
A new survey from the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) shows that 73% of people in Austria trust science “strongly” or “very strongly,” a figure consistent with last year’s results.
However, the study also highlights a slight decline in public interest in research, which may be linked to recent Nobel Prize announcements.
The survey, conducted annually by Gallup among 1,500 people, measures public sentiment towards science and research. The initiative was launched in response to growing scepticism directed at scientific institutions, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic and in discussions surrounding climate change. According to EU studies, this scepticism is particularly pronounced in Austria and Germany.
Trust in Science: Austria vs. Germany
The survey reveals notable differences between Austria and Germany. In Germany, only 55% of respondents expressed strong trust in science, significantly lower than the 73% recorded in Austria. Meanwhile, 5% of people in Austria report little or no trust in science, compared to 9% in Germany.
Both countries show that around a third of people feel well-informed on scientific matters, though 28% of people in Austria feel poorly informed, in contrast to just 17% in Germany.
Slight Decline in Scientific Interest
Interest in science has shown a slight downturn since the survey’s debut in 2022. While 25% of respondents reported a “very strong” interest in science two years ago, that figure has dropped to just 20% this year. Meanwhile, the percentage of those expressing little or no interest in science has risen from 13% in 2022 to 16% this year.
Researchers attribute this decline to the reduced attention to science following the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, Austria did not receive any Nobel Prizes in 2024, unlike in 2022 and 2023, when Austrian-affiliated researchers won prestigious physics awards, ending a decades-long drought.
Calls for More Science Communication
Despite this slight decline in interest, the survey suggests a strong desire for better public communication about science. “More than half of the Austrian population wants information about science. A well-understood level of information improves acceptance and trust in a topic,” said Andrea Fronaschütz, managing director of Gallup Austria.
There is also considerable support for scientists who take the initiative to explain their work. “Three-quarters trust science, we must fight for a quarter,” said Heinz Faßmann, president of the ÖAW.
AI: A Topic of Concern for Many
The survey also examined attitudes towards Artificial Intelligence (AI), a topic that has dominated recent discussions. The results show that 15% of people in Austria feel they know too little about AI to form an opinion. Meanwhile, around a third of the population hold “rather” or “very negative” views about the technology.