Most Europeans think that science is beneficial, but you also have concerns and concerns.

2025/02/11 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Berdintasuna
• Giza zientziak

Most European citizens recognise science as beneficial, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey of European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology. At the same time, however, they want these benefits to be distributed more equitably and are cautious, believing that science and technology can also have adverse effects.

In particular, more than 8 out of 10 citizens (83%) have indicated that, overall, science and technology have a positive impact. Two-thirds (67%) say that science and technology improve people’s lives, making them easier, healthier and more comfortable. In addition, a similar percentage believes that they can contribute to improving the environment and combating climate change.

However, they also point out that the benefits should be distributed more equitably and suspect that they mostly help companies to make money. In the same vein, the overwhelming majority of respondents (80%) believe that the results of publicly funded research should be made available online free of charge.

The answers to several questions highlighted the need for citizens to make science more inclusive: they want the benefits to reach more people and for more people to participate in science. In this regard, when asked about the importance of protecting gender equality in science and technology, 69% believe it would contribute to a fairer and more egalitarian society, while 63% also contribute to improving research results.

Looking at young people, most respondents have stressed that science will have a positive impact on them: 68% say science will create more opportunities for future generations, and 61% say it prepares them to act as well-informed citizens.

When it comes to the use of Artificial Intelligence, half of respondents (50%) say they believe AI can benefit from scientific discoveries related to serious challenges such as climate change and disease. At the same time, however, only 38% of respondents said they trust scientific research and findings generated with the help of AI, while a quarter (25%) said they have no confidence in this type of research. Some 58 per cent also expressed some concern about the potential of scientific applications to threaten human rights.On the other hand, there are questions in which there are significant differences in the answers from one country to another.