Intervention at the Session: Science, Society and the Lisbon Strategy Science in Society Forum, Brussels, 10th March Nuclear power, GMOs, stem cells: the more science advances, the more society seems to make resistance. We often say and hear that this vision has been surpassed by increasingly sophisticated analyses of the relationships between research and the…
A large part (70%) of Italian citizens think that the media do not pay enough attention to biotechnologies and would like to receive information which is more suitable to their competences (47% consider their background as inadequate to follow the presentdebate on biotechnologies) and citizens-oriented (55% would like to be informed not so much through…
The precautionary principle (PP) is a legal decision-making tool originally devised for the taking of technological choices when, despite scientific uncertainty or ignorance, there are grounds for believing that a particular activity may have very extensive, and above all irreversible, harmful consequences. The principle first made its appearance in West Germany during the 1970s, at…
The European Commission promotes The European Forum on Science and Society that will be held in Brussels from the 9th to the 11th of March. Science has become ‘hard-wired’ into our society and permeates every aspect of our lives. As the scientific, social, ethical and economic stakes get higher, the scientific community and society at…
According to this new issue of Observa Science in Society Observatory, the majority of Italians continue to show a positive attitude toward medical biotechnologies: 92% think that the research in this field should be continued in view of possible therapeutic applications. In particular, 60% would give priority to stem cell research and studies oriented to…
Which European country has the highest number of women with a degree in science subjects? Do citizens put more trust in scientists or in journalists? Which technological object do europeans consider more indispensable? How large is the readership of science magazines? The 2005 Science in Society Facts and Figures contains data and information to help…
By Etienne Magnien Science: alien of companion? For more than two decades, the impact of science in society has built up as a common experience for most European citizens. The debate on nuclear power plants has never come to an end, the Western World has gone through repeated energy crises, various environmental issues mobilised populations,…
Almost 80 % of Italians citizens support the use of staminal embryo cells for research on new therapies. More than on third are favourable without restrictions, while another 44% would agree on the condition that research be carried out on embryos otherwise set to destroyed and 21% are totally against. Assisted reproduction techniques are also…