EFB TG PPB: European Federation of Biotechnology. Task group on public perceptions of biotechnology

• Forschungsstelle: EU FRP
• Projektnummer: 95.0465-1a
• Projekttitel Englisch: EFB TG PPB: European Federation of Biotechnology. Task group on public perceptions of biotechnology

Schlüsselwörter (Englisch)

Biotechnology; surveys; public perception; communication; dialogue; science and society

Alternative Projektnummern (Englisch)

EU project number: BIO4CT950135

Forschungsprogramme (Englisch)

EU-programme: 4. Frame Research Programme - 4.1 Biotechnology

Kurzbeschreibung (Englisch)

See abstract

Partner und Internationale Organisationen (Englisch)

Task group

Abstract (Englisch)

The Task Group on Public Perceptions of Biotechnology is a working group of the European Federation of Biotechnology, which in itself brings together many thousand scientists working throughout Europe in biotechnology and related fields. On the one side the TG analyses public opinion and on the other disseminates the scientific basis for a better understanding of biotechnology and the application of modern genetics.

The TG was involved in the last few Eurobarometer surveys which took opinion polls of thousands of people in all EU countries on a diversity of different subjects. TG members had prepared and later analyzed those questions dealing with biotechnology. It turned out that Europeans had a rather differentiated view on biotechnology, highly favorable to improve medical procedures and quite critical in the food sector. Acceptance was shown in general to increase with increased knowledge of the subject.

The TG puts out briefing papers and other documents addressed to European opinion leaders. The latest one was entitled 'Lessons from the Swiss Biotechnology Referendum' and was written by R.Braun. Members of the TG were invited throughout the year to many conferences in different countries dealing with modern biotechnology. In early December the TG co-organized a conference with UNIDO in Vienna addressing primarily science journalists, other journalists and company communicators. The conference marked the 25th anniversary of the first in vitro recombination of DNA and was entitled 'Biotechnology in Public: DNA and the quality of Life'. It was attended by many journalists from Central Europe. A couple of weeks later the TG held its own conference in Brussels on many different aspects of how the public deals with biotechnology. This 'European Biotechnology Forum: Public Perception and Public Policy' brought together over 200 people and showed up ways how to improve the public understanding of this and other new technologies. There were speakers from academia, industry, regulatory agencies and also from several NGOs. It was emphasized how transparency and open information is central to an improved trust in scientists and regulators.

Datenbankreferenzen (Englisch)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 95.0465-1a