Perception of science and technology: not everything is gold

2017/12/13 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Etika
• Giza zientziak

The Basque Government has just published a report on the opinion of the Basque population on science and technology. According to him, in the last five years, interest in these issues has grown. In fact, on a scale of 1 to 5, the result of 2012 was 3, as in 2006, and now 3.4. In this way, they arouse greater interest than sport (3.3 in 2012 and has not changed since then) and equates with cinema, art and culture.

However, other areas attract even more interest. Above all, education, food and consumption (both with 3.9), medicine and health, the environment and ecology (both with 3.8). It should be noted that all these last areas can be understood internally in science and technology, but in this type of studies they are distinguished like this.

By age, the youngest are those who are most interested in science and technology (18-29 years), while men are the most interested in gender. Even asking to what extent they are informed, men consider that they are better informed than women.

Aside from their own interests, people in general value the work of scientists very well. This is the most valued after doctors. It is followed by professors, engineers, judges, businessmen, journalists... From the bottom up, the worst valued are politicians, followed by religious and athletes. In addition, in the last five years, the assessment of scientists has increased. It is very well seen from other aspects: people believe it is attractive to young people and enriching to self. Yes, they recognize that it has little social recognition and is poorly paid economically.

Lights and shadows

The majority say that the benefits of science and technology are greater than the damage, but when asked about the technologies that generate debate, the scale inclines towards damage. This is the case of cloning, the growth of genetically modified organisms, nuclear energy or fraquing. In the latter, it should be noted that 20% do not know what it is and many others (17%) have not.

The CAPV population believes that it is better to put these issues into the hands of experts, but in recent years the percentage of people who have responded has decreased. However, in the development of laws and rules, values are as important as scientific knowledge. And they are optimistic when asked about the potentialities of science and technology, since one in ten is totally in agreement and another third quite according to the following sentence: "Science and technology will solve many of the world's great problems, such as climate change, hunger, etc. ".

However, the difference is that almost three out of ten agree that much of the scientific research is not reliable, but depends on private funding. But they do not believe that science and technology are a source of risk to our society.

In this study they have also been asked about basic scientific knowledge, pseudosciences and beliefs, among other things, and where to improve. For example, nearly two in ten still believe that the first humans and dinosaurs lived at the same time; and three believe that antibiotics cure infections caused by viruses and bacteria. For the moment, knowledge is not equivalent to interest.