Page 31 - Standard Indicators for the social appropriation of science

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

The level of knowledge about
GMOs increased in almost every
country (good or very good)
showing that students considered
to have learned meaningful
science information during the
SC activities. In Italy, students
considered their knowledge either
increased or remained the same as
before the VSC. Notwithstanding,
in general, the impact of the
VSC was not strong enough to
present strong variations in their
perceptions as students considered
GMOs to still have slightly
more advantages. However, in
Slovakia they clearly changed
their perceptions as the majority
changed from equal advantages
and disadvantages to more
disadvantages. This was probably
due to the fact of very low knowledge
about GMO’s in Slovakia in general.
After the science camp new
knowledge increased in this topic
among students who became more Figure 6. Visual representation of the variation in the levels of
knowledge, perception, beliefs and trust for GMOs
critical and raised their distrust
in science regarding GMOs.

Similarly, in terms of beliefs, the most expressive variation in Slovakia reinforcing the existing
variation was in Slovakia as students showed risks. That was also the case in Italy where
a more negative belief on the possibility that students reassessed their trust levels more
GMOs will save future generations from hunger negatively. Conversely, in Spain more students
though countries such as Portugal and Italy changed towards the benefits surpassing the
also faced a little negative change. Finally, the risks. In Portugal and Germany, the majority of
assessment students made regarding the risks the students did not change their views about
and benefits of scientific and technological trust.
research on GMOs also presented a stronger

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