How do French people perceive science? Can we believe what
the researchers tell us? These are the questions that Ipsos asked more
than 1,000 people, for an exclusive survey for La Recherche and the newspaper
Le Monde.
Discover exclusively the first results of this survey presented at
the Science, Research and Society forum at the Collège de France, with Aline
Richard, editorial director of La Recherche, Hervé Morin, a science journalist at
Le Monde, Sylvane Casademont, director Cabinet of the General Directorate for
Research and Innovation, Ministry of Higher Education and Research, Hervé Le
Bras, demographer, mathematician, and historian, as well as Fabien Calvo,
director of the Aviesan Cancer Institute.
Science and truth, is it compatible?
The French have confidence in science…
The survey shows that, overall, the French rely on science to
solve the problems we face. And this, even in the long term, since 62%
think that it will improve the daily lives of future generations.
And if 77% think that we are becoming too dependent on advances in
science and new technologies, 9 out of 10 French people believe that they have
a positive impact on their lives.
… Especially in France…
France seems to benefit from a good reputation in the field of
science. Respondents believe that the scientific dynamism in our country
is among the best in the world. They place France in second position just
behind the United States. A result which corresponds with their visions of
science as the subjects best taught in school.
But even if they lead to the most interesting and fulfilling
professions, scientific studies are not valued enough.
… But seem suspicious of scientists
73% of French people consider it normal for scientists to make a
mistake. But 46% think that if they disagree with each other, it is
because of pressure from those who finance them.
Worse, 62% believe that the independence of researchers is
questioned, especially on sensitive (and topical!) Questions such as GMOs and
nuclear.
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