The German science barometer was established in 2014. In the light of public discussions about anti-experts and fake news, the science barometer 2017 takes a look at the current attitudes of citizens towards science and research in Germany. In addition to general attitudes towards science and research such as interest or trust in science, the barometer also addressed a current topic in this year’s survey: The results show that two thirds of respondents think that issues from science and research have not played a sufficient role in the campaign for the 2017 German national elections. The societal importance of science is also evident in the great interest in research stated by respondents and their desire to participate – both in discussions about science and in research itself. Discussing and informing about science as well as allowing for participation in research remain important tasks for science communication in order to responsibly address the role of science in society. The science barometer is supported by the Wissenschaft im Dialog and Gesis Leibniz-Institut für Sozialwissenschaften.
