Italian citizens are increasingly supportive of research. They have high trust in scientists and an increased interest in science museums and exhibitions.
These are some findings of the new 2010 edition of Science and Society Facts and Figures, edited by Observa – Science and Society.
However there are also less positive findings: according to 63 per cent of respondents, personal connections are more likely to secure a research post than merit. And two thirds of Italians believe that “science and technology are changing our way of life too quickly” and believe the “precautionary principle” should generally be followed.
Massimiano Bucchi, professor in Science, Technology and Society at the University of Trento, commented that these findings point to “an increasing consciousness of the relevance of science which is coupled with ambivalent and critical judgements”.
