WHILE A majority of Irish people believe science can improve our lives, we have a lower level of interest in scientific issues and feel less well informed than other EU states, according to a Eurobarometer survey.
The survey results, released yesterday by the European Commission office in Dublin, show that efforts by Government to enhance public understanding and interest in science have not achieved levels applying in other states.
The results were “problematic”, according to the commission, because of the need to get younger people interested in pursuing a career in science and engineering.
A sound public understanding of science supports Government efforts to develop a smart economy. Public indifference could bring State investment in research into question.
The survey found that 71 per cent of Irish respondents were interested in science, below the EU average of 79 per cent and well below Cyprus, Luxembourg and Hungary, where more than 90 per cent expressed an interest.
Just 56 per cent of people surveyed here felt they were moderately or well informed about science, compared to 61 per cent on average across Europe.
Some 70 per cent of people in Ireland think science can improve our lives, and 66 per cent thought that it could bring real health benefits. However, these figures are above the EU averages.
The EU’s 2020 strategy was based on improved competitiveness through research, said Research Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, commenting on the survey findings.
While the results showed an awareness of the importance of science “they also show that both politicians – like me – and scientists themselves need to explain better what we are doing and why”.
The Government’s strategy to attract more students into science and technology courses was working, said a spokesman for Minister for Enterprise Batt O’Keeffe. Recent figures showed a 25 per cent jump in acceptances of science and computing courses.
He said the Government was “acutely aware” of the important role that science subjects had to play in developing a smart economy. For that reason the maths curriculum had been improved and the science curriculum was being reformed.
No spokesperson from the Government’s Discover Science and Engineering programme, which seeks to increase interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics among students, teachers and the public, was available for comment yesterday.
The European Commission’s Directorate General for Research Training and Development commissioned the Eurobarometer survey. It polled 26,671 people across the EU.
The full report is available on the Europa website: http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/ archives/ebs/ebs_340_en.pdf