Spain stands out from other large European countries for its great enthusiasm for science and its firm confidence in its possibilities.

In the last decade, we Spaniards have learned to talk about scientific and technological issues, which we now deal

with more often and with more knowledge

, especially in the younger generation.

However, we still carry a certain historical complex, which is perceived in the feeling that our country has not given everything it should to science.

Our European neighbors look more fondly at their past, but no one harbors as much hope for the future.

This is shown by the new study on

Scientific Culture in Europe

that has just been prepared by the Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion of the BBVA Foundation.

In all the countries analyzed -

Spain, Germany, France and the United Kingdom

- there is a very positive assessment of science and a wide interest in its advances and novelties.

However, certain

deficiencies persist in the understanding of basic concepts

, ranging from antibiotics to climate change, although the consensus is clear: a vast majority is convinced that science opens the way to a better life.

According to the authors of the research, "the Spanish are among those who express

more favorable general attitudes towards science

and those who have higher expectations about the effects of current scientific developments, from solar energy to artificial intelligence".

In addition, in our country there are "fewer reservations" regarding a possible negative impact of science.

That is, we look more at "the beneficial effects" and less than "its potential side effects."

Trust in the scientific community is "

very high

" in all the countries analysed, but even more so in Spain.

The study, for which a complete survey of

1,500 people in each country

was carried out , has observed a favorable evolution both in knowledge and in attitudes towards science in Spain.

When comparing the results with those of a similar investigation carried out 10 years ago, it is observed that science now interests us more and our level of understanding has approached that of our neighbors.

Asked about the operation of lasers, sunlight, antibiotics or the climate, "the Spanish

tend to be somewhat below the average

," underlines the study.

However, the evolution has been favorable and the distance that separates us has shortened: «The Spanish, in terms of understanding of scientific concepts, are close to the British and French, only clearly below the Germans, who in general they stand out for a greater familiarity with theses and scientific notions”, the authors clarify.

«In recent years, there has been a favorable evolution of scientific culture in Spain.

It is an area of ​​growing interest, of more habitual follow-up and with a presence in the daily conversations of citizens”, they add.

In specialties such as

nanotechnology, biotechnology or genetic engineering

, "which had a significant lack of knowledge a decade ago", the scientific culture of the Spanish has grown significantly.

"The cognitive gap between Spain and the rest of the countries has been reduced in the last decade, placing Spain

close to France and the United Kingdom

", summarize the authors of the study, which has been led by Rafael Pardo, professor of Sociology and director of the BBVA Foundation.

Both now and 10 years ago, the understanding of science is greater in the younger generations, among whom the difference between Spaniards and the rest of the Europeans studied is also less.

In other words,

the tendency is to become more and more like our neighbors

in terms of understanding scientific concepts.

«Depending on what happens in the educational system and in the ecosystem of scientific information that reaches society from research and higher education institutions and the media themselves, it is expected that the trends of improvement will continue.

Obviously, in the other European societies there will also be advances, with the increase in the educational level.

But, despite everything, convergence is possible

», analyzes from the Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion of the BBVA Foundation.

Enthusiasm for science and the positive evolution of its understanding coexist, however, with «

ambivalent assessments

» about the current situation of science in Spain.

Most of the people surveyed value their country's contribution to global science "positively", but the Spanish do so to a lesser extent.

In addition, they perceive

significant deficiencies in terms of the support that research receives

from different sectors, both public and private.

This lesser appreciation of the country's achievements is also perceived when asking about the most famous scientists: the Spanish, for example, remember

Santiago Ramón y Cajal

less than what they should due to the importance of his studies, while the rest of countries does show a clear tendency to mention researchers from the country itself,

without always being justified

, according to the authors.

Consensus is broad in all countries -and even greater in Spain- around ideas such as that science is "

the motor of material progress

" or that, thanks to it, "

continually improves people's health

".

Science is also trusted to face the challenge of climate change, although not so much when considering whether it can solve problems such as poverty, inequality or wars.

The big questions about the origin of the universe and of our own species also arouse broad support in Europe for scientific theories, in contrast to "

the religious narratives that operate in other societies

, such as North America."

The consensus is "extremely broad" that religion "should not set limits to scientific advances," the authors note.

"In contrast, the perception that ethics should and can set limits to scientific developments

has been accentuated in recent years in all countries

," they conclude.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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