(Barcelona, December 4, 2007; from our director)
While citizens of countries that were part of the European Union (EU) before 2004 are fully open toscientific information in the media, with more than 62% “very interested” in scientific research, this percentage falls to only 38% among the public opinion of the Member States that joined the EU as of that date. National differences range from 80% in Sweden to just 24% in Bulgaria.
This is one of the most remarkable results of thenew Eurobarometer on science in the European media. The macro-survey also shows great differences in the foci and areas of interest in scientific information, with the new states joining the EU much more interested in technology and space, compared to“The Twelve pre-2004”(among which is Spain), withhigher levels of interest in medical sciences, environment and energy.
The study has been made public in theFirst European Forum on Science Journalism, which was held in Barcelona yesterday and today. A newEuropean Guide for the Training of Science Journalists, as well as two large surveys on the attitudes of scientists and science journalists about the practices, challenges and opportunities that both find in their daily work.
The Spanish organization of the event was in charge of the Observatory of Scientific Communication of the Pompeu Fabra University, directed by Vladimir de Semir, columnist of VERY INTERESTING, and is part of the activities ofBarcelona Year of Science 2007.
For more information and the full text of the studies and surveys:
http://ec.europa.eu/research/conferences/2007/bcn2007/index_en.htm
