Scientific skepticism is very high in Austria

The starting point for the initiative to prepare an annual mood report was the more noticeable skepticism that representatives of science and research face in this country, especially in connection with the Covid-19 pandemic or in discussions about climate change. According to EU studies, the phenomenon is particularly pronounced in Austria, but also in Germany. The “Barometer” survey is conducted by the Gallup Institute among 1,500 people to best reflect the entire population.

According to the ‘Science Barometer’ of the Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), the share of people who trust science ‘strongly’ or ‘very strongly’ is 73 percent. This is the same value reported in 2023, as the ÖAW announced on Friday.

Confidence in Germany lower
If you look at the new Austro data collected in the fall, there are certainly differences with Germany, where a similar study was recently conducted: in Germany, the group of people who trust “strongly” or “very strongly” is significantly smaller 55 percent than in this country. The group of people who have little or no confidence in science and research includes five percent in Austria, but nine percent in Germany.

In both Austria and Germany, about a third feel very well informed about the subject. However, significantly more Austrians (28 percent) consider themselves poorly portrayed (Germany: 17 percent).

Small minus among interested parties
When it comes to information about curiosity in scientific matters, the share of people who say they have little or no interest has increased slightly this year from 13 to 16 percent since the Science Barometer premiered in 2022. Two years ago, interest was “very strong” at 25 percent this year; only exactly one-fifth of participants report this.

The pollsters responsible for the survey interpret this slight decline as the result of the sharp increase in attention to science during the pandemic, which will be even more pronounced in 2022. Moreover, Austria was left empty-handed this year when it came to the awarding of the Nobel Prizes. By comparison, in both 2022 and 2023, researchers with a connection to Austria were able to win the coveted prizes in physics – before that there was a decade-long dry spell in the natural sciences.

ÖAW boss: “Three quarters trust, for a quarter we have to fight”
Statements that the public should be better informed about science and research are often answered in the affirmative. “More than half of the Austrian population has a great desire for information about science. A well-assessed level of information improves acceptance and trust for a topic,” says Andrea Fronaschütz, Managing Director of Gallup Austria. There is even more approval from scientists who make a point of explaining their work and scientific connections.

“Three quarters rely on science, for a quarter we have to fight,” ÖAW President Heinz Faßmann said in a press release. The research also shows: “People in Austria want more science communication.”

AI is by no means a subject close to the hearts of Mr and Mrs Austrian
This is also evident when we look at the currently ubiquitous topic of artificial intelligence (AI). In fact, 15 percent say they don’t know enough about the subject to form an opinion. According to the survey, about a third of the population has a ‘somewhat’ or ‘very negative’ view of AI.