (+1 pp) respectively.  

The other activities are less common: taking part in clinical 
trials  (11%,  +1  pp)  and  contacting  public  authorities  or 
political  leaders  about  science  and  technology-related 
issues  (10%,  +2  pp),  In  each  case,  2%  of  respondents  do 
these activities regularly.  

Respondents were asked about the various ways that they 
engage with science and technology issues. 

Europeans are most likely to say they engage with science 
and  technology  by  watching  documentaries  or  reading 
science and technology related publications, magazines or 
books24.  Just  under  one  in  five  respondents  (18%,  -3 
percentage points since 2021) say they do this regularly and 
40%  (+2  pp)  occasionally.  More  than  half  of  respondents 
say they talk about science and technology-related issues 
with family or friends. Specifically, 14% (-3 pp) say they do 
this  regularly  and  38%  (no  change)  occasionally.  Around 
three  in  ten  (31%,  -2  pp)  say  they  visit  science  and 
technology museums at least occasionally, including 5% (-
1 pp) who do this regularly.  

Around one in five respondents do the following activities at 

24 QA12. And now, a few questions on how you engage with science and 

technology issues. Do you …. ? 

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In 23 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 Sweden 
and  Finland  (both  90%)  and  the  Netherlands  (87%). 
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%), Poland (40%) and Portugal (41%).  

Respondents are most likely to say that they ’regularly’ 

watch  documentaries  or  read  science  and  technology-
related publications, magazines or books in the Netherlands 
(47%), Sweden (42%) and Luxembourg (40%). By contrast, 
more than a third of respondents never do this in Portugal 
(40%) and in Poland and Romania (both 38%).  

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 76% in the UK to 46% in 
Albania.  

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In 13 EU Member States, respondents are more likely than 
in  2021  to  say  that  they  watch  documentaries  or  read 
science and technology-related publications, magazines or 
books (regularly or occasionally). The largest increases can 
be  seen  in  Slovakia  (58%,  +19  pp)  Spain  (61%,  +11  pp), 
Slovenia (76%, +9 pp) and Malta (73%, +9 pp).  

There  are  12  EU  countries  where  this  proportion  has 
decreased,  with  the  largest  in  Portugal  (41%,  -46  pp), 
Ireland (64%, -22 pp) and Czechia (50%, -20 pp). 

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, the largest increases 
in the proportion saying they watch documentaries or read 
science and technology-related publications, magazines or 
books  can  be  seen  in  Kosovo  (65%,  +18  pp),  Montenegro 
(51%, +17 pp) and Serbia (55%, +15 pp).  

The largest decrease can be found in Türkiye (56%, -20 pp). 

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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 Sweden (88%), Finland and Luxembourg 
(84%),  the  Netherlands  (83%)  and  Denmark  (81%).  This 
compares with less than four in ten respondents who do this 
occasionally or regularly in Italy (30%), Poland and Romania 
(both 31%) and Portugal (34%). Respondents are most likely 
to  say  they  ‘regularly’  talk  about  science  and  technology-
related issues with family or friends in Sweden (44%), the 
Netherlands (40%) and Denmark (38%). 

The proportion that never talks about these issues is highest 
in Portugal (50%), Italy (47%) and Poland (45%).  

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 the 
UK  (68%)  and  lowest  in  Montenegro  and  Bosnia  and 
Herzegovina (both 45%). 

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In 12 EU Member States, respondents are now more likely 
than  in  2021  to  say  that  they  talk  about  science  and 
technology-related issues with family or friends (regularly 
or occasionally). The largest increases can be seen in Finland 
(84%, +14 pp), Spain (55%, +10 pp), Sweden (88%, +10 pp) 
and the Netherlands (83%, +10 pp).  

Among  the  14  EU  countries  where  this  proportion  has 
decreased, the largest falls can be seen in Portugal (34%, -
51  pp),  Czechia  (44%, -24  pp),  Ireland  (57%, -23  pp)  and 
Estonia (61%, -23 pp). 

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, the largest increases 
in  the  proportion  saying  they  talk  about  science  and 
technology-related issues with family or friends can be seen 
in  Serbia  (54%,  +17  pp)  and  Kosovo  (62%,  +17  pp).  The 
largest decrease can be found in Türkiye (61%, -15 pp).  

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There  is  wide  variation  across  EU  Member  States  in  the 
proportion of respondents who say they visit science and 
technology  museums.  In  Luxembourg  (55%)  and  Malta 
(52%),  more  than  half  of  respondents  say  they  do  this 
regularly or occasionally. By contrast, no more than a fifth 
visit  science  and  technology  museums  regularly  or 
occasionally in Romania (18%), Greece (19%) and Portugal 
(20%).  

Respondents  are  most  likely  to  say  they  ‘regularly’  visit 
science and technology museums in Luxembourg (12%) and 
in Spain and the Netherlands (both 8%). 

However, more than half of respondents never visit science 
and technology museums in Portugal (64%) Greece (57%) 
and Hungary (51%).  

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  (48%)  and 
lowest in Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina (both 14%). 

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In 13 EU countries, there has been an increase since 2021 
in  the  proportion  of  respondents  that  visit  science  and 
technology museums (regularly or occasionally). The largest 
increases  can  be  seen  in  Spain  (37%,  +10  pp)  and  Malta 
(52%, +9 pp). There are 11 EU countries where respondents 
are now less likely to say they visit science and technology 
museums. 

This  includes  large  decreases  in  Portugal  (20%,  -39  pp), 
Ireland (32%, -23 pp) and Lithuania (35%, -19 pp). 

Outside of the EU, the largest increase in the proportion that 
says  they  visit  science  and  technology  museums  can  be 
seen in Montenegro (35%, +18 pp). The largest decrease can 
be found in Bosnia and Herzegovina (14%, -8 pp).  

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Looking at the eight other countries surveyed, the proportion 
that  say  they  sign  petitions  or  join  demonstrations  on 
science and technology matters (regularly or occasionally) 
is highest in Montenegro (38%) and lowest in Albania (7%). 

Respondents in Austria are most likely to say that they sign 
petitions  or  join  demonstrations  on  science  and 
technology matters: 13% say they do this regularly and 
23% occasionally. The proportion that do this occasionally 
or  regularly  is  also  high  in  Luxembourg  (36%)  and  the 
Netherlands (35%).  

By  contrast,  only  around  one  in  ten  respondents  do  this 
regularly or occasionally in Greece (8%) and Portugal (12%). 
Greece  and  Portugal  are  also  the  countries  where 
respondents are most likely to say they never sign petitions 
or join demonstrations on science and technology matters 
(78% and 75%, respectively).  

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15 EU Member States show an increase in the proportion of 
respondents  who  sign  petitions  or  join  demonstrations  on 
science and technology matters (regularly or occasionally). 
The largest increases can be observed in Slovakia (21%, +9 
pp), Poland (20%, +8 pp) and Bulgaria (14%, +8 pp). 

The proportion has decreased in ten EU countries, with large 
declines seen in Portugal (12%, -35 pp), Lithuania (14%, -
26 pp) and Ireland (17%, -19 pp).  

Analysis  of  non-EU  countries  shows  a  large  increase  in 
Montenegro (38%, +20 pp) and a large decrease in Türkiye 
(17%, -27 pp).  

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There  is  wide  variation  across  EU  Member  States  in  the 
proportions  that  say  they  provide  personal  data  for 
scientific research. In four Member States, around half of 
respondents  or  more  say  that  they  do  this  regularly  or 
occasionally:  Finland 
(57%), 
Denmark (52%) and Sweden (47%). By contrast, less than 
one  in  ten  provide  personal  data  for  scientific  research 
regularly or occasionally in Greece (6%), Portugal (8%) and 
Bulgaria and Lithuania (both 9%).  

(58%),  the  Netherlands 

Respondents are most likely to say they ‘regularly’ provide 
personal  data  for  scientific  research  in  Denmark  and  the 
Netherlands  (both  13%),  while  the  proportion  that  never 
does this is highest in Portugal (85%) and Greece (83%).  

Looking  at  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  proportion 
that say they provide personal data for scientific research 
(regularly  or  occasionally)  is  highest  in  the  UK  (32%)  and 
lowest in Albania (11%).

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In 13 EU Member States, respondents are more likely than 
in 2021 to say that they provide personal data for scientific 
research  (regularly  or  occasionally).  The  largest  increases 
can be seen in Denmark (52%, +9 pp) and the Netherlands 
(57%, +9 pp).  

There are some large changes among the 11 EU countries 
where this proportion has decreased, with declines of more 
than  30  percentage  points  in  in  Portugal  (8%,  -33  pp), 
Ireland  (19%, -32 pp) and Lithuania (9%, -32 pp). 

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, the largest increase 
in  the  proportion  saying  they  provide  personal  data  for 
scientific  research  can  be  seen  in  Montenegro  (29%,  +16 
pp). The largest decrease can be found in Türkiye (23%, -30 
pp).  

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Austria (7%) and Cyprus (6%), while respondents are most 
likely  to  say  they  never  do  this  in  Portugal  (85%)  and 
Lithuania (80%).  

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 
highest in Kosovo (35%), while it is lowest in Serbia (7%).  

in  Cyprus 

(30%),  Austria 

(27%)  and 
Respondents 
Luxembourg  (22%)  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 
Lithuania (7%), Portugal (8%) and Hungary (9%).  

‘Regular’  attendance  at  public  meetings  or  debates  about 
science and technology is most common in 

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The  largest  increases  in  the  proportions  that  attend 
meetings or debates (regularly or occasionally) are seen in 
Cyprus  (30%,  +15  pp),  Sweden  (16%,  +7  pp)  and  Austria 
(27%, +7 pp).  

Overall,  this  proportion  has  increased  in  14  EU  countries, 
while  it  has  decreased  in  nine,  most  notably  in  Lithuania 
(7%, -15 pp) and Portugal (8%, -11 pp).  

Analysis  of  the  other  countries  surveyed  shows  a  large 
increase  in  Montenegro  (+21  pp),  while  there  has  been  a 
marked decline in Türkiye (19%, -22 pp).  

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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  the  Netherlands  (31%)  and  in  Belgium  and 
Luxembourg  (both  26%).  By  contrast,  just  5%  do  this  at 
least occasionally in both Greece and Lithuania.  

 ‘Regular’ participation in scientific projects is most common 
in Austria and the Netherlands (both 10%), 

while respondents are most likely to say they never do this 
in Portugal (84%) and in Greece and Lithuania (both 83%).  

Looking  at  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  proportion 
that say they actively take part in scientific projects, either 
regularly or occasionally, ranges from 44% in Montenegro 
to 9% in both Albania and Serbia. 

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Compared with 2021, there has been an increase in 18 EU 
Member  States  in  the  proportion  of  respondents  that  say 
they  actively  take  part  in  scientific  projects  (regularly  or 
occasionally).  The  largest  increases  can  be  observed  in 
Poland  (18%,  +8  pp),  the  Netherlands  (31%,  +8  pp)  and 
Denmark (25%, +7 pp).  

This  proportion  has  decreased  in  eight  EU  countries,  most 
notably in Lithuania (5%, -18 pp) and Portugal (9%, -14 pp). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  there  has  been  a 
large  increase  in  the  proportion  saying  they  actively  take 
part  in  scientific  projects  in  Montenegro  (44%,  +32  pp), 
while there has been a large decrease in Türkiye (22%, -25 
pp). 

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Respondents in Denmark (34%), Finland and Sweden (both 
27%)  and  Estonia  (25%)  are  the  most  likely  to  say  they 
regularly  or 
in  clinical  trials,  either 
take  part 
occasionally.  By  contrast,  very  few  respondents  do  this 
regularly or occasionally in Greece (2%).  

 ‘Regular’  participation  in  clinical  trials  is  most  common 
Denmark  (7%)  and  in  Austria  and  the  Netherlands  (both 
5%). 

Around  nine  in  ten  respondents  say  they  never  do  this  in 
Greece (90%), France (89%) and Portugal (88%).  

Looking  at  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  respondents  in 
Montenegro (27%) are most likely to say they take part in 
clinical  trials  (regularly  or  occasionally),  while  those  in 
Albania and Serbia (both 4%) are least likely to say they do 
this. 

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In 17 EU Member States, respondents are more likely than 
in 2021 to say that they take part in clinical trials (regularly 
or  occasionally).  The  largest  increases  can  be  seen  in 
Denmark (34%, +11 pp) and Sweden (27%, +9 pp).  

There  are  eight  EU  countries  where  this  proportion  has 
decreased, with the largest declines in Lithuania (6%, -20 
pp), Estonia (25%, -18 pp) and Luxembourg (13%, -10 pp). 

Outside  of  the  EU,  respondents  in  Montenegro  are  much 
more  likely  than  in  2021  to  say  they  take  part  in  clinical 
trials  (27%,  +16  pp),  while  this  proportion  has  decreased 
markedly in Türkiye (13%, -16 pp) and Albania (4%, -14 pp). 

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Respondents in Austria (23%), Poland (18%) and Romania 
(17%) 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 Lithuania 
(3%) and in Greece (2%), France and Spain (all 5%).  

‘Regular’ contact with public authorities or political leaders 
on these issues is most common in Austria (7%) and in the 
Netherlands and Poland (both 4%), while 

more than eight in ten respondents say they never do this 
in Lithuania and Portugal (both 87%), France (86%), Spain 
(83%) and Greece (81%).  

Looking  at  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  respondents  in 
Montenegro (34%) are most likely to say they regularly or 
occasionally  contact  public  authorities  or  political  leaders 
about  science  and  technology-related  issues,  particularly 
when compared with Serbia (6%). 

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European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 

In 18 EU Member States, respondents are more likely than 
in 2021 to say that they regularly or occasionally contact 
public  authorities  or  political  leaders  about  science  and 
technology-related issues. The largest increases can be seen 
in Poland (18%, +9 pp), Belgium (14%, +6 pp) and Austria 
(23%, +6 pp).  

Among  the  nine  EU  countries  where  this  proportion  has 
decreased, the largest falls can be seen in Lithuania (3%, -
13 pp) and Ireland (10%, -6 pp). 

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, the largest increase 
in  the  proportion  saying  they  contact  public  authorities  or 
political  leaders  about  science  and  technology-related 
issues can be seen in Montenegro (34%, +22 pp).  

The largest decreases can be found in Türkiye (16%, -17 pp) 
and Albania (8%, -12 pp). 

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Socio-demographic table 

229 

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Respondents  were  then  asked  to  consider  ways  of 
increasing  their  engagement  with  science  and 
technology in the future. The most popular option among 
Europeans  is  watching  documentaries  or  reading  science 
and  technology-related  publications,  magazines,  books  or 
podcasts25  (43%,  -5  pp)26.  A  slightly  lower  proportion  say 
they would consider talking about science and technology-
related issues with family or friends (39%, -7 pp). These two 
activities are also the ones that respondents are most likely 
to do at present (as described above). In fact, the ranking of 
the  various  activities  is  very  similar  across  the  two 
questions. This suggests that the popular ways of engaging 
with  science  and  technology  are  also  those  that  are 
frequently used at present.  

Just under three in ten respondents (28%, -5 pp) say they 
would  consider  visiting  science  and  technology  museums, 
while just under one in six would consider doing each of the 
following: signing petitions or joining 

demonstrations on science and technology matters (16%, -
3 pp), providing personal data for scientific research (15%, 
-3  pp),  and  attending  public  meetings  or  debates  about
science and technology (15%, -3 pp).

One 
in  seven  would  consider  studying  science  and 
technology-related  issues  in  their  free  time  (14%,  -1  pp), 
while  the  following  activities  would  be  considered  by  just 
over  one  in  ten:  taking  part  in  clinical  trials  (12%,  -3  pp), 
actively taking part in scientific projects (11%, -1 pp) and 
taking  part  in  the  activities  of  a  non-governmental 
organisation  dealing  with  science  and  technology-related 
issues (11%, -1 pp).  

Respondents  are  least  likely  to  say  they  would  consider 
contacting  public  authorities  or  political  leaders  about 
science  and  technology  related  issues  (7%,  -1  pp),  and 
lending  computer  processing  power  to  contribute  to 
research on complex scientific questions (7%, -1 pp).  

25 Note that the wording of this item was different in the 2021 survey, with 

‘podcasts’ excluded from the wording. 

26 QA13. 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. (MULTIPLE ANSWERS POSSIBLE) 

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The  results  are  generally  consistent  across  the  27  EU 
Member States. In most countries, the same three options 
are chosen as the preferred forms of engagement: watching 
documentaries  or  reading  science  and  technology-related 
publications,  magazines,  books  or  podcasts;  talking  about 
science  and  technology-related  issues  with  family  or 
friends; and visiting science and technology museums.  

In  some  EU  Member  States,  respondents  are  consistently 
positive  about  engaging  with  science  and  technology  in 
various  ways.  This  applies  in  particular  to  Sweden,  where 
large proportions say they would consider activities such as 
watching documentaries or reading science and technology-
related  publications  (75%),  talking  about  science  and 
technology-related  issues  with  family  or  friends  (71%), 
visiting  science  and  technology  museums  (50%),  studying 
science  and  technology-related  issues  in  their  free  time 
(39%) and actively taking part in scientific projects (30%).  

Large proportions also say they would consider taking part 
in  activities  in  the  Netherlands  (for  example  31%  would 
consider  signing  petitions  or  joining  demonstrations  on 
science and technology matters), Denmark (43% say they 
would take part in clinical trials) and Finland (45% say they 
would provide personal data for scientific research).  

By contrast, respondents in some countries are consistently 
less  likely  to  say  they  would  consider  taking  part  in  the 
various activities: Poland (for example, 7% say they would 
consider  attending  public  meetings  or  debates),  Bulgaria 
(5%  would  consider  taking part  in  the  activities  of  a  non-
governmental  organisation),  Portugal  (7%  would  consider 
attending  public  meetings  or  debates  about  science  and 
technology),  Romania (25% say they would consider talking 
about science and technology-related issues with family or 
friends) and Latvia (5% would consider signing petitions or 
joining demonstrations on science and technology matters). 

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Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  respondents  are 
most likely to say they would consider ways of increasing 
their  engagement  with  science  and 
in 
Montenegro (for example 29% say they would actively be 
taking part in scientific projects) and Türkiye (for example, 
23% would attend public meetings or debates about science 
and technology).  

technology 

By contrast, respondents in Albania tend to be less likely to 
say they would consider the various forms of engagement 
(for example, just 3% would consider taking part in clinical 
trials). 

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falls  are  in  relation  to  providing  personal  data  for 
scientific research (5%, -32 pp) and signing petitions or 
joining  demonstrations  on  science  and  technology 
matters (14%, -25 pp). 

  Similarly, there are consistently large decreases for the 
various activities in Ireland. The largest decreases are in 
the proportions that would consider providing personal 
data for scientific research (15%, -32 pp) and taking part 
in clinical trials (12%, -22 pp). 

  There  are  also  large  decreases  on  several  items  in 
Estonia,  particularly  in  the  proportion  that  would 
consider taking part in clinical trials (16%, -30 pp). 

  Among the non-EU countries, there are large increases 
for several activities in Montenegro; for example, in the 
proportion  that  would  consider  actively  taking  part  in 
scientific  projects  (29%,  +16  pp).  By  contrast,  several 
activities  are  less  popular  than  in  2021  in  the  UK, 
including providing personal data for scientific research 
(19%, -33 pp). 

There have been some changes at the country level since 
the 2021 survey, in terms of the ways respondents would 
consider for increasing their engagement with science and 
technology in the future. 

In five EU Member States, respondents are now more likely 
than  in  2021  to  say  they  would  consider  watching 
documentaries  or  reading  science  and  technology-
related publications, magazines, books or podcasts27. 
The largest increases can be observed in Slovakia (46%, +9 
pp)  and  Greece  (56%,  +5  pp).  There  are  19  EU  countries 
where  this  proportion  has  decreased,  most  notably  in 
Estonia (40%, -31 pp), Portugal (42%, -28 pp), Ireland (44%, 
-26 pp) and Luxembourg (41%, -25 pp).

In the non-EU countries surveyed, the proportion that would 
consider  watching  documentaries  or  reading  science  and 
technology-related  publications,  magazines,  books  or 
podcasts has increased the most in Albania (33%, +16 pp). 
There have been sharp decreases in the UK (43%, -29 pp) 
and Türkiye (27%, -23 pp). 

Since 2021, there has been an increase in six EU countries 
in  the  proportion  that  say  they  would  consider  talking 
about  science  and  technology-related  issues  with 
family  or  friends.  The  largest  increase  can  be  seen  in 
Sweden  (71%,  +9  pp).  Among  the  20  EU  countries  where 
this proportion has declined, the largest decreases can be 
seen in Estonia (32%, -26 pp), Portugal (33%, -25 pp) and 
Ireland (41%, -21 pp). 

Outside  of  the  EU,  the  largest  increase  can  be  found  in 
Kosovo  (37%,  +10  pp),  while  there  has  been  a  large 
decrease in the UK (37%, -22 pp).  

There are just six EU Member States where respondents are 
more likely than in 2021 to say they would consider visiting 
science and technology museums. None of the increases 
are greater than three percentage points. In 18 EU countries, 
there  has  been  a  decrease  in  the  proportion  saying  they 
would  consider  visiting  science  and  technology  museums, 
with the largest in Portugal (22%, -25 pp) and Ireland (32%, 
-23 pp).

Among the eight non-EU countries, the largest shift is the 
substantial decrease observed in the UK (34%, -25 pp). 

For the other types of activities, there are consistently large 
shifts in specific countries:  

  In  Portugal,  the  proportion  that  would  consider  the 
various  options  has  decreased  markedly.  The  largest 

27 Note that the wording of this item was different in the 2021 survey, with ‘podcasts’ 

excluded from the wording. 

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235 

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Socio-demographic table 

236 

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2. Barriers  to  engage  with  science

and technology

The main barriers to engagement with science and 
technology are lack of time, lack of interest and lack 
of knowledge. 

Respondents say that their main barriers to engagement 
with science and technology are lack of time (mentioned 
by  40%  of  respondents,  -1  percentage  point  since  2021), 
lack of interest (37%, +3 pp) and lack of knowledge (36%, -
3 pp). Some of the barriers relate to science and technology 
activities or events: one in four (25%, -3 pp) cite a lack of 
information about these activities or events, and just under 
one in five (18%, -3 pp) mention a lack of or poor quality 
activities or events in their area.  

Less  commonly  reported  barriers  are:  privacy  concerns 
(15%, -1 pp), lack of financial resources (14%, -2 pp) and 
feeling that they would not be welcomed or that it is ‘not 
something for them’ (13%, no change)28. 

28  QA14.  Sometimes  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) 

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A  lack  of  financial  resources  is  mentioned  most 
frequently by respondents in Greece (26%), Romania (24%) 
and Cyprus (23%), while respondents in Belgium (23%) and 
likely  to  mention  privacy 
Finland  (21%)  are  most 
concerns. Respondents in Latvia (23%), Czechia (22%) and 
Belgium (21%) are most likely to feel that they would not 
be welcomed or that it is ‘not something for them’.  

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 (62%), 
Sweden  (60%)  and  the  Netherlands  (55%).  Lack  of 
knowledge  is  cited  most  frequently  by  respondents  in 
Greece (47%), France (43%) and in Croatia and Luxembourg 
(both  42%).  Lack  of  interest  is  most  likely  to  be 
mentioned by those in Portugal (50%), Croatia (46%) and 
Lithuania (45%).  

Respondents  in  Sweden  (40%),  Malta  (38%)  and  Greece 
(36%)  are  most  likely  to  cite  a  lack  of  information  on 
activities and events as a barrier, while Malta and Croatia 
(both  28%)  rank  highest  for  lack  or  poor  quality  of 
activities or events in their area.  

238 

 
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Looking  at  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  main 
differences are that respondents in Türkiye (50%) are most 
likely  to  mention  a  lack  of  interest  as  a  barrier  to 
engagement with science and technology, while those in the 
UK mention lack of time (49%), and those in Serbia are most 
likely to mention a lack of knowledge (43%). 

Respondents  in  Montenegro  are  particularly  likely  to 
mention  the  lack  or  poor  quality  of  activities  or  events  in 
their area (36%) and also privacy concerns (30%). 

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In 13 EU Member States, respondents are now more likely 
than in 2021 to say that their main barriers to engagement 
with  science  and  technology  include  a  lack  of  time.  This 
has  increased  the  most  in  Greece  (45%,  +10  pp)  and  the 
Netherlands (55%, +7 pp). The proportion has decreased in 
12 EU countries, most notably in Belgium (36%, -16 pp) and 
Luxembourg (44%, -11 pp). 

Outside of the EU, the proportion that say lack of time is a 
barrier  has  increased  markedly  in  Albania  (35%,  +24  pp) 
and Kosovo (41%, +11 pp). 

There  have  been  some  large  increases  in  the  proportions 
mentioning lack  of  interest as a barrier to engagement. 
Among  EU  countries,  the  largest  increases  can  be  seen  in 
Portugal (50%, +29 pp) and Estonia (40%, +20 pp). Overall, 
the  proportion  saying  lack  of  interest  is  a  barrier  has 
increased in 15 EU countries, while it has decreased in ten, 
with the largest decreases in Malta (31%, -7 pp), Bulgaria 
(34%, -6 pp) and the Netherlands (24%, -6 pp). 

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, the proportion that 
say  lack  of  interest  is  a  barrier  has  increased  sharply  in 
Albania (40%, +29 pp) and Türkiye (50%, +18 pp). 

In four EU Member States, there has been an increase since 
2021  in  the  proportion  saying  lack  of  knowledge  is  a 
barrier to engagement; none of these increases are greater 
than  three  percentage  points.  However,  some 
large 
decreases can be observed, especially in Latvia (25%, -22 
pp) and Portugal (36%, -20 pp). 

 In  the  non-EU  countries,  a  large  increase  can  be  seen  in 
Albania  (31%,  +15  pp),  while  the  largest decrease  can be 
found in the UK (24%, -20 pp). 

The largest changes for the other barriers are as follows: 

  Lack of information on activities or events related 
to science and technology: this has decreased sharply 
in  Portugal  (26%,  -34  pp),  Lithuania  (15%,  -18  pp), 
Latvia (17%, -22 pp) and Belgium (28%, 18 pp). Outside 
of the EU, there have also been large decreases in the 
UK  (19%,  -21  pp),  Albania  (29%,  -15  pp)  and  Türkiye 
(23%,  -15  pp),  as  well  as  a  large  increase  in  Kosovo 
(29%, +11 pp). 

  Lack of or poor quality activities or events in their 
area: there have been large decreases in Ireland (24%, 
-25 pp), Portugal (12%, -23 pp) and Lithuania (12%, -17
pp). In the non-EU countries, large decreases can be seen
in  the  UK  (16%,  -19  pp),  and  Türkiye  (23%,  -7  pp),  as
well as large increases in Montenegro (36%, +14 pp) and
Albania (28%, +14 pp).

  Privacy concerns: this has decreased most sharply in 
Portugal  (13%,  -14  pp)  and  Türkiye  (11%,  -16  pp). 
Outside  of  the  EU,  there  has  been  a  large  increase  in 
Montenegro (30%, +18 pp). 

  The  proportion  mentioning  a  lack  of  financial 
resources has decreased sharply in Portugal (10%, -22 
pp), and Lithuania (11%, -17 pp). In the other countries 
surveyed,  there  have  also  been  large  decreases  in 
Türkiye (27%, -21 pp) and North Macedonia (17%, -17 
pp).  

  The  feeling  that  they  would  not  be  welcomed  or 
that  it  is  ‘not  something  for  them’:  the  largest 
changes are in Lithuania (8%, -12 pp) and, outside the 
EU, in the UK (7%, -12 pp). 

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Socio-demographic table 

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and 

3.  People 
organisations 
qualified  to  explain  the  impact  of 
technological 
scientific 
developments on society 

and 

Professional scientists are seen as best qualified to 
explain  the  impact  of  scientific  and  technological 
developments on society 

Respondents were given a list of people and organisations, 
and  were  asked  which  they  think  are  best  qualified  to 
explain  the  impact  of  scientific  and  technological 
developments on society.  

Professional  scientists  are  chosen  most  frequently; 
specifically,  respondents  feel  that  scientists  working  at  a 
university or government-funded research organisation are 
the best qualified (57%, -4 percentage points since 2021), 
followed by scientists working in an industrial or privately 
funded research organisation (39%, -1 pp)29.  

Around a quarter (26%, -3 pp) choose general practitioners 
and  specialist  doctors  as  one  of  the  categories  of  people 
and  organisations  that  are  best  qualified  to  explain  these 
issues. 

Just under one in five respondents (18%, -1 pp) think that 
journalists are among the best qualified people to explain 
the impact of scientific and technological developments on 
society, followed by environmental protection associations 
(16%, no change) and national governments (13%, -1 pp). 
Around one in ten choose consumer organisations (11%, -1 
pp) or writers and intellectuals (10%, no change).  

Just under one in ten choose family and friends (9%, +2 pp), 
the EU (8%, -1 pp) and industry and private companies (8%, 
no change). 

The  least  frequently  chosen  options  are  people  active  on 
online social networks and bloggers (7%, +1 pp), politicians 
(5%, no change), the military (3%, no change) and religious 
leaders or representatives (2%, no change). 

29 QA3. Among 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) 

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Consumer organisations are chosen most frequently by 
respondents in Denmark (23%) and the Netherlands (22%), 
while those in Sweden are the most likely to choose writers 
and intellectuals (20%). Respondents in Belgium, Cyprus 
and  Hungary  (all  22%)  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 
Belgium  (16%)  and  Italy  (13%),  while  respondents  in 
Denmark  (14%)  are  most  likely  to  mention  industry  and 
private companies.  

Family  and  friends  are  chosen  most  frequently  by 
respondents  in  Cyprus  (17%)  and  Latvia  (16%),  while 
respondents  in  Croatia  (14%)  are  most  likely  to  choose 
people active on online social networks and bloggers. 
Respondents  in  Finland  are  most  likely  to  choose  the 
military  (11%).  The  other  two  options  (politicians  and 
religious leaders or representatives) are both chosen by 
fewer than 10% of respondents in every EU Member State.  

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 (71%) and Greece 
and  Finland  (both  70%).  There  are  just  four  EU  countries 
where  less  than  half  of  respondents  choose  this  option: 
Romania (43%) and Latvia, Slovenia and Poland (all 48%).  

At least half of respondents in Spain and Malta (both 56%) 
and  in  Croatia  (50%)  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  the  Netherlands  (19%)  and  in 
Belgium and Sweden (both 25%).  

likely 

Respondents  are  most 
to  choose  general 
practitioners  and  specialist  doctors  in  Greece  (49%), 
followed by those in Malta (37%) and Slovakia (33%), while 
the proportion is lowest in Poland (13%), Latvia (15%) and 
Lithuania (16%).  

Respondents in the Netherlands (45%) and Sweden (37%) 
are 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 (25%) and Hungary (20%) are most likely to choose 
environmental protection associations.  

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Looking  at  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  respondents  in 
Serbia (67%) 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 North Macedonia and Serbia (both 44%) are 
the most likely to choose scientists working in an industrial 
or privately funded research organisation.  

Those in Albania (37%) are the most likely to choose general 
practitioners and specialist doctors. Journalists are chosen 
most frequently by respondents in Kosovo (19%).  

In addition, relatively high proportions choose other options, 
such  as  the  national  government  (44%  in  Türkiye)  and 
environmental protection associations (22% in Serbia).  

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  Environmental  protection  associations: among the 
EU countries, the largest shift is the decrease in Portugal 
(9%,  -14  pp).  Outside  the  EU,  the  largest  change  is  in 
Serbia (22%, +10 pp).  

  The  proportion  choosing  national  governments  has 
increased  markedly  in  Belgium  (22%,  +14  pp),  Cyprus 
(22%, +12 pp) and Portugal (20%, +11 pp). Among the 
non-EU  countries,  there  has  been  a  large  increase  in 
Türkiye  (44%,  +20  pp),  as  well  as  a  large  decrease  in 
Kosovo (17%, -15 pp). 

  Respondents  in  Türkiye  are  much  less  likely  to  choose 

writers and intellectuals (6%, -19 pp). 

  Family and friends are mentioned more frequently by 
respondents in Ireland (15%, +13 pp) and Estonia (14%, 
+10 pp).

  There has been a fall in the proportion choosing the EU 
in Portugal (11%, -10 pp), and this has also decreased 
in Albania (11%, -22 pp). 

Compared  with  the  2021  survey,  there  have  been  some 
changes at the country level in respondents’ views on the 
people or organisations that are best qualified to explain the 
impact  of  scientific  and  technological  developments  on 
society.  

or 

government-funded 

In three EU Member States, there has been an increase in 
the  proportion  that  say  scientists  working  at  a 
university 
research 
organisation  are  best  qualified:  Hungary  (56%,  +5  pp), 
Poland (48%, +4 pp) and Austria (50%, +4 pp). By contrast, 
this  proportion  has  decreased  in  22  EU  countries,  most 
notably  in  Estonia  (54%,  -28  pp),  Ireland  (54%,  -26  pp), 
Belgium (50%, -25 pp) and Latvia (48%, -21 pp). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  respondents  in 
Albania  are  much  more  likely  to  give  this  answer  than  in 
2021 (56%, +34 pp), while there has been a large decrease 
in Montenegro (44%, -24 pp) and in the UK (59%, -20 pp). 

There are seven EU countries where respondents are more 
likely to mention scientists working in an industrial or 
privately  funded  research  organisation,  the  largest 
being in France (39%, +4 pp). Among the 18 EU countries 
where there has been a decrease, the largest are in Latvia 
(35%, -18 pp) and Sweden (25%, -18 pp). 

Outside of the EU, there has been a large increase in Albania 
(42%,  +27  pp),  while  the  proportion  has  decreased  most 
sharply in Montenegro (41%, -19 pp) and the UK (37%, -17 
pp). 

The  proportion  of 
that  say  general 
respondents 
practitioners  and  specialist  doctors are best qualified 
to  explain  the  impact  of  scientific  and  technological 
developments  on  society  has  increased  in  eight  EU 
countries.  The  largest  increases  can  be  seen  in  Slovakia 
(33%, +9 pp) and Sweden (25%, +8 pp). This proportion has 
decreased in 17 EU countries, with the largest falls in Cyprus 
(27%, -22 pp) and Malta (37%, -11 pp).  

Among the non-EU countries surveyed, the largest increase 
can  be  seen  in  Albania  (37%,  +29  pp),  while  the  largest 
decrease is in the UK (19%, -10 pp). 

There have also been some large shifts since 2021 for other 
responses: 

  The  proportion  that  choose  journalists  has  increased 
markedly  in  Sweden  (37%,  +17  pp),  Latvia  27%  (+12 
pp), Cyprus (24%, +12 pp) and Lithuania (23%, +10 pp). 
It has decreased most sharply in Luxembourg (20%, -10 
pp).  Outside  of  the  EU,  the  largest  shift  is  in  Albania 
(15%, +10 pp). 

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Socio-demographic table 

249 

 VI. Diversity, inclusiveness

and social responsibility in
science and technology

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This chapter looks at issues of diversity, inclusiveness and 
social  responsibility  in  science  and  technology.  Firstly,  the 
chapter examines views on young people and science and 
technology.  It  then  looks  at  the  role  of  science  and 
technology 
inclusiveness  and  social 
to 
responsibility.  The  final  section  of  the  chapter  focuses  on 
gender equality in the science and technology workforce. 

relation 

in 

1. Young  people  and  science  and

technology

The majority of Europeans are optimistic about the 
future for young people and science and technology. 

Respondents  were  asked  to  what  extent  they  agreed  or 
disagreed  with  three  statements  about  science  and 
technology and young people:  

  “Young people’s interest in science is essential for our 

future prosperity”30;  

  “Science prepares the younger generation to act as well-

informed citizens”31;  

  “Thanks to science and technology, there will be more 

opportunities for future generations”32.  

Respondents were first asked the extent to which they agree 
or disagree with the statement “young people’s interest 
in science is essential for our future prosperity”.  

More  than  eight  in  ten  respondents  (82%,  -3  percentage 
points  since  2021)  agree  that  young  people’s  interest  in 
science  is  essential  for  our  future  prosperity,  with  around 
four in ten (41%, -7 pp) saying that they “strongly agree”. A 
very  small  minority  of  respondents  (5%,  +1  pp)  disagree 
that  young  people’s  interest  in  science  is  essential,  with 
fewer still (1%, no change) saying they “strongly disagree”. 
Just over one in ten respondents (12%, +2 pp) are neutral, 
saying they neither agree nor disagree. 

Overall,  the  results  show  a  slight  decrease  in  agreement 
since  2021,  in  particular  in  terms  of  the  proportion  who 
“strongly agree” (-7 pp). 

30 QA7.6. 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.  Young  people’s  interest  in  science  is 
essential for our future prosperity. 

31 QA8.2. 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. Science prepares the younger generation 
to act as well-informed citizens. 

32 QA8.4. 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. Thanks to science and technology, there 
will be more opportunities for future generations. 

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Just under seven in ten respondents (68%, -1 pp) agree that 
“thanks to science and technology, there will be more 
opportunities for future generations”, with one in five 
(20%,  -3  pp)  saying  that  they  “totally  agree”.  One  in  nine 
respondents disagree (11%, no change), with only a small 
proportion  (3%,  no  change)  saying  that  they  “totally 
disagree”.  Around  one  in  five  respondents  (19%,  +1  pp) 
neither agree nor disagree with the statement.  

Around six in ten respondents (61%, no change) agree that 
“science  prepares  the  younger  generation  to  act  as 
well-informed citizens”, including one in six (17%, -2 pp) 
saying that they “totally agree”.  

Around  one  in  six  respondents  (16%,  no  change)  disagree 
with  the  statement,  with  only  a  small  proportion  (4%,  no 
change)  saying  they  “totally  disagree”.  One 
in  five 
respondents (21%, no change) are neutral.  

Results have remained similar to the 2021 survey for these 
two  questions,  although  in  both  cases,  there  has  been  a 
slight decrease in the proportion that “totally agrees”. 

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

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 
Sweden (97%), the Netherlands (95%), Denmark (93%) and 
Finland  (92%)  are  most  likely  to  agree.  Respondents  in 
Sweden (80%) are particularly likely to “strongly agree” with 
the statement, followed by respondents in the Netherlands 
(71%) and Malta (68%).  

Respondents in Romania (57%) and Croatia (68%) are the 
least likely to agree that young people’s interest in science 
is essential for our future prosperity. In fact, more than one 
in  five  respondents  in  Romania  (22%)  disagree  with  the 
statement, more than double the proportion in any other EU 
country. 

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 the 
UK  (89%).  Respondents  in  Bosnia  and  Herzegovina  (62%) 
are the least likely to agree with the statement.  

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Comparing  the  current  results  to  the  2021  findings,  the 
proportion  of  respondents  who  agree  that  young  people’s 
interest in science is essential for our future prosperity has 
increased  in  eight  EU  Member  States,  with  the  largest 
increase seen in Denmark (93%, +7 pp).  

Among the 15 EU Member States where the proportion of 
respondents who agree with this statement has decreased, 
the  most  notable  shifts  are  in  Estonia  (82%,  -14  pp), 
Romania (57%, -11 pp), Belgium (28%, -11 pp) and Czechia 
(83%, -10 pp).  

largest  decreases  can  be  seen 

The 
Herzegovina (62%, -16 pp) and Türkiye (80%, -10 pp). 

in  Bosnia  and 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  there  has  been  a 
large increase in the proportion of respondents who agree 
that young people’s interest in science is essential for our 
future prosperity in Albania (79%, +51 pp). 

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The majority of respondents in all EU Member States agree 
with  the  statement  “science  prepares  the  younger 
generation to act as well-informed citizens”. 

More than three-quarters of respondents agree that science 
prepares  the  younger  generation  to  act  as  well-informed 
citizens in Portugal (80%), Ireland (79%) and Latvia (77%). 
More  than  a  third  of  respondents  say  they  “totally  agree” 
with this statement in Malta (38%), Cyprus and Ireland (both 
35%) and Latvia (34%).  

The lowest levels of agreement on this measure are seen in 
the Netherlands (43%), Slovenia (48%) and France (50%).  

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  a  notably  high 
proportion  of  respondents  in  Kosovo  (82%)  and  Türkiye 
(81%) agree that science prepares the younger generation 
to  act  as  well-informed  citizens,  with  around  half  of 
respondents  in  Kosovo  (49%)  saying  that  they  “totally 
agree”. The agreement is lowest in Bosnia and Herzegovina 
(52%).  

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Comparing the current results with those in 2021, in 14 EU 
Member  States  the  proportion  of  respondents  who  agree 
that science prepares the younger generation to act as well-
informed citizens has increased, with the biggest shifts in 
Ireland  (79%,  +15  pp),  Lithuania  (69%,  +11  pp),  Belgium 
(57%, +11 pp) and Finland (73%, +10 pp).  

There are 11 EU countries where agreement has fallen, with 
the  largest  decreases  in  Cyprus  (66%,  -11  pp)  and  Spain 
(67%, -8 pp). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  there  has  been  a 
large increase in agreement in Albania (72%, +40 pp), while 
the largest decrease can be seen in Bosnia and Herzegovina 
(52%, -9 pp).  

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The majority of respondents in all EU Member States agree 
that “thanks to science and technology, there will be 
more opportunities for future generations”:  

Agreement is highest in Finland (82%) followed by Ireland, 
Latvia and Lithuania (79% in each). Respondents are most 
likely  to  say  they  “totally  agree”  with  this  statement  in 
Finland (37%) and in Malta and Lithuania (both 36%). The 
lowest levels of agreement are seen in Romania (53%) and 
France (56%).  

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  respondents  in 
Türkiye (81%) and Kosovo (80%) 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 Kosovo (52%). A 
relatively  low  proportion  of  respondents  in  Bosnia  and 
Herzegovina (50%) agree with the statement.  

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Comparing the current results to those of 2021, there are 
11 EU Member States where the proportion of respondents 
who  agree  that  science  and  technology  will  provide  more 
opportunities for future generations has increased, with the 
largest rises seen in Sweden (78%, +9 pp), Ireland (79%, +8 
pp) and Slovakia (71%, +8 pp). 

Among  the  13  countries  showing  a  decrease  in  the 
proportions agreeing with this statement, the largest can be 
found in Bulgaria (71%, -8 pp) and Hungary (70%, -7 pp).  

Again,  there  has  been  a  steep  increase  in  agreement  in 
Albania (75%, +43 pp), while there has been a substantial 
decrease in Bosnia and Herzegovina (50%, -16 pp). 

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2.  Inclusiveness 
responsibility 
technology 

and 
social 
science  and 

in 

Most  Europeans  think  science  and  technology 
should  be  inclusive,  even  if  this  is  not  necessarily 
the case at present. 

Respondents  were  asked  whether  they  agree  or  disagree 
with a number of statements about the role of science and 
inclusiveness  and  social 
to 
in 
technology 
responsibility33. 

relation 

Firstly,  respondents  were  asked  the  extent  to  which  they 
agree  or  disagree that  “science  and  technology  should 
consider  the  needs  of  all  groups  of  people  when 
developing new solutions and products”.  

Just over three-quarters of EU citizens (77%, -1 percentage 
point since 2021) agree that science and technology should 
consider the needs of all groups of people when developing 
new solutions and products. This includes 35% (-4 pp) who 
“strongly agree.” A small minority of respondents disagree 
with this statement (6%, no change), with only a very small 
proportion (1%, no change) saying they “strongly disagree”. 
Around one in seven respondents (15%, +1 pp) are neutral 
(neither agree nor disagree).  

Respondents  were  asked  how  strongly  they  agreed  or 
disagreed that “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”34. Around six in ten Europeans agree (61%, +4 
percentage points since 2021), including 20% (no change) 
who  say  they  “strongly  agree”.  One  in  six  (16%,  -4  pp) 
disagree,  while  21%  (no  change)  are  neutral  and  2%  (no 
change) say they don’t know.   

Respondents were then asked how strongly they agreed or 
disagreed that “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” 35.  

Just  over  two  in  three  respondents  (68%,  -2  percentage 
points since 2021) agree with this statement, with 23% (-4 
pp) saying they “strongly agree”. Just over one in ten (11%, 

no change) disagree, while 19% (+2 pp) are neutral and 2% 
(no change) say they don’t know.  

Respondents  were  asked  to  what  extent  they  agreed  or 
disagreed that “science  and  technology could  be used 
to help improve the environment and tackle climate 
change,  but  in  practice  they  mostly  help  companies 
make money” 36.  

Just  under  two-thirds  of  EU  citizens  agree  (64%,  -1 
percentage point since 2021), and this includes 22% (-5 pp) 
who “strongly agree”. Just over one in ten (13%, no change) 
disagree, while 21% (+1 pp) are neutral and 2% (no change) 
say they don’t know.  

More than six in ten EU citizens (63%, +2 percentage points 
since  2021)  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  17%  (-2  pp)  saying 
they  strongly  agree.  Only  around  one  in  ten  respondents 
(11%, -1 pp) disagree with the statement, including 3% (no 
change)  who  say  they  “strongly  disagree”.    As  on  other 
issues,  for  “science  and  technology  could  be  used  to 
help  improve  the  environment  and  tackle  climate 
change,  but  in  practice  they  mostly  help  companies 
make money” results are generally in line with those seen 
in  in  the  2021  survey,  although  the  proportion  of 
respondents who “strongly agree” has fallen somewhat. 

33  QA15.  How  strongly  do  you  agree  or  disagree  with  the  following 

35  The  wording  of  this  item  has  been  modified  slightly  since  the  2021 

statements? 

survey. 

34  The  wording  of  this  item  has  been  modified  slightly  since  the  2021 

36  The  wording  of  this  item  has  been  modified  slightly  since  the  2021 

survey. 

survey. 

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In every EU country, at least half of respondents agree with 
the statement that ‘science and technology could be used 
to help improve the environment and tackle climate change, 
but  in  practice  they  mostly help  companies  make  money’, 
although proportions range from 80% in Spain and 74% in 
both Cyprus and Portugal, to 50% in the Netherlands and 
51% in both Denmark and Romania. More than a third of 
respondents “strongly agree” in Cyprus (41%), Spain (37%) 
and Ireland (35%).  

In  the  non-EU  countries,  levels  of  agreement  range  from 
77% in North Macedonia to 61% in Türkiye. 

A  majority  of  respondents  agree  with  the  statement  that 
“involving  non-scientists  in  research  and  technological 
development ensures that science and technology respond 
to the needs, values and expectations of society” in all 27 
EU Member States. Agreement is highest in Finland (82%), 
Malta  (76%)  and  Denmark  (75%),  while  it  is  lowest  in 
(55%). 
Romania 
Respondents are most likely to “agree strongly” in Finland 
(33%) and Malta (31%). 

(51%)  and  Greece 

(46%),  Sweden 

Looking at the non-EU countries surveyed, respondents are 
most likely to agree with the statement in the UK and Serbia 
(both 72%), while agreement is lowest in Albania (55%). 

In  every  EU  Member  State,  the  majority  of  respondents 
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 Ireland (90%), Spain (89%) and 
Cyprus  (88%).  More  than  half  of  respondents  say  they 
“strongly agree” in Cyprus (60%), Spain (56%), Malta (53%) 
and Greece (51%). Respondents are least likely to agree in 
Romania (53%) and Poland (69%).  

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  the  UK  (83%)  and 
Serbia (81%) have the highest proportions who agree that 
science  and  technology  should  consider  the  needs  of  all 
groups  of  people  when  developing  new  solutions  and 
products.  Agreement  is  lowest  among  respondents  in 
Montenegro (56%). 

In  all  EU  Member  States,  respondents  are  more  likely  to 
agree than disagree that “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”. The 
highest levels of agreement can be seen in Portugal (76%), 
Spain (73%) and Slovenia (71%). By contrast, only around 
half of respondents agree in the Netherlands (48%) and in 
France and Finland (both 50%).  

There  are  eight  countries  where  more  than  a  quarter  of 
respondents “strongly agree” with this statement, with the 
highest proportions in Cyprus (33%) and Spain (32%).  

In countries outside the EU, the proportions that agree range 
from 75% in North Macedonia to 61% in the UK. In all cases, 
respondents are more likely to agree than disagree with the 
statement. 

In all EU Member States, a majority of respondents agree 
that “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”. 
Proportions range from 82% of respondents in Spain, 77% 
in Sweden and 76% in both Portugal and Slovenia, to 52% 
in  Romania,  59%  in  Latvia  and  61%  in  Germany.  The 
proportion that “strongly agrees” is highest in Spain (42%), 
Cyprus (39%) and Sweden (37%).  

Across  non-EU  countries,  levels  of  agreement  range  from 
77% in North Macedonia to 66% in both Türkiye and Kosovo. 

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Outside  of  the  EU,  agreement  has  increased  markedly  in 
Albania  (70%,  +40  pp),  while  the  largest  decrease  in 
agreement can be seen in Türkiye (61%, -13 pp). 

There are 19 EU Member States where agreement has risen 
since  2021,  on  the  issue  of  whether  “involving  non-
scientists 
in  research  and  technological  development 
ensures that science and technology respond to the needs, 
values  and  expectations  of  society”.  The  largest  increases 
can be seen in Malta (76%, +14 pp), Lithuania (73%, +14 
pp),  Finland  (82%,  +12  pp)  and  Denmark  (75%,  +12  pp). 
Agreement  has  decreased  in  six  EU  countries,  with  the 
largest  declines  seen  in  Cyprus  (62%,  -7  pp)  and  Czechia 
(57%, -6 pp). 

Outside of the EU, respondents in Albania are much more 
likely to agree than in 2021 (55%, +27 pp), and agreement 
has also increased markedly in Serbia (72%, +16 pp). 

Compared with 2021, there are 20 EU Member States where 
respondents are now more likely to agree that “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”.  The  largest  increases  can  be  seen  in 
Portugal (76%, +22 pp), Czechia (64%, +18 pp) and Estonia 
(59%,  +16  pp).  Agreement  has  fallen  in  six  EU  countries, 
with  the  largest  decreases  in  Romania  (54%,  -7  pp)  and 
Cyprus (69%, -6 pp). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries,  agreement  has  increased 
markedly  in  Albania  (71%,  +43  pp),  with  a  large  increase 
also seen in the UK (61%, +16 pp). 

In  ten  EU  Member  States,  there  has  been  an  increase  in 
agreement  that  “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”.  The  largest  increases  since  2021  can  be 
observed in Lithuania (74%, +11 pp) and Sweden (77%, +7 
pp).  Among  the  15  EU  countries  where  agreement  has 
fallen, the largest decreases can be seen in Latvia (59%, -9 
pp), Germany (61%, -9 pp) and Romania (52%, -9 pp). 

Outside the EU, there is again a large increase in agreement 
in Albania (73%, +44 pp), while the largest decrease can be 
seen in Türkiye (66%, -14 pp). 

In 11 EU Member States, there has been an increase since 
2021  in  agreement  that  science  and  technology  should 
consider the needs of all groups of people when developing 
new  solutions  and  products.  The  largest  increases  can  be 
seen in Lithuania (83%, +11 pp) and France (76%, +10 pp). 
Levels of agreement have fallen in 14 EU countries, with the 
largest  decreases  seen  in  Romania  (53%,  -9  pp)  and 
Germany (76%, -8 pp). 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  agreement  has 
increased  sharply  in  Albania  (76%,  +46  pp),  while  large 
decreases in agreement can be seen in Türkiye (69%, -17 
pp) and Montenegro (56%, -16 pp). 

In  14  EU  Member  States,  there  has  been  an  increase  in 
agreement since 2021. In particular, respondents in Malta 
(65%, +8 pp), Lithuania (69%, +8 pp) and Estonia (60%, +8 
pp)  are  now  more  likely  to  agree  that  “science  and 
technology could be used to help improve the environment 
and tackle climate change, but in practice they mostly help 
companies make money”. Among the 11 EU countries where 
agreement has decreased, the largest declines can be seen 
in Germany (56%, -10 pp), Romania (51%, -9 pp) and Latvia 
(56%, -7 pp).

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Socio-demographic table 

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This section looks at attitudes towards gender equality in 
relation to science and technology. Respondents were given 
a list of statements and were asked how much they agreed 
or disagreed with each37:  

  “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”;  

Around seven in ten EU citizens (69%, -4 percentage points 
since 2021) agree that “gender equality in the science 
and technology workforce would help ensure we live 
in a fairer and more equal society”. This includes around 
one  in  four  (27%,  -  10pp)  who  say  they  “strongly  agree”. 
One in ten respondents disagree (10%, +3 pp), with a small 
minority saying they “strongly disagree” (3%, +1 pp). Around 
one in five respondents (19%, +2 pp) are neutral.  

More than  six in  ten  respondents  (63%, -2  pp) agree that 
“gender  equality  in  the  science  and  technology 
workplace  would  improve  the  outcomes  of  science 
and  technology”,  with  one  in  five  saying  they  “strongly 
agree” (20%, -11 pp). Around one in ten respondents (11%, 
+2 pp) disagree, with a small minority saying they “strongly
disagree”  (4%,  +1  pp).  Just  over  one  in  five  respondents
(23%, +1 pp) hold a neutral view on this measure.

Just over half of Europeans (55%, -3 pp) agree that “gender 
equality  in  the  science  and  technology  workforce 
would  improve  business  profits  and  the  economy”, 
with  one  in  six  respondents  saying  they  “strongly  agree” 
(16%, -10 pp). Around one in eight respondents (13%, +2 
pp) disagree, with only a small proportion (4%, no change) 
saying that they “strongly disagree”. More than a quarter of 
respondents (28%, +2 pp) are neutral. 

On  each  of  these  statements,  there  has  been  a  small 
decrease since 2021 in overall levels of agreement, but a 
sharp  decline  in  “strong”  agreement  (down  10  or  11 
percentage points for each of the three statements). 

37 QA16. How strongly do you agree or disagree with each of the following 

statements? 

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In all EU Member States, 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 Sweden (84%), Malta (81%) and 
in Ireland and Greece (both 79%). 

More  than  half  of  respondents  in  Sweden  (59%)  say  that 
they  “strongly  agree”,  well  ahead  of  the  next  highest 
proportions  in  Malta  (45%)  and  in  Finland  and  the 
Netherlands (both 43%). 

Less than half of respondents agree that gender equality in 
the science and technology workforce would help ensure a 
fairer  and  more  equal  society  in  Czechia  (40%),  Romania 
(46%) and Estonia (47%).  

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 Türkiye (79%) ad Kosovo (73%, with a high 
proportion who say they “strongly agree” (47%)). Agreement 
is lowest in Serbia (60%). 

In  all  but  one of  the  27  EU Member  States, a  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  Sweden  (80%), 
Malta (77%) and in Italy and Portugal (both 74%). More than 
half  of  respondents  in  Sweden  (56%)  say  they  “strongly 
agree”, considerably higher than in any other country.  

In Estonia, equal proportions agree and disagree with this 
statement  (both  34%).  In  addition,  less  than  half  of 
respondents agree in Czechia (39%), Romania (43%), Latvia 
(44%) and Lithuania (49%).  

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  respondents  in 
Türkiye (81%) are most likely to agree that gender equality 
in the science and technology workplace would improve the 
outcomes  of  science  and  technology.  The  lowest  level  of 
agreement can be seen in Serbia (55%). 

In every EU Member State except Estonia, respondents are 
more likely to agree than disagree that 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  Italy  (69%),  Cyprus 
(68%) and Ireland (67%). At least three in ten respondents 
say they “strongly agree” in Cyprus (33%) and in Ireland and 
Sweden (both 30%).  

In  Estonia,  respondents  are  more  likely  to  disagree  (36%) 
than  agree  (30%) that  gender  equality  in the science  and 
technology  workforce  would  improve  business  profits  and 
the economy. Levels of agreement are also low in Czechia 
(33%).  

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 Türkiye (76%) and Kosovo (74%). In Kosovo, 
a high proportion of respondents say they “strongly agree” 
(45%).  Respondents  are  least  likely  to  agree  with  the 
statement in Serbia (50%). 

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In  comparison  with  the  2021  survey,  there  are  eight  EU 
countries where respondents are now more likely to agree 
that  “gender  equality  in  the  science  and  technology 
workforce would help ensure we live in a fairer and 
more  equal  society”.  The  largest  increases  can  be 
observed in Finland (78%, +14 pp), the Netherlands (75%, 
+12  pp)  and  Sweden  (84%,  +8  pp).  In  16  countries,
agreement  has  fallen,  most  notably  in  Czechia  (40%,  -17
pp), Cyprus (72%, -16 pp) and Slovenia (57%, -14 pp).

Outside  of  the  EU,  the  largest  shifts  since  2021  are  the 
increases in agreement in Albania (72%, +14 pp) and Serbia 
(60%, +12 pp). 

Since 2021, there has been an increase in agreement with 
the  statement  ‘gender  equality  in  the  science  and 
technology workplace would improve the outcomes of 
science  and  technology”  in  ten  EU  Member  States.  The 
largest increase can be seen in the Netherlands (69%, +23 
pp), followed by Finland (63%, +11 pp) and Belgium (62%, 
+11 pp). Among the 15 EU countries where agreement has
fallen, large decreases can be seen in Slovenia (50%, -17
pp),  Romania  (43%,  -10  pp),  France  (59%,  -10  pp)  and
Cyprus (73%, 1- pp).

In  the  countries  outside  the  EU,  agreement  has  increased 
the  most  in  Montenegro  (75%,  +19  pp)  and  Serbia  (55%, 
+13  pp),  while  the  largest  decrease  in  agreement  can  be
found in Kosovo (73%, -9 pp).

In ten EU Member States, respondents are now more likely 
than  in  2021  to  agree  that  “gender  equality  in  the 
science  and  technology  workforce  would  improve 
business  profits  and  the  economy”.  Increases  of  ten 
percentage points or more can be seen in the Netherlands 
(54%,  +17  pp),  Ireland  (67%,  +11  pp)  and  Belgium  (49%, 
+10 pp). There are 16 EU countries where agreement has
decreased, with the largest declines seen in Romania (43%,
-10 pp), Slovenia (45%, -10 pp) and Cyprus (68%, -10 pp).

Among  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  agreement  has 
increased  the  most  in  the  UK  (57%,  +13  pp),  while  the 
largest  decrease  in  agreement  can  be  seen  in  Bosnia  and 
Herzegovina (59%, -10 pp).  

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Socio-demographic table 

271 

VII. Views on the use of AI for

scientific research

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This  chapter  examines  Europeans’  views  on  the  use  of 
artificial intelligence (AI) for scientific research. It starts by 
gauging  how  well-informed  respondents  feel  about  the 
potential benefits and risks of using AI in scientific work. It 
then  assesses  the  extent  to  which  people  trust  scientific 
research and discoveries that are created with the help of 
AI. Finally, it examines views on whether the use of AI can 
lead to solutions to major challenges. 

The results in this chapter are also relevant to the findings 
in chapter 2, where respondents were asked for their views 
on the future impact of AI on employment. 

Around one in three EU citizens feel well-informed 
about  the  potential  benefits  and  risks  of  AI  in 
science 

Just  over  a  third  of  Europeans  (37%)  say  they  feel  well-
informed  about  “the  potential  benefits  of  using  AI  in 
scientific  work”.  This  includes  7%  who  feel  “well-
informed”  and  30%  who  say  they  are  “somewhat  well-
informed”.  The  majority  of  respondents  (62%)  do  not  feel 
well-informed, either “not very well-informed” (38%) or “not 
well-informed at all” (24%). 

A similar proportion (35%) say they feel well informed about 
“the  potential  risks  of  using  AI  in  scientific  work.” 
Specifically, less than one in ten (7%) feel “well-informed” 
and 28% feel “somewhat well-informed”. Almost two-thirds 
of respondents (64%) do not feel well-informed, either “not 
very  well-informed”  (39%)  or  “not  well-informed  at  all” 
(25%)38. 

38 QA19. How well informed do you feel about the following? 

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Among the 27 EU Member States, a majority of respondents 
in  four  countries  say  they  feel  well-informed  (“well-
informed”  or 
“somewhat  well-informed”)  about  the 
potential  benefits  of  using  AI  in  scientific  work:  the 
Netherlands (66%), Denmark (59%) and Cyprus and Sweden 
(both 52%). 

Respondents  are  least  likely  to  feel  well-informed  in 
Portugal (26%) and in Greece and Croatia (both 27%). 

In  the  non-EU  countries  surveyed,  more  than  half  of 
respondents  in  Türkiye  (59%)  and  the  UK  (51%)  say  they 
feel well-informed about the potential benefits of using AI 
in scientific work, while respondents in Serbia are the least 
likely to feel well informed (27%). 

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Within the EU, respondents in the Netherlands (68%) are by 
far  the  most  likely  to  say  they  feel  well-informed  (“well-
informed”  or 
“somewhat  well-informed”)  about  the 
potential risks of using AI in scientific work. More than 
half  of  respondents  in  Denmark  (52%)  and  Cyprus  (51%) 
also say they feel well-informed. 

By contrast, no more than a quarter of respondents feel well 
informed in Greece (24%) and in Croatia and Portugal (both 
25%). 

In the eight non-EU countries surveyed, more than half of 
respondents  in  Türkiye  (57%)  say  they  feel  well  informed 
about the potential risks of using AI in scientific work, while 
the lowest proportion can be seen in Serbia (28%). 

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Socio-demographic table 

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Respondents express varying degrees of trust in scientific 
research  and  discoveries  that  are  created  with  the 
help of artificial intelligence (AI). In the EU, just over a 
third of respondents (38%) say they trust scientific research 
and  discoveries  that  are  created  with  the  help  of  AI.  This 
includes 5% who “fully trust” this type of research and 33% 
who “tend to trust” it. 

Just over a third (35%) say they “neither trust nor distrust” 
scientific research and discoveries that are created with the 
help  of  AI,  while  a  quarter  (25%)  distrust  this  type  of 
research,  including  19%  who  “tend  to  distrust”  it  and  6% 
who “fully distrust” it39. 

39 QA20. To what extent do you trust scientific research and discoveries that 

are created with the help of artificial intelligence (AI)? 

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In  24  Member  States,  respondents  are  more  likely  to  say 
they  trust  rather  than  mistrust  scientific  research  and 
discoveries that are created with the help of AI. This includes 
four  EU  countries  where  at  least  half  of  respondents  say 
they  trust this  type  of  research:  Denmark (64%),  Portugal 
(58%), Sweden (51%) and Malta (50%). Denmark also has 
a relatively high proportion of respondents who “fully trust" 
scientific research and discoveries that are created with the 
help of AI (14%).

In the other three EU countries, the proportion that distrusts 
this type of research outweighs the proportion that trusts it: 
Romania (34% distrust vs. 25% trust), Latvia (32% distrust 
vs. 31% trust) and Austria (35% distrust vs. 34% trust). 

The  proportion  that  “neither  trusts  nor  distrusts”  scientific 
research and discoveries that are created with the help of 
AI ranges from 49% in Croatia and 48% in Hungary to 17% 
in Denmark. 

In the non-EU countries, respondents in Türkiye (62%) are 
most  likely  to  say  they  trust  scientific  research  and 
discoveries  that  are  created  with  the  help  of  AI.  However, 
distrust outweighs trust in Bosnia and Herzegovina (37% vs. 
25%) and Serbia (32% vs. 30%).

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Socio-demographic table 

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Half of EU citizens (50%) agree that “AI used in science 
advances  scientific  discoveries  that  will  lead  to 
solutions to major challenges such as climate change 
and  serious  diseases.”  This  includes  9%  who  “totally 
agree” and 41% who “tend to agree”. 

One in six respondents disagree (16%), including 12% who 
“tend to disagree” and 4% who “totally disagree”. Three in 
ten respondents (30%) neither agree nor disagree40. 

40  QA21.  To  what  extent  do  you  agree  or  disagree  with  the  following 
statement: 'AI used in science advances scientific discoveries that will 

lead  to  solutions  to  major  challenges  such  as  climate  change  and 
serious diseases'? 

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In all 27 EU Member States, respondents are more likely to 
agree  than  disagree  that  “AI  used  in  science  advances 
scientific  discoveries  that  will  lead  to  solutions  to  major 
challenges  such  as  climate  change  and  serious  diseases.” 
Respondents are most likely to agree with the statement in 
Denmark (74%), Sweden (72%) and Malta (65%). Denmark 
also has a particularly high proportion who say they “totally 
agree” (32%). 

The  lowest  levels  of  agreement  can  be  seen  in  Croatia 
(32%), Romania (33%) and Estonia (39%). More than a third 
of  respondents  “neither  agree  nor  disagree”  in  Croatia 
(44%), Hungary (42%), Italy (36%) and Bulgaria (34%). 

In  the  eight  other  countries  covered  by  the  survey, 
respondents in Türkiye (71%) are by far the most likely to 
agree  that  “AI  used 
in  science  advances  scientific 
discoveries  that  will  lead  to  solutions  to major  challenges 
such as climate change and serious diseases.” 

However,  respondents  are  more  likely  to  disagree  than 
agree with the statement in Bosnia and Herzegovina (39% 
disagree vs. 29% agree) and Serbia (32% vs. 31%). 

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Socio-demographic table 

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Conclusion 

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social  perspective”;  and  that  “because  of  their  knowledge, 
scientists have a power that makes them dangerous”. 

The survey also examines the wider social issues related to 
science and technology.  Social responsibility is considered 
important, with three-quarters of respondents agreeing that 
science  and  technology  should  consider  the  needs  of  all 
groups  of  people  when  developing  new  solutions  and 
products.  The  majority  also  agree  that  decisions  about 
science  and  technology  should  be  based  primarily  on  the 
moral and ethical issues concerned.  

Again, however, these views are tempered with a degree of 
suspicion.  Most  respondents  agree  that  science  and 
technology  could  improve  everyone's  lives,  but  mostly 
improve the lives of people who are already better off; and 
the  majority  agree  that  science  and  technology  could 
improve  living  conditions  in  less  developed  countries,  but 
mostly improve living conditions in well-off countries. 

This  year’s  survey  included  a  focus  on  AI  and  shows  that 
there are mixed views among EU citizens in this regard. Just 
over a third of respondents say they trust scientific research 
and discoveries that are created with the help of AI, while a 
quarter distrust this type of research, and a third are neutral. 
When  asked  whether  AI  and  automation  will  create  more 
jobs than they will eliminate, respondents are more likely to 
disagree than to agree. 

Overall, just over a third of respondents feel well informed 
about  the  potential  benefits  of  using  AI  in  scientific  work, 
and  a  similar  proportion  feel  well  informed  about  the 
potential risks. 

This report provides a summary of the results of the Special 
Eurobarometer  on  “European  citizens’  knowledge  and 
attitudes 
This 
science  and 
Eurobarometer  is  the  latest  in  a  long  line  of  surveys  on 
science and technology and provides comparisons with the 
findings from the previous survey conducted in 2021.  

technology”. 

towards 

The survey assesses EU citizens’ knowledge about science 
and technology. This shows that the majority of respondents 
feel at least moderately well-informed about environmental 
problems,  new  scientific  discoveries  and  technological 
developments, and new medical discoveries.  

However, respondents are less likely to feel well-informed 
about  these  issues  than  they  were  in  2021.  In  addition, 
when tested in a ‘quiz’ on scientific issues, respondents are 
more  likely  to  give  incorrect  answers  than  in  the  previous 
survey. 

The survey provides further insight into these findings. The 
majority of Europeans agree that they would like to learn 
more about scientific developments, but over half also say 
that science is too complicated to understand much about 
it.  

There is a clear consensus that science and technology have 
a  positive  influence  on  society,  while  two-thirds  of 
respondents  agree  that  science  and  technology  make  our 
lives  easier,  healthier  and  more  comfortable.  Equally,  the 
majority view is that “science makes our ways of life change 
too  fast”  and  also  that  “the  applications  of  science  and 
technology  can  threaten  human  rights”.  These  views  have 
grown in prevalence since the 2021 survey.  

When  assessing  the  public’s  perception  of  scientists,  the 
survey  provides  a  complex  picture.  On  the  one  hand,  the 
majority think that decisions about science and technology 
should be based mainly on the advice of experts, and the 
consensus  is  that  scientists  should  intervene  in  political 
debate.  The  characteristics  associated  with  scientists  are 
predominantly  positive,  such  as  “intelligent”,  “reliable”, 
“collaborative”,  and  “honest”.  In  addition,  professional 
scientists are seen as best qualified to explain the impact of 
scientific and technological developments on society ahead 
of other people or organisations. 

At the same time, the findings indicate a certain wariness or 
suspicion  about  scientists.  Respondents  are  more  likely  to 
agree than disagree 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”; that “scientists only look at very 
specific issues and do not consider problems from a wider 

284 

Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 
Technical Specifications 

For households with three 15+ members the script was used 
to select either the informant (1/3 of the time) or the two 
other eligible members in the household (2/3 of the time). 
Where  the  two  other  members  were  selected,  the 
interviewer was then told to either ask for the youngest or 
oldest.  The  script  would  randomly  assign  the  selection  to 
youngest  or  oldest  with  equal  probability.  This  process 
continues  for  four  15+  household  members  –  randomly 
asking  for  the  youngest,  2nd  youngest  and  oldest.  For 
households  with  five  15+  members  we  revert  to  the  last 
birthday rule.    

If no contact was made with anyone in the household, or if 
the  respondent  selected  was  not  available  (busy),  the 
interviewer  revisited  the  same  household  up  to  three 
additional 
total). 
Interviewers never indicate that the survey is conducted on 
behalf of the European Commission beforehand; they may 
give  this  information  once  the  survey  is  completed,  upon 
request.  

(four  contact  attempts 

times 

in 

The  recruitment  phase  was  slightly  different  in  the 
Netherlands,  Finland,  and  Sweden.  In  the  two  latter 
countries, a sample of addresses within each sampling point 
were  selected  from  the  address  or  population  register  (in 
Finland,  selection  is  not  done  in  all  sample  points,  but  in 
some where response rates are expected to improve). The 
selection  of  addresses  was  done  in  a  random  manner. 
Households were then contacted by telephone and recruited 
to take part in the survey. In the Netherlands, a dual frame 
RDD  sample  (mobile  and  landline  numbers)  are  used  as 
there 
is  no  comprehensive  population  register  with 
telephone numbers available. The selection of numbers on 
both frames is done in a random manner with each number 
getting an equal probability of selection. Unlike Sweden and 
Finland, the sample is un-clustered.  

Technical Specifications 

Between  12  September  and  10  October  2024,  Verian 
(former Kantar Public) on behalf of Verian Belgium carried 
out the wave 102.1 of the Eurobarometer survey, on request 
of  the  European  Commission,  Directorate-General  for 
Communication,  “Media  monitoring  and  Eurobarometer” 
Unit.   

The  Wave  102.1  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.  

The Wave 102.1 survey has also been conducted in 8 other 
countries  or  territories:  six  candidate  countries  (Albania, 
Bosnia  and  Herzegovina,  Montenegro,  North  Macedonia, 
Serbia,  Türkiye),  as  well  as  in  Kosovo1 and  in  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  applied  in  all  countries  is  a 
stratified  multi-stage,  random  (probability)  one.  In  each 
country, the sample frame is first stratified by NUTS regions 
and within each region by a measure of urbanity (DEGURBA). 
The number of sample points selected in each strata reflects 
the stratum population 15+. At the second stage sampling 
points were drawn with probability proportional to their 0+ 
population size from within each stratum. The samples 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 areas1.   

In  each  of  the  selected  sampling  points,  a  starting 
coordinate was drawn at random and a reverse geo-coding 
tool used to identify the closest address to the coordinate. 
This address was the starting address for the random walk. 
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.  The  approach  to  the  random  selection  was 
conditional  on  the  household  size.  By  way  of  example  for 
households with two 15+ members the script was used to 
select  either  the  informant  (person  responding  to  the 
screener questionnaire) or the other eligible member in the 
household. 

TS1 

Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 
Technical Specifications 

TS2 

Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 
Technical Specifications 

Interviewing mode per country 

Interviews were conducted through face-to-face interviews, 
either physically in people's homes or through remote video 
interaction in the appropriate national language. Interviews 
with remote video interaction (“online face-to-face” or CAVI, 
Computer Assisted Video Interviewing, were conducted only 
in  Czechia,  Denmark,  Malta,  Netherlands,  Finland  and 
Sweden).  

TS3 

Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 
Technical Specifications 

Response rates 

For  each  country  a  comparison  between  the  responding 
sample and the universe (i.e. the overall population in the 
country)  is  carried  out.  Weights  are  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 is made to the individual country 
weights,  weighting  them  up  or  down  to  reflect  their  15+ 
population as a proportion of the EU 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. For wave 102.1 
of the EUROBAROMETER survey, the response rates for the 
EU27 countries, calculated by Verian (former Kantar Public), 
are:   

TS4 

Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 
Technical Specifications 

Margins of error 

Readers are reminded that survey results are estimations, 
the  accuracy  of  which,  everything  being  equal,  rests  upon 
the  sample  size  and  upon  the  observed  percentage.  With 
samples  of  about  1,000  interviews,  the  real  percentages 
vary within the following confidence limits: 

TS5 

Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 
Questionnaire 

Questionnaire 

Q1  In everyday life, we
 have to deal with many 
issues,  where  we  feel  more  or  less 
different 
<u>informed</u>.  For  each  of  the  following,  please 
indicate whether you are …

(READ OUT – ONE ANSWER PER LINE) 

Very 
well 
informed 

Moderately 
well-
informed 

Poorly 
informed 

Don’t 
know 

1 

2 

3 

4 

New medical discoveries 

New  scientific  discoveries  and  technological 
developments 

Sports news 

Culture and arts 

Politics 

Environmental  problems  including  climate 
change 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

3 QU 

EB95.2 Q3 MODIFIED 

Q2a 
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. 

(SHOW SCREEN – READ OUT – ROTATE – MAX. 2 ANSWERS) 

Television, on a TV set or via the internet 

Newspapers, either online or in print  

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

Magazines, either online or in print  

Radio, including podcasts  

Books, either in print or e-books  

Online  social  networks  and  blogs  (e.g.  video 
hosting websites) 

Scientific journals, either online or in print 

Other (SPONTANEOUS) 

You  do  not 
developments 
(SPONTANEOUS) 

look  for 
in  science  and 

information  about 
technology 

11 

Don’t know 

0.5QU  EB95.2 QA4a MODIFIED

Q1 

And  now,  please  choose  the  source  that  you 

Q2b 
use the least. 

(SHOW  SCREEN  –  READ  OUT  –  ROTATE  –  ONE  ANSWER 
ONLY) (PRESENT ONLY THE ITEMS NOT SELECTED IN Q2a—
IF  RESPONDENT  ANSWERED  ITEM  10  AT  Q2a  THEN  SKIP 
Q2b) 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

Television, on a TV set or via the internet 

Newspapers, either online or in print  

Online encyclopaedias e.g. Wikipedia  

Magazines, either online or in print  

Radio, including podcasts  

Books, either in print or e-books  

Online  social  networks  and  blogs  (e.g.  video 
hosting websites) 

Scientific journals, either online or in print 

Other (SPONTANEOUS) 

You  do  not 
developments 
(SPONTANEOUS) 

look  for 
in  science  and 

information  about 
technology 

11 

Don’t know 

0.5QU  EB95.2 QA4b MODIFIED 

Q3 
Among the following categories of people and 
organisations, which are the best qualified to explain 
technological 
impact  of 
the 
developments on society? 

scientific  and 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

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 

Online encyclopaedias e.g. Wikipedia 

(SHOW SCREEN – READ OUT – ROTATE – MAX. 3 ANSWERS) 

Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 
Questionnaire 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

The [NATIONALITY] government 

The military 

General practitioners and specialist doctors 

Writers and intellectuals 

Family and friends  

The European Union 

Other (SPONTANEOUS) 

None (SPONTANEOUS) 

Don’t know 

1QU 

EB95.2 Q5 

Do  you  think  that  the  overall  influence  of 

Q4 
science and technology on society is …? 

Q6a 
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 
negative or no effect on our way of life in the next 
20 years? 

(READ OUT – ROTATE – ONE ANSWER PER LINE) 

Very 
positive 
effect 

Fairly 
positive 
effect 

Fairly 
negative 
effect 

Very 
negative 
effect 

No 
effect 

Don’t 
know 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1  Renewable energies (N) 

2 

Information and communication Technology  

3  Brain and cognitive enhancement  

4  Vaccines and combatting infectious diseases  

(READ OUT – ONE ANSWER ONLY) 

5  Biotechnology and genetic engineering 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

Very positive 

Fairly positive 

Fairly negative 

Very negative 

Don’t know 

1QU 

EB95.2 Q6 

What level of public involvement do you think 
Q5 
is  appropriate  when  it  comes  to  decisions  about 
science and technology? 

(SHOW SCREEN – READ OUT – ONE ANSWER ONLY) 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

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) 

Don’t know 

1QU 

EB95.2 Q7 

6  Space exploration  

7  Nanotechnology 

8  Nuclear energy for energy production  

9  Artificial Intelligence  

4.5QU  EB95.2 Q8a MODIFIED 

Q6b 
In  the  coming  years,  which  of  the  following 
areas do you think will be affected most by research 
and innovation?   

(SHOW  SCREEN  –  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  

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

Q2 

 
 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 
Questionnaire 

14 

Other (SPONTANEOUS)  

15 

Don’t know 

1QU 

EB95.2 Q8b 

Q7 
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) 

Strongl
y agree 

Tend 
to 
agree 

Neither 
agree 
nor 
disagree 

Tend 
to 
disag
ree 

Strongly 
disagree 

Don’t 
know 

1  Science  and  technology  make  our  lives  easier, 

healthier and more comfortable 

2  Science  prepares  the  younger  generation  to  act  as 

well-informed citizens 

3  Thanks to scientific and technological advances, the 

Earth’s natural resources will be inexhaustible 

4  Thanks to science and technology, there will be more 

opportunities for future generations 

5  Artificial intelligence and automation will create more 

jobs than they will eliminate 

6  The  applications  of  science  and  technology  can 

threaten human rights 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7  Science makes our ways of life change too fast 

1  Science is so complicated that you do not understand 

8  Because of their knowledge, scientists have a power 

that makes them dangerous 

4QU 

EB95.2 Q10 MODIFIED 

Q9 
To what extent do you agree or disagree with 
the following statements regarding scientists today? 

(READ OUT – ROTATE – ONE ANSWER PER LINE) 

Totally 
agree 

Tend 
to 
agree 

Neither 
agree 
nor 
disagree 

Tend 
to 
disag
ree 

Totally 
disagree 

Don’t 
know 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1  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 

2  Scientists only look at very specific issues and do not 
consider  problems  from  a  wider  social  perspective 
(M) 

3  Nowadays,  the  problems  we  are  facing  are  so 
complex  that  scientists  are  no  longer  able  to 
understand them 

4 

5 

(split  A)  Scientists  should  not  intervene  in  political 
debate when decisions ignore scientific evidence 

(Split B) Scientists should intervene in political debate 
to ensure that decisions take into account scientific 
evidence 

2QU 

EB95.2Q11 MODIFIED 

much about it (M) 

2 

In  your  daily life,  it  is  not  important  to  know  about 
science (M) 

3  Scientists spend sufficient time meeting people like 

you to explain their work (M) 

4  You  would  like  to  learn  more  about  scientific 
developments  in  places  like  town  halls,  museums, 
libraries and educational institutions (M) 

5  The  results  of  publicly  funded  research,  such  as 
scientific articles and data, should be made available 
online free of charge  

6  Young people’s interest in science is essential for our 

future prosperity 

7  There should be no limit to what science is allowed 

to investigate  

8  New  inventions  will  always  be  found  to  counteract 
any  harmful  consequences  of  scientific  and 
technological development  

4QU 

EB95.2 Q9 MODIFIED 

The  following  are  some  statements  that 
Q8 
people have made about science and technology. For 
each  statement,  please  indicate  to  what  extent  you 
agree or disagree. 

(SHOW SCREEN – READ OUT – ROTATE – ONE ANSWER PER 
LINE) 

Totally 
agree 

Tend 
to 
agree 

Neither 
agree 
nor 
disagree 

Tend 
to 
disag
ree 

Totally 
disagree 

Don’t 
know 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Q3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 
Questionnaire 

Q10a  The following is a list of characteristics that 
can  be  associated  with  scientists  today.  For  each 
characteristic, indicate if you think it describes well 
or describes them badly. 

(READ OUT – RANDOMISE – ONE ANSWER PER LINE) 

Describes 
well 

Describes 
badly 

Don’t know 

1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

Reliable  

Open to engage with citizens (N) 

Narrow minded 

Bad at communicating  

Honest  

Arrogant 

Altruistic  

Immoral  

Intelligent  

10 

Know best what is good for people 

5QU 

EB95.2 Q12a MODIFIED 

Q10b  Please  choose  the  three  qualities  that  you 
think scientists should have. 

(SHOW SCREEN – READ OUT – ROTATE – MAX. 3 ANSWERS) 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

Reliability 

Ability to work with citizens (M) 

Open mindedness 

Communication skills  

Honesty  

Modesty  

Altruism  

Morality 

Intelligence 

Knowledge of what is good for people 

Other (SPONTANEOUS) 

Don’t know 

Q11 
You will be shown a series of statement sets. 
For each set, which statement comes closest to your 
point of view? 

(SHOW SCREEN – READ OUT – ROTATE) 

Q11a 

1 

2 

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 

3 

Don’t know 

Q11b 

1 

2 

3 

Q11c 

1 

2 

Science  and 
regulated by the government  

technology  should  be 

tightly 

Science  and  technology  should  be  allowed  to 
operate freely in the marketplace  

Don’t know 

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 
new 
scientific 
technologies  

discoveries 

develop 

and 

3 

Don’t know 

Q11d 

1 

2 

3 

Q11e 

1 

2 

3 

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 

Don’t know  

The government should make private companies 
tackle climate change  

We should leave it to private companies to decide 
whether to tackle climate change  

Don’t know 

1QU 

EB95.2 Q12b MODIFIED 

5QU 

EB95.2 Q13 

Q4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 
Questionnaire 

And now, a few questions on how you engage 

Q12 
with science and technology issues. Do you…? 

power, biotechnology, the environment or climate 
change 

(READ OUT – ROTATE – ONE ANSWER PER LINE) 

Yes, 
regularly 

Yes, 
occasionally 

No, 
never 

Don’t 
know 

No, 
hardly 
ever 
(M) 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

Talk  about  science  and  technology-related  issues 
with family or friends 

Watch  documentaries,  or 
read  science  and 
technology-related publications, magazines books 
or podcasts (M) 

Visit science and technology museums 

Sign  petitions  or  join  demonstrations  on  science 
and  technology  matters  such  as  nuclear  power, 
biotechnology, the environment or climate change 

Attend  public  meetings  or  debates  about  science 
and technology 

Contact public authorities or political leaders about 
science and technology-related issues 

Provide personal data for scientific research 

Take part in clinical trials 

take  part 

in  scientific  projects  by 
Actively 
developing  research  questions,  collecting  data, 
discussing the findings with others, etc. 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

4.5QU  EB73.1 MODIFIED 

Q13 
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. 

(SHOW  SCREEN  –  READ  OUT  –  ROTATE  –  MULTIPLE 
ANSWERS POSSIBLE) 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

Talking about science or technology-related issues 
with family or friends 

Watching  documentaries,  or  read  science  and 
technology-related  publications,  magazines  or 
books, podcasts (M) 

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 

Q5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

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 

10 

Taking part in clinical trials 

11 

12 

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. 

13 

Other (SPONTANEOUS) 

14 

None (SPONTANEOUS) 

15 

Don’t know 

1QU 

EB95.2 Q15 MODIFIED 

Q14 
Sometimes people find it difficult to engage 
with science and technology. Which of the following, 
if any, are the main barriers for you? 

(SHOW  SCREEN  –  READ  OUT  –  ROTATE  –  MULTIPLE 
ANSWERS POSSIBLE) 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

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) 

 
 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 
Questionnaire 

10 

11 

None (SPONTANEOUS) 

Don’t know  

2 

improve business profits and the economy 

3  help ensure we live in a fairer and more equal society 

1QU 

EB95.2 Q16 

1.5QU  EB95.2 Q18 MODIFIED 

How  strongly  do  you  agree  or  disagree  with 

Q15 
each of the following statements? 

(SHOW SCREEN – READ OUT – ROTATE – ONE ANSWER PER 
LINE) 

Strongl
y agree 

Tend 
to 
agree 

Neither 
agree 
nor 
disagree 

Tend 
to 
disag
ree 

Strongly 
disagree 

Don’t 
know 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1  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  

2  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 

3  Science  and  technology  could  be  used  to  help 
improve the environment and tackle climate change, 
but  in  practice  they  mostly  help  companies  make 
money 

4  Science and technology should consider the needs of 
all groups of people when developing new solutions 
and products 

5 

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

6  We  have  no  option  but  to  trust  those  governing 

science and technology 

3QU 

EB95.2 Q17 MODIFIED 

Q16 
How  strongly  do  you  agree  or  disagree  with 
each of the following statements? Gender equality in 
the science and technology workforce would… 

(READ  OUT  –  ROTATE  –  ITEM  1  ALWAYS  ASKED  IN  FIRST 
PLACE – ONE ANSWER PER LINE) 

Strongl
y agree 

Tend 
to 
agree 

Neither 
agree 
nor 
disagree 

Tend 
to 
disag
ree 

Strongly 
disagree 

Don’t 
know 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

improve the outcomes of science and technology 

Q17 
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.  

(READ  OUT  –  ROTATE,  EXCEPT  ITEM  8  WHICH  SHOULD  BE 
ALWAYS FIXED – ONE ANSWER PER LINE) 

True 

1 

False 

Don’t know 

2 

3 

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 

Human  beings,  as  we  know  them  today, 
developed from earlier species of animals 

Viruses  have  been  produced  in  government 
laboratories to control our freedom (fixed) 

The cure for cancer exists but is hidden from the 
public by commercial interests 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

Climate change is for the most part caused by 
natural cycles rather than human activities 

5QU 

EB95.2 Q20 

Q18  Which  of  the  following  should  be  the  main 
responsible  for  ensuring  research  security 
in 
research 
collaboration 
international 
institutions? 

among 

(SHOW SCREEN – READ OUT – ONE ANSWER ONLY) 

1 

2 

3 

4 

Governments 

Funding  agencies  (e.g.,  EU  agencies,  national 
research councils) 

Research 
laboratories) 

institutions 

(e.g., 

universities, 

Don’t know 

1QU 

NEW 

Q6 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 557 
European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology 
Questionnaire 

QB21  To what extent do you agree or disagree with 
the following statement: “AI used in science advances 
scientific  discoveries  that  will  lead  to  solutions  to 
major challenges such as climate change and serious 
diseases”?    

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1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Totally agree  

Tend to agree  

Neither agree nor disagree  

Tend to disagree  

Totally disagree  

Don’t know 

1QU 

NEW 

Q19Intro 
about Artificial Intelligence, also known as AI.  

We will now ask you several questions 

Artificial  Intelligence  refers  to  computer  systems 
capable  of  performing  tasks  that  typically  require 
human  intelligence.  It  is  used,  for  instance,  in 
driverless  cars  or  drones,  in  healthcare  to  improve 
medical diagnoses, and in various other applications 
such as answering questions and offering support to 
users on websites or call centres. 

(READ OUT) 

How  well  informed  do  you  feel  about  the 

Q19 
following? 

(READ OUT – ROTATE – ONE ANSWER PER LINE) 

Well 
informed 

Somewhat 
well 
informed 

Not very 
well 
informed 

Not well 
informed 
at all 

Don’t 
know 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

1 

2 

The potential risks of using AI in scientific work 

The potential benefits of using AI in scientific work 

1QU 

NEW 

To  what  extent  do  you  trust  scientific 
Q20 
research  and  discoveries  that  are  created  with  the 
help of artificial intelligence (AI)? 

(SHOW SCREEN – READ OUT – ONE ANSWER ONLY) 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Fully trust 

Tend to trust 

Neither trust nor distrust 

Tend to distrust 

Fully distrust 

Don’t know 

1QU 

NEW 

Q7