What does the Swiss population think about science and research? Do they trust science and scientists? How do they obtain information about science and research and communicate with others about it? How do different sources of information – from traditional news media to online sources and AI to family and friend networks – influence their view of science? These questions are the focus of the long-term project “Science Barometer Switzerland”.
The Science Barometer surveys the Swiss population’s attitudes and knowledge of science and research, and identifies the channels, forms, and frequency of their exposure to scientific topics. A representative survey conducted every three years tracks processes of change and reveals correlations between attitudes toward science and science communication.
The first three survey waves took place in 2016, 2019, and 2022. They were funded by the Gebert Rüf Foundation, the Mercator Switzerland Foundation, and the IKMZ at the University of Zurich, and conducted by the IKMZ’s Science Communication Department. In 2020, a special survey on the coronavirus pandemic was conducted, financed by the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences.
The fourth regular survey wave took place in 2025, in collaboration with gfs.bern and the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) – and financed by the University of Zurich, the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences, the ETH Board, the Swiss National Science Foundation, and the Gebert Rüf Foundation. The next surveys are planned for 2028 and 2031. The project is led by Prof. Dr. Mike S. Schäfer (University of Zurich), Prof. Dr. Julia Metag (University of Münster), and Prof. Dr. Niels G. Mede (Wageningen University).
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