Four out of ten Swedes agree that Sweden should support research that could potentially lead to Nobel prizes. Two out of ten disagree completely. These are two results from the latest barometer on the public’s opinion of science and research from VA (Public and Science).
77 per cent have great or very great trust in researchers from universities. This indicates a return to the high levels of confidence seen in the years 2008-2009, before a marked drop to 63 per cent in 2010. For researchers working at companies, the percentage is 51 per cent, representing an increase of 6 percentage points on the previous year.
One possible explanation for last year’s lower level of confidence in academic researchers is the controversy around “Climategate” and the investigations by the United Nations climate panel, the IPCC, which was much debated during the autumn months immediately before the 2011 barometer was carried out.
– Confidence levels appear to fluctuate quite considerably. However seen over a ten year period, confidence levels in academic researchers have varied around an average of 73 per cent, says Karin Hermansson, Director of Research and Administration at VA.
The most important reason given by those interviewed for lower trust in researchers is that researchers follow non-scientific interests in the course of their research. Examples given were business or political interests. The second reason was that researchers sometimes fabricate results, and the third that researchers at times create panic and alarm about something which later turns out to be safe.
Compared to other countries, trust in research and researchers is strong in Sweden. Swedes are also more interested in science compared to the average European. Only 29 per cent of Swedes agree that science and technology are too difficult for most people to understand, a figure that has reduced considerably since 2002 when it was 51 per cent.
Highly educated people and the young have greater trust in research. Compared with other groups, they are also less likely to consider science and technology too difficult to understand. Earlier VA studies have shown that socio-economic factors also play a role when it comes to attitudes towards science and researchers, says Karin Hermansson.
Three out of ten Swedes think that researchers are often good at explaining their results in an understandable way to the public. Two out of ten disagree completely.
– Everyone should have the opportunity to discuss and influence the direction research is taking. In order for this to happen, people need knowledge about what researchers do and how they work. Therefore we exhort the government to ensure that researchers who communicate and work together with the wider society are recognised, rewarded and supported better than they are today, says Cissi Askwall, Secretary General of VA.
VA, with assistance from Novus Opinion, carried out telephone interviews with a representative sample of the Swedish population aged 16 and over. This barometer is the 10th such survey since 2002 and involved 1.003 interviewees. The VA barometer is made possible through the support of Swedish research funding bodies FAS, Formas, the Swedish Research Council and VINNOVA. For more information, please see the website or contact
Karin Hermansson, Director of Administration and Research VA, + 46 70-867 66 77
Cissi Askwall, Secretary General VA, + 46 70-626 44 74
High definition photographs for publication are available here.
VA (Public & Science) is a Swedish association which promotes dialogue and openness between society – especially young people – and researchers. The organisation works to stimulate new forms of dialogue around topics that engage people. VA also researches the relationship between science and society through opinion polls and other studies. There are over 70 members of VA including NGOs, associations, public authorities, institutes, companies, universities and individuals. For more information see www.v-a.se.
