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 Headlines -  Science in society - Public opinion

Last Update: 17-06-13

Results: 1-10 of 10  Page(s) 1 of 1 

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Research shows that EU affairs hold little sway over national elections. © Andrew Dunn
Europe has spent the past 50 years earnestly constructing a single political identity. A single economic zone has been created, a single currency instituted, and a European Union Minister of Foreign Affairs drafted into the yet-to-be ratified constitution. So as progress is being made towards a Europe-wide system of governance, how well are citizens’ views being taken into consideration to guide that governance? How good are national political parties at ‘europeanising’ their platforms? Well, not very, according to a collaborative research project funded by the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council and undertaken by social scientists there and in Germany. The project has surveyed both traditionally Eurosceptic countries and those more sympathetic to the EU, and found that in both political parties rarely consider EU affairs a priority for their constituents.
18-05-07


A special edition of DG Research’s quarterly was dedicated to European attitudes on research. © Matt+
The European Commission's DG Research has launched a call for project proposals aimed at gathering data and providing an analysis on how European citizens perceive the science and research programmes offered to them on TV and radio. The call, which is set to close on 23 May, comes under the Science in Society rubric in the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) and is part of the new ambitious audiovisual policy of the Research Department. This call will fund research investigating the ways the general public in Europe perceives, enjoys or dislikes current audiovisual science programmes. Findings will be broken down according to subjects' nationality and socio-economical background, as well as their expectations in this area.
19-02-07


Oil companies are increasingly interested in their impacts on the environment. © Michael Kauffmann
A recent survey of European oil companies found that environmental concerns are at the top of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy lists. The findings are based on replies to a survey of nine oil companies operating in Europe conducted by the Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI) in Norway in cooperation with the Stockholm Environmental Institute. The survey is part of a wider EU-financed project investigating CSR attitudes in Europe. Responses to the survey show that oil companies subject themselves to a number of different CSR protocols, but find that self-imposed, ‘company specific' instruments to be most effective.
12-02-07


The French 'no' vote on the constitution was partly due to low confidence in public accountability. © Trainth
Public accountability has long been considered a cornerstone of European societies. Access to public officials' records and publicly traded companies' bank statements is considered such an ordinary concept that we hardly give it much thought. Yet, with today's overlapping layers of government coupled with a near-constant flow of information through numerous channels of communication some European researchers wondered what the traditional concept of public accountability means for contemporary Europe. Indeed, the rejection of the EU constitution was due in part to a lack of confidence in European public officials. For a closer look at such issues, the EU funded PubAcc, an FP6 project aimed at understanding public accountability within a contemporary context.
19-12-06


Scientific peer review reviewed for best practice. © Matt+
Has the traditional procedure of scientific peer review reached the level of its own incompetence? That was the focus of a recent conference in Prague organised by the European Science Foundation (ESF), the Czech Science Foundation (GACR), and the European Heads of Research Councils (EuroHORCs). Attendees ultimately decided that peer review is still the best method for lending credibility to research results, but agreed there is room for improvement. The meeting of European and other international experts concluded with calls for a single international platform of review.
16-11-06


A European identity is popular with the kids. © Matt+
More and more EU citizens are likely to include the idea of ‘Europeanness' in describing their identity. Austrian demographers studying Eurobarometer (EB) statistics from between 1996 and 2004 found that younger people are more likely than older generations to claim, at least partially, a ‘European' identity in addition to their national one. So despite concerns that the European project has embarked on an irreversible slide after French and Dutch ‘No' votes, young people like the idea of being European.
10-11-06


Patents remain a wrinkle for international cooperation. © European Communities
The European Commission recently released a draft report detailing an online public consultation regarding publicly funded international research programs.
26-09-06


Counting the costs: UK researchers see little added value in public engagement unless it counts for their career.
Scientists in UK universities are struggling to meet all the demands of a modern ‘research-driven' culture, according to a new study commissioned by the Royal Society. And communicating their work to the public – as urged by their governments and the EU alike – is not their main priority, they say. 
01-08-06


Hands up who thinks biotech can improve your quality of life! © PhotoDisc
As knowledge of the field improves, Europeans are warming to biotechnology and one in two express confidence that it will improve their quality of life. But according to the latest Eurobaromter survey, trust in ‘emerging' areas, such as genetically modified food, remains on the low side.
14-07-06


Europeans put quite a bit faith in their food quality and safety. © PhotoDisc
For most people, eating is an everyday activity which should not really pose any threat. But past experience in Europe has shown this cannot be taken for granted. Efforts by the European Union to improve food safety and quality are paying off, suggests a recent European opinion survey of ‘Risk Issues' related to food. The majority of citizens believe the EU is doing a good job in the area of food safety, but many still want to see changes.
01-03-06



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Last update: 17-06-13 | Top