Flash Eurobarometer 239 (Young people and science)

Attitudes of young people towards science.<br>Topics: interest in each of the following topics: sports, politics, science and technology, economics, culture and entertainment; interest in each of the following subjects: information and communication technologies, earth and environment, universe, medical discoveries, new inventions and technologies; attitude towards selected statements on science and technology: science brings more benefits than harm, help eliminate hunger and poverty around the world, technology creates more jobs than it eliminates, science is too much influenced by profit, make lives healthier and more comfortable; attitude towards the following statements on the purpose of scientific research: should above all serve the development of knowledge, should above all serve economic development, should above all serve businesses and enterprises; awareness about innovations in the following areas of research: genetically modified food, nanotechnology, nuclear energy, mobile phones, human embryo research, brain research, computer and video surveillance techniques; attitude towards risks and advantages of the aforementioned research areas; most effective measures in tackling green-house effect and global warming; expected development in the following areas in the next twenty years in the own country: food quality, quality of air in cities, health, water quality, communication between people; assessment of the health risks of: air pollution caused by cars, pesticides used in plant production, genetically modified foods, fertilizers in underground water, vicinity of nuclear power plants, use of mobile phones, vicinity of high tension power lines, vicinity of chemical plants, new epidemics; preferred authorities to have biggest influence on decisions with regard to financing research: scientific community, government, citizens, private enterprises, research organisations, European Union, media; attitude towards the following statements on scientists: devoted to the good of humanity, dangerous power due to their knowledge; considerations to take up studies in the following fields: natural sciences, mathematics, engineering, biology or medicine, social sciences or humanities, economics; reasons for not taking up studies in the aforementioned fields; preferred kind of scientific profession: researcher in public sector, teacher, researcher in private sector, engineer, technician, health professional; attitude towards selected statements: young people’s interest in science is essential for future prosperity, girls and young women should be encouraged to take up careers in science, science classes at school are not appealing, national government should spend more money on scientific research, EU should spend more money on scientific research, need for better cooperation between member states and EU.

Demography: sex; age; highest completed level of full time education; full time student; occupation of main income earner in the household; professional position of main income earner in the household; type of community.

Additionally coded was: respondent ID; interviewer ID; language of the interview; country; date of interview; time of the beginning of the interview; duration of the interview; type of phone line; region; weighting factor.