The head of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vladimir Fortov states that Russian society pays little attention to scientific achievements of the country.
“People are sure that we were born together with electricity and nuclear power”, - he declared in his speech at the “round table” in St. Petersburg.
The scientist added that one third of the population of Russia believes that it’s not the Earth that rotates round the Sun, but the Sun circles the Earth.
According to Mr. Fortov, experts should “shift consciousness of people” who perceive science as something natural and take it for granted. Moreover, the Academy of Sciences needs to radically change its communication with the mass media, so that people knew about achievements of science knew and were proud of them, just like they did in the Soviet era.
It is a reminder that the head of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko recently emphasized the need for better education. She pointed out that mass media are replete with pseudoscientific, occult, astrological and frankly fraudulent materials. It must be changed by means of carrying out public awareness campaigns with authoritative scientists involved in them.
Author: Vera Ivanova