Raising Public Awareness - Guided Tour - Tour 1 - The need to raise public awareness

Raising Public Awareness

Guided Tour

What is Raising Public Awareness

The need to raise public awareness

Science and technology play a key role in the development of the modern societies in which we live. It is difficult indeed to find a sector of human activity that is not being profoundly influenced by the application of science and technology and related innovations:

• The work that we do, the various modes transports and communications that we use, not to mention the electricity and fuel required to support our lifestyles depend in one way or another on the exploitation of science and technology.
• Our health and wellbeing are continuously being improved through research on new medicines and treatments.
• Our leisure activities and hobbies are increasingly being enhanced by technological innovations - and even the quality and safety of the food that we eat and the environment in which we live are benefiting from advances in science.
• Science itself is also a cultural activity in its own right allowing us to understand better of the world in which we live and the way in which our society is evolving.

Given this dependency it is perhaps surprising that public interest in science is relatively poor. Is this because science has become too specialised, complicated, esoteric or remote? Or is the pace of scientific and technological change just too rapid? Whatever the reasons, the fact remains that much of the scientific research undertaken in Europe is publicly funded and so the public should be involved more closely in the process of setting research agendas. Furthermore, as we move into the 21st Century it is predicted that there will be a large unsatisfied demand within the labour market forscientifically literate employees, especially young people.

In consequence, if we are to maintain and enhance our current lifestyles and economic performance it is essential that more youngsters, male and female, recognise the importance and relevance of science. Increasing public awareness of science and technology at all levels, regional, national and European should be seen therefore as a fundamental part of the development of science policy.