Russians' interest in science has peaked in recent years

The interest of Russian residents in the achievements of modern science has reached its maximum level in recent years, recovering from the recession of 2023 and exceeding the figures of the early 2020s. According to the annual survey of the Nauka TV channel, the results of which were reviewed by Izvestia on December 25, 72% of Russians are interested in scientific achievements.

"For comparison, in December 2024 this figure was 65%, and at the end of 2023 it dropped to 56%. The share of respondents who are not interested in science remains relatively stable at 22%. The importance of the scientific agenda in public perception has also increased.: 78% of respondents believe that it is important for people who are not professionally involved in science to keep abreast of modern achievements," the analysts noted.

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Engagement in the discussion of scientific topics has increased: 56% of Russians at least occasionally talk about scientific news with friends and family. The proportion of those who do not touch on this topic at all in everyday communication has almost halved in recent years and now stands at 16%.

Biology and medicine returned to the first place in the structure of interest in scientific fields, which attract the attention of 44% of respondents — this is the maximum for the period from 2020. The second place is occupied by new technologies and nanotechnology, which 42% of respondents remain interested in. IT technologies, including neural networks and artificial intelligence, are also very popular - 39% of Russians are interested in them.

In parallel with the growth of general interest, the number of citizens who would like their children to connect their professional activities with the scientific field has also increased. In 2025, 60% of respondents gave this answer, which is higher than in 2023 and 2024. Among parents of children under 18, this indicator has reached its maximum since 2020: 69% expressed a desire for their children to work in science.

On December 22, the head of the Ministry of Science, Valery Falkov, announced that the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education plans to reduce about 45,000 paid places at universities, which will amount to about 13% of their total number. The cuts will affect 40 areas of study, including such popular ones as Economics, Management, Public and Municipal Administration, Law, Advertising and Public Relations.

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