The tendency of public attitudes towards science and technology in Eastern and Central European countries

Abstract

The development of science, technology and innovation is acknowledged to be one of the most important priorities in the EU member countries. In 2010 the aim of the Lisbon strategy was to focus on knowledge economy in the context of research and innovations. In 2001 the program “society and science” has been launched by the EU Research and Development Department; the Program covers the strategies for strengthening the link between science and citizens. In 2007, in the 7th Framework Program for Research and Technological Development the concept “Science and society” turned into a vision “science in society” that aims to support the engagement of society and strengthen reciprocal dialogue between science and civil society. Surveys are carried out systematically in order to study opinions and attitudes of EU society towards science, technology and innovation. Based on the results of surveys it becomes clear in which areas the citizens in Europe desire scientific research to focus on, which areas are the priorities for them and what are their expectations about the potential societal welfare resulting from the development of science, technology and innovation. During 1989-2010, the surveys on public attitudes towards science and technology have been carried out 5 times, among them in 2002, 2005 and 2010 in EU member countries. In 2002 the survey was carried out also in 13 candidate countries; 8 out of these 13 countries became part of the EU in 2004 and furthermore, in 2007 additional 2 countries entered the EU; therefore, the research in 2010 covered all these 10 countries already as EU member states. The aim of the study is to examine if becoming a part of the European Research area and high investments in science and research impact the attitudes of Eastern and Central European society towards science and technology. Totally 10 countries from Eastern and Central Europe have been selected for the survey; these countries have been divided into two blocks. The first block is comprised of countries that became EU members in 2004 (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia) and the second one – countries entering the European Union in 2007 (Bulgaria and Romania). Besides, in the first block the post-soviet countries have been classified as a separate sub-group (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia). We have identified 4 statements used in all 3 surveys carried out in all selected countries in 2002, 2005 and 2010. Based on the results of the surveys, we have examined the attitudes of Eastern and Central European societies towards these 4 identified statements in different timelines: before and after entering the European Union as a member country. Statement 1. Science makes our ways of life change too fast. According to the data from 2010, in all 10 countries more than half, in 4 countries (Bulgaria, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia) majority of the respondents (70% and more) agree with the statement that science is changing our life very rapidly. However, in comparison to Eastern European countries (except Romania), the post-soviet countries (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia) only fewer respondents agreed with the statement. There is a significant variation between countries, including Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Romania. Statement 2. Because of their knowledge, scientists have a power that makes them dangerous. According to the data from 2010, the pessimism towards science is lower than EU average in 6 countries. Besides, the lowest level of agreement has been recorded for this statement in Czech Republic. However, 24% of the respondents did not agree with the statement. In more than half of the respondents the pessimism level has been identified in Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Poland. In comparison to 2005, the pessimism of society like the average EU decreased in 2010 in 5 countries (Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic). It remained unchanged in only one country – Romania. Statement 3. It is not important for me to know about science in my daily life. This statement has been agreed by one third of the respondents in all 10 countries. The EU average indicator equalled to 33%. In 4 countries (Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania) the indicator was even lower. More than half of the respondents from 2 countries (Slovakia and Estonia) agreed with the statement. There is a variation between individual countries. Statement 4. We depend too much on science and not enough on faith. According to the data from 2010, more than half of the respondents in Romania and Bulgaria considered that they are more dependent on science rather than on faith. In all countries except Slovenia the higher indicator than average EU has been recorded. There is also variation when we compare countries within the same block. Therefore, the population in Eastern and Central European and post-soviet countries have mostly positive attitudes towards science, technology and innovation, however well defined tendencies in changing the attitudes before and after becoming an EU member (from 2004 to 2010 for the first block of countries and from 2007 to 2010 for the second block of the countries) can not be identified. One of the main challenges of the science, technology and innovation Policy in Eastern and Central European and post-soviet countries is the strengthening society’s engagement and raising the public awareness in the field of science, technology and innovation.