A survey shows that a majority of French men and women find it difficult to trust scientists, and that they often even trust their own opinion more. But this same poll also shows that respondents believe in the need for science.
The interaction between science and society has rarely been so much at the heart of public debate, between the pandemic since the start of 2020 and the intensification of the ecological challenge. But it just so happens that relations between scientists and the “general public” are not easy. An Ispsos / Institut Sapiens survey of October 19, 2022, carried out among 1,000 French men and women, points to a lack of confidence.
Personal opinion before that of a scientist?
The strength of the scientific word seems challenged by personal opinion. Half of respondents consider their own judgment to be equivalent to that of a scientist — and 40% say trust their personal experience more than scientists’ explanations of whether a fact is scientifically true or false “. French respondents are more likely to trust their relatives rather than scientific authorities (and mistrust is even stronger when it comes to science in the media: 56% do not trust).
The question of the independence of science seems to particularly worry the French. More than half (56%) of respondents believe that scientists ” are not independent and allow themselves to be influenced by pressure groups “. The concern is particularly directed towards the ability of scientists to be ” capable of independence in the face of government or private companies.
Similarly, the problem seems to be mistrust on the issue of transparency. Half of French people have doubts about the disposition of scientists to be transparent in the nuclear field – a confidence however on the increase since the last survey – and in biotechnologies or the climate. In a few very specific areas, confidence is higher: this is the case for vaccines (63%) and renewable energies (65%).
This inevitably has consequences on the apprehension of what is, or is not, fake news. According to the survey, only 51% of French people would know that Didier Raoult was wrong when he said that hydroxychloroquine was effective against covid. In terms of the environment, 30% of French people believe that there is no scientific consensus on the human origin of global warming (although this consensus is more than proven).
Hope is in science: the positive points to take away from this survey
However, this survey takes a very long time to draw up a fully pessimistic conclusion on the relationship between science and society. On the contrary: for 3/4 of the French people questioned, ” science and technology are a source of hope in the face of the problems of the future “. And this same proportion is favorable to research in most possible fields – renewable energies, vaccines, viruses, genetics, human health.
Four key figures:
- 72% believe that science can provide solutions to current problems
- 72% even think she is the main answer
- 76% trust public sector researchers to find these solutions
- 68% also trust private researchers
But finding solutions is not seen as improving daily life. Only 56% of respondents believe that future generations will live better than today thanks to science and technology.
A need for science/society trust
The Ipsos / Institut Sapiens survey clearly seems to show that the link between science and the general public is well established. But the problem is none other than trust: the French men and women seem to have trouble identifying which scientists to believe, or even to imagine why the scientific method solidifies certain statements more.
We always come back to the same problem: science must take a better place in the media, both quantitatively and qualitatively, through a more intense and peaceful pedagogy.
