Poland one of most scientifically clueless nations in Europe?

The survey, by the Spanish BBVA Foundation for social research, shows that the level of basic scientific knowledge in Poland is one of the lowest in Europe.

Forty six percent of Poles think that greenhouse gases come from nuclear power and 44.2 percent agreed that “all radioactivity is the product of human activity", and 38 percent said that “lasers work by sound waves”.

The poll was carried out in 10 European countries, plus the United States, and asked respondents 22 questions about basic scientific knowledge.

Poles, Italians and the Spanish showed the lowest level of scientific knowledge in Europe.

“Denmark and the Netherlands appear at the top of the knowledge map,” says the survey, with “over 15 correct answers to the 22 questions posed; followed by Germany and the Czech Republic; in the middle ground stand Austria, the United Kingdom, France and the United States […] with Poland, Italy and Spain occupying the lower reaches.”

Forty percent of Poles think that “the light that reaches Earth from the Sun is made up of one colour – white" – and 42 percent think that atoms are smaller than electrons.

Less people in Europe say they have visited a science museum (25 percent on average) than in the United States (32 percent).

The lowest museum attendance was found in Italy and Poland (15 percent).

The survey (see here) was taken in October and November of last year from a sample of 1500 in each of the 11 countries studied. (pg)