Busquin seeks to help public grasp science

Date: 06/01/2000

By Peter Chapman

Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin is set to call for increased efforts to boost the average EU citizen's pitifully low level of scientific knowledge.

The ambitious plan set to be unveiled later this month is part of a blueprint for creating an espace European for research and development - Busquin's first key policy paper since he replaced his shamed predecessor Edith Cresson.

"There are more and more problems with scientific developments that have been raised in the press in all EU member states, yet the public understanding of science is often very poor," said one official.

He stressed that the details of any measures would need to be discussed with EU governments, but insisted that Union efforts to boost scientific knowledge could help citizens reach informed opinions on food safety issues such as BSE and genetically modified organisms and other concerns such as global warming.

Other key topics to be tackled in the report include the need for a more thorough discussion of the social and ethical impact of scientific developments in the EU and beyond.

The Union currently channels most of its scientific efforts into the annual multi-billion-euro 'framework' research and development programmes. The €14.96 billion allocated to the current 'fifth framework' programme targets upstream research and development in fields such as information technology, telecoms, biotechnology and materials sciences.

"Busquin wants to reflect the need to do something at the EU level beyond the framework programme. That concentrates on pure research but it is obvious that there are many problems beyond that," said the expert.

Preliminary discussions will also begin soon within the Commission on the priorities for the sixth framework R&D programme, which is likely to run from 2002-2006.

Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin is set to call for increased efforts to boost the average EU citizen's pitifully low level of scientific knowledge.