A similar investigation last year showed that 85.9 percent of Chinese people had not visited a science museum during the year, while 81.4 percent had not attended a scientific exhibition. However, the 2001 survey failed to investigate the reasons for this lack of scientific interest.

According to yesterday's China Youth Daily, the 2003 survey will investigate the issue and will also make proposals to improve the situation.

CISP sources said the poll will randomly sample 8,500 individuals across the country.

China also conducted similar surveys in 1992, 1994, and 1996, and a data bank on the subject has been set up.

The new survey will serve as an indicator of the evolution of general scientific knowledge in China through the use of quantitative analysis.

Specially designed for the Chinese population, it includes more than 200 questions relating to fields such as radioactivity, nanometers and AIDS.

According to the 1996 survey, the percentage of those possessing basic scientific knowledge was 0.2, while in 2001, it reached 1.4 percent.

A 1990 survey conducted in the United States indicated that 7 percent of the population has basic scientific knowledge.

The Chinese survey defines the public's aware-ness of scientific knowledge as "the understanding of basic scientific knowledge, scientific methods, and impacts of science and technology on society and individuals."

Li Daguang, head of the CISP project, said the popularization of scientific and technological achievements plays a significant role in the education of the population.

Developed countries, such as the United States, Japan and Canada, conduct research on the scientific awareness of the public on a regular basis.

(Xinhua News Agency November 30, 2002)