Brussels, 10/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - On invitation from the Research Council of last 26 June, the European Commission adopted a Communication on a Science and society action plan, which is centred on three axis: - Promote scientific education and culture in Europe; - develop scientific policies closer to the citizens; - place a responsible science at the heart of policies. This plan includes 38 actions that will be undertaken as of 2002. The Commission intends to act as a catalyst by using all means implemented at the Community level. However, it underlines that results should only be expected to the extent that Member States themselves invest in a joint effort co-ordinated alongside the Commission. Among the actions envisaged are: - the forming of a think tanks with journalists on the best way to ensure an effective sharing of scientific information, for example by stimulating the creation of a European scientific press agency; - the creation of a forum including scientists and journalists; - the creation of a scientific journalism prize; - support for the creation of products for wider audiences (audio-visual and publications); - translation possibilities for better products to be communicated to a wider audience; - a better co-ordination of the European week for science; - support for the development of European courses on science and technology; - specific actions in the context of the Socrates programmes; - the creation of a regular and highly visible event such as a European Convention for science (envisaged for 2004); - the holding of local and regional forums "science and society"; - the organisation of meetings with civil society in the form of public hearings, conferences or interactive electronic forums; - the creation of a European platform gathering together the networks of female scientists and organisation with the aim of ensuring the equality of the sexes in scientific research; - the organisation of an international dialogue on ethical principals.
This action plan should contribute towards improving the information of citizens and reducing the gap, which to frequently continues separate it from scientific reality as shown by an opinion poll undertaken, in the framework of the Eurobarometer, with 16,029 persons between 10 May and 15 June 2001 in fifteen Member States. The Europeans often consider themselves badly informed on science and technology (this is the case for two thirds of them), while 45.3% state an interest in the subject. The countries which show the highest percentages of interests for science and technology are mainly those within which the education systems produce the most qualified in higher education: Sweden (64.3% stated interest), Denmark (60.9%), The Netherlands (58.9%) and France (54%). Two fields attract, as a priority, the scientific interest of Europeans: medicine (60.3%) and the environment (51.6%). To learn, they prefer to watch television programmes than to read articles on the subject (66.4%), but that also feel that most journalists working on scientific subjects do not have the necessary knowledge or training (53.3%). The scientific knowledge of Europeans has not changed greatly since the last poll in 1992 with one exception: 27.1% of people questioned knew at the time that antibiotics are without effect against virus, while it is now that case for 39.7% of them. They continue to be 48.1% to believe that the genes of the father determine whether the baby is a boy or a girl. Many Europeans have the feeling of "understanding" topical subjects such as mad cow disease (76.6%), but at the same time 49.2% support the assertion according to which BSE is due to the adding of hormones to animal feed. This error is clearly less common in Denmark, Finland and Sweden. The perception of science remains positive, but we no longer see that science and technology may constitute absolute cures to a series of problems. Thus, 52% of Europeans no longer believe that science may help eliminate poverty and famine in the world. Europeans are also very divided over the issue of scientific responsibility: the proposal according to which, scientists are responsible for negative uses that others create for their discoveries raises nearly as much agreement (42.8%) as disagreement (42.3%). 80.3% of Europeans adhere to the idea according to which authorities should formally force scientists to respect ethical standards. In terms of genetically modified organisms (GMO), the most common attitude (94.6%) is a demand for choice and for information. The disillusionment of youth towards scientific studies or careers is attributed firstly to a lack on interest in these studies (59.5%), then to the difficulty of these subjects (55%). A majority of Europeans (56.2%) recognise the importance of the Internet for the development of new commercial activities, but only 39.4% believe that the web will improve quality of life. Finally, only 59.4% of Italians agree with encouraging women to undertake scientific studies and careers, while 70.8% of Europeans are in favour of a greater presence of women in the scientific community.