Confidence in science is high or very high among 56% of people questioned in the study, according to the University of Zurich Science BarometerExternal link. This compares with 57% in its first barometer in 2016.
“There is no evidence of any substantial loss of trust in science in our society,” says University of Zurich professor Mike Schäfer, who led the study with Julia Metag from the University of Münster. “This also corresponds to findings from comparable studies in other countries,” he added.
Trust in university researchers is even stronger, with 64% saying it was high or very high.
64% also believe that scientific research improves their lives, and almost three-quarters (73%) consider that basic research should be supported by the state.
Climate and energy research are viewed as the priorities for science in the coming years, followed by health and nutrition. Transport and mobility, immigration and integration as well as communication and digitalisation also feature on the respondents’ list of priorities.
The telephone survey was conducted in June-July 2019 among 1,050 people aged over 15 living in French, German and Italian speaking regions of Switzerland.
More
More
Swiss scientists win Nobel Prize in Physics
This content was published on
Swiss scientists Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics together with Canadian-American James Peebles.
What factors should be taken into account when inheriting Swiss citizenship abroad?
Should there be a limit to the passing on of Swiss citizenship? Or is the current practice too strict and it should still be possible to register after the age of 25?
Is your place of origin, your Heimatort, important to you?
Every Swiss citizen has a Heimatort, a place of origin, but many have never visited theirs. What’s your relationship with your Heimatort? What does it mean to you?
Swiss federal prosecutor bemoans shortage of investigators
This content was published on
The Swiss Office of the Attorney General complains of unresolved shortage of investigators that hinder its efforts to prosecute serious criminals.
ECHR condemns Swiss failure to protect woman from violence
This content was published on
Switzerland did not provide a woman with sufficient protection against her partner who had been violent in the past, rules the ECHR.
This content was published on
In Switzerland, 2.2 million people are affected by non-communicable diseases, partly because people are not eating a balanced diet.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Why is solar power struggling to take off in Switzerland?
This content was published on
Despite being the second-biggest source of renewable energy in Switzerland, solar power is struggling to break through at a national level.
This content was published on
The Swiss approach to boosting renewable energy is far too passive and slow, finds a specialist for environmental science and management.
Swiss research institutes to merge to combat climate change
This content was published on
Two Swiss government institutes specialising in water, snow and forests will be merged to focus on climate change and sustainability.
This content was published on
Dominik Hangartner of ETH Zurich has been awarded the 2019 Latsis Prize for recognition of his work on migration policies and how to improve them.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.