Science Barometer 2025: Three-quarters of the population have a high level of trust in science

According to the latest results, 74% of Austrians have strong or very strong trust in science. In addition, people in Austria tend to trust research conducted in their own country more than that conducted elsewhere in the world.

Participants express particularly high trust in technical and natural science fields, such as engineering sciences (83%), mathematics (81%), physics and chemistry (78% each). In contrast, climate research and artificial intelligence received less favorable ratings in the survey, with trust levels in these fields significantly below the overall average.

In addition to trust, the barometer also examined general interest in research: around 58% of participants stated that they have a high level of interest in scientific topics. A large majority (83%) also consider academic freedom to be important.

Overall, the 2025 Science Barometer Austria shows that trust in science is increasing and that research is associated with positive perceptions. At the same time, however, there is still a need for targeted information and transparent communication, particularly in areas of research that are the subject of intense public debate.

Learn more about the Austrian Science Barometer 2025