Estonians see science playing a role in national security

Three-quarters of Estonians say science has an important role in ensuring the country’s security, according to the third Estonian Science Barometer, reported by ERR. The question had not been included in earlier editions of the survey.

Science communication researcher Arko Olesk said that, in the fifth year of Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine, scientists inevitably have to consider their work through the lens of security. Including the question in the barometer, he said, reflects the times and shows that people recognise science can contribute to security.

Olesk said researchers also see work on topics related to Russia as a way to demonstrate the value of their research to society. He said research can have a clear public application as well as scientific merit.

Trust in scientists has remained broadly stable. It stood at 75 percent in 2020 and at 73 percent in surveys conducted in 2024 and 2026. Olesk cautioned against drawing far-reaching conclusions from the small decline, saying the stability could be seen as positive despite attacks on scientists’ independence and the value of their knowledge.

In a 2024 survey, 86 percent of people in Finland and 88 percent in Germany said they trusted scientists. Olesk said Estonia compares favourably with other eastern European countries, while trust in scientists is below 50 percent in some Balkan countries. He added that no single survey can fully capture public trust, noting that during the coronavirus pandemic the share of people who got vaccinated was not as high as survey figures on trust in scientists might suggest.

The barometer also found that 51 percent of people in Estonia believe applying science and technology could threaten human rights. The comparable figure in Finland was 61 percent in 2024. The article cited Alphabet’s unauthorised forest clearing to build a data centre as an example that could affect concerns about the issue.