Specialists of the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VTsIOM) conducted a study and found out that more than half of Russians (60%) are interested in the achievements of science and technology, which is more common among men (73%), Muscovites and Petersburgers (74%), residents of cities with millions of people (74%), as well as people with higher education (72%).
According to the results of the study, the top 5 popular scientific areas that Russians are interested in are medicine (38%), astronomy (27%), technical achievements (22%), psychology (20%), biology and biotechnology (20%). The respondents also showed interest in Internet technologies (17%), sociology and political science (11%), as well as physics (9%).
It is specified that women (52%) and citizens aged 60 years and older (48%) are more often interested in medicine. Astronomy is most popular among men and Russians from the age group of 45-59 years (31%). Men (35%) are more interested in new technologies than others, and women (27%) and young people aged 18-24 (48%) are mostly interested in psychology. Biology and biotechnology are more interesting for women (25%) and young people aged 18-24 (30%).
In addition, the majority of Russians (82%) consider technological leadership an important condition for the independence of the state. The share of those who adhere to this opinion is higher among men (56% vs 35% of women) and young people aged 18 to 25 years (88%). Also, 55% of the survey participants agree that Russia can be classified as one of the leading technological countries in the world. Thus, according to Russians, their country occupies a leading position in the defence sector (65%), space technologies (42%), and nuclear energy (41%).
The most popular answer among Russians to the question about the achievements of Russian and world science in recent decades is the fight against coronavirus and the development of a vaccine (16%). The second most frequent thing that Russians value most among their country’s scientific achievements is military developments (including developments of military-industrial complex and creation of new equipment (10%)). The development of new types of medicines and vaccines closed the top three (8%).
Ru-Main, 26.08.2021
