Thursday, July 4, 2013

"Whatever the outcome of the academy will mess" - BBC

«Times” leads the views of scientists, MPs and other stakeholders on the adoption of the reform of the RAS and the state academies of sciences in the first reading in the State Duma, Vladimir Putin’s meeting with Vladimir Fortov and how as in the current situation should behave the scientific community.

Academician Sergei Stishov, director of the Institute of High Pressure Physics (refused to join the new academy :)

– from voting in the State Duma, it was hard to expect anything else. Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Fortova not produce results in terms of preservation of the RAS, although there was a forlorn hope: perhaps Putin to stop the destruction of the Academy? On the other hand, why would he change his mind. The scientific community can not do anything in this situation because it is not capable of powerful collective action. Perhaps some minor amendments do not change the fact, will be accepted. What do scientists: academics and researchers? We are in for a long barren period when the new system to be adjusted once management and financing.

It would seem that not all are capable of optimistic expectations and coming new exodus of young and not so young scientists abroad or in banks, “Gazprom”, etc.

As academics, everyone decides for himself, to ask him whether or not the new academy. It seems odd that, if elected for life, academics will ask in a new unknown organization with a clearly reduced status.

Academician Viktor Sadovnichy, rector of Moscow State University:

– I think what is being said about the possible amendments to the law, will make our science more efficient and comfortable, because the president has repeatedly stressed that his goal – to make the work of the scholar more efficient, more comfortable and more convenient for the scientist.

Academician Alexander Spirin, founder of the Institute of Protein Research:

– It is very hard, I feel sorry for science in Russia and Russia is a pity, and I do not understand those people who do not realize what a terrible thing they are doing. But these people have a different mindset, they think about something else entirely. Coming national disaster, whatever the outcome of today’s events at the academy will start such a mess that all young scientist I would advise to quickly escape to the West.

Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Boris Joffe, head of the Laboratory of Theoretical Physics at the Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Physics of the AI Federation State Scientific Center. (Refused to join the new academy :)

– Unfortunately, the results of the vote in the State Duma were expected. We have such a thought others from it and it would be naive to expect. As far as I know, Putin demonstrated in a meeting with Fortov tough position – his reluctance to defer consideration of the Duma, he showed that it is not going to stop. It was reported that he offered Fortov lead agency at the time, as long as everything is managed. I know Vladimir E., not only on the “podium” and I think that even though he is now facing a very difficult choice, but ultimately refuse the offer. Tough choice now confronts each member of the Academy. For example, I made it, and believe me, I lose a lot. I’m not even about the money that I now get paid for being a member of RAS.

I am an old man, and getting medical help from the structures of the academy. That’s scary to lose her, but I had no choice.

What the scientific community – to hold a meeting or trying to make amendments through the deputies? What else but the amendment. Correct this murderous law can not, you can not just take. Create a huge structure of the officials that at least a minimum effectively manage hundreds of institutes of the former Academy, even theoretically impossible. The only option for such an agency – to distribute megagranty – many millions of rubles for the development of some kind. This can only be megagranty, for joint research team and a production company. And then everything is clear – at best imitation contests, kickbacks – and the result is, at best, half of all finance will go to these kickbacks or other means to plunder. And that means the inevitable ruin of the science that we still have. What to do in this situation, I do not know. Any rallies, mass demonstrations … I do not know.

Anatoly Chubais, chairman of the “RUSNANO»:

– The state is arranged so that it is sometimes required to do very bad things. If she does not do so, the disease penetrates deeper and deeper and deeper. In the end, it all ends very badly. All clear that the reform of the Academy of Sciences overdue.

When individual academics claim raider seizure of the Academy of Sciences of the state, they forget that this is a public property.

States alone and no one else. It alone has the right to decide how to use it correctly! Those who are struggling with this, in fact, in favor of the privatization of the Academy of Sciences. I am against the privatization of the Academy of Sciences.

Victor Shudegov, State Duma deputy from the faction “Fair Russia”, the deputy head of the committee on education:

– The vote in the State Duma showed that the advantage is very small. If the Liberal Democratic Party did not support the project, the proponents of the bill did not have enough to most. This means that the part of the deputies of the Popular Front did not vote for the bill. The result was very close to the “50 to 50″. It is said that the bill quite crude. But nevertheless, as you know, the deadline for submission of applications – 15.00 July 4.

Fortov At a meeting with the president emphasized that we should not put off everything until the fall, and should be carried out now. Apparently, there is a danger that workers Academy, young scientists will begin to organize a strike. And now the holidays, not to all of this, all disperse. Therefore, by the authority tactically everything is done correctly: all to quickly.

But, I think, on Friday can still poobsuzhdat. And there is the opportunity to go back again to the first reading.

But the fact is that the law will still be definitely adopted. All say the general opinion. Collective or non-collective statement can not help or prevent the passage of the bill. Then start the reorganization of academic institutions themselves. Will be invited directors of the institutes. Director of the same under the new law will be appointed, which is also very dangerous for the academy. This may exacerbate the tenure of directors, prescribed in the reform Fortova. In this situation, the scientific community must act within the law: to prepare the amendment. By tomorrow they certainly did not prepare the amendment. Nevertheless, some observations are in the air. I do not know, these amendments will be held or not. But still, the first step – to prepare the amendment. The next step – working with deputies. If the government spends – so advantageous to the government. Beneficial to those who will be appointed as a trustee in the academy and will profi t from the sale of “ineffective” property.

Boris Stern, a leading researcher at the Institute for Nuclear Research, editor in chief of the newspaper “Troitsky Variant – Science»:

– I think it was necessary Fortov harder to behave in a meeting with Putin. I am not satisfied that the fort itself is not enough steadfastly kept – and at the meeting, and all these days too. But I find it hard to judge because it is not clear how I would have behaved in such a situation. Now he is in a rather difficult position. They need it to instantly carry out a blitzkrieg assault behind enemy lines, it is such a special operation. Because any tightening will cause increasing resistance. By the way, it is already well broke out in the last two days, but apparently not enough to scare them. And this opposition, not only from academics, but also on the part of the institutions, and the public in general support of their people.

They understand it, and understand what they do most disgusting, and this should be done urgently.

on the vote in parliament – I think we should call for the dissolution of the Duma. Because fraud in favor of the “United Russia” have been at the level of 50-60 seats. If it were not for these falsifications, today’s bill failed miserably. I think with the amendment act is useless, because it’s someone else’s game, a game with no rules, and they do what they want. Therefore it is necessary to act with the protests, it is necessary to make them powerful. But a few days to organize, to make them such that they were afraid we can not. Although it has done quite a lot. And now many people together: former enemies appear on the same side. Is not so much to rally much to organize itself.

Vyacheslav Vdovin, one of the leaders of the trade union of Sciences, vice-president of the World Federation of Scientific Workers:

– In connection with the vote in the State Duma, I would note these times:
– once shame the party in power (we just have to find out who those two decent people who refused to participate);
– engagement of the Duma and the clown 100% guarantee that even intelligent people from despair and laughter for voting for him and his rhetoric will not;
– if the “United Russia” will not go on for more than significant amendments on Friday, which will be similar to the known procedure of adjusting the law to Orwell’s novel, already in the next elections in Moscow, and especially in the suburbs they are waiting for more than a significant loss;
– Respect the “Fair Russia” and especially – the Communist Party: by the way, with the two factions of the trade union of the RAS has agreements on cooperation.

meeting of Putin and Fortova was a kind of intelligence. Both were, unfortunately, not up to par. Preliminary results will be apparent to the end of a Friday afternoon, but my prediction is that the authors of Wild reforms rolled back 90% of their applications and only the wisdom of the negotiators will depend on what still remains. I wish that those were the things that were already overdue and necessary Academy: for example, the introduction of (reasonable and smooth order) age limit centralization (for example, to generate additional pension fund) rental income, measures to improve executive and labor Discipline.

Union (and the academic leadership) will ask the scientific community to make some clear steps. I really hope that the union leadership will support these steps, which are formulated its individual members and leaders of regional organizations. Unfortunately, due to the short-sighted attitude of a number of colleagues last congress of the union rejected the initiative to make the charter provisions allowing absentee voting for the discussion and adoption of qualified and legitimate collective decisions (a trade union – the collegial body). Therefore it will be some kind of anarchy, to gather advice at the required time is not possible. But on the other hand, there is a plus: even if the government tries and fails to put pressure on the union leadership, he will not be able to influence the mood on the ground. A vast imagination of the masses, and personally I find it appropriate to support all available measures:

– of course, hold a meeting and complain to all authorities, starting from Hyde Park tomorrow and the Attorney General and Supreme courts;
– pickets and other forms of protest and not prohibited by the Duma, and the White House, and in front of MES Tverskaya;
– mass circulation on the site of the president of the country, including the support of representatives of the diaspora, generally wake up the blogosphere and the Internet for the most intelligent sectors of Russian society just needs;
– lists of deputies are known, they travel to the regions, let’s they meet and communicate, but for now – please send them a telegram from the field, let him know that voters are aware of the vote.

Evgeny Onishchenko, a researcher at FIAN:

– In voting the ruling party in the State Duma expectedly showed complete indifference to the subject matter and an unwillingness to take into account of the scientific community. The only good result of the meeting between Putin and Fortova would be to postpone the adoption of the bill in the first reading, but Putin did not want to give such advice deputies. And trying to come up with some options on the go start a new life as a RAS are anything but not a serious approach to government science policy. As the second reading is scheduled for Friday, there can be no question of a normal discussion and finalization of the bill, so attempts to represent the deputies of specific amendments seem to me pointless affair, as amended by opposition MPs will not be considered, and the deputies of the ruling party will vote only for those amendments to be lowered on.

Only active protest of the scientific community can slow down the process of breaking through the RAS knee.

Science Council under the Ministry of Education:

«In connection with the adoption in first reading by the State Duma a draft federal law” On the Russian Academy of Sciences, the reorganization of the state academies of sciences and Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation “, the Council for Science Education Ministry considers it necessary to state the following.

Our negative position on this bill was outlined in a statement on June 30. We regret that our voices, as well as the voice of the relevant committee of the Duma, the Bureau, offices and staff of the RAS, has not been heard.

Nevertheless, in connection with the adoption of the draft law by the State Duma in the first reading at the moment does not make sense to talk about the project in general, and particularly destructive of individual provisions of this project. All the more important to prepare for the second reading amendments that improve the text of the law. In our opinion, these amendments should be made to the following key provisions.

1. The bill should not include the elimination of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
2. RAS institutions should remain within the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Russian Academy of Sciences under supervision.
3. Combining Sciences, Medical Sciences and Agricultural Sciences inappropriate conduct.
4. The issue of membership in the Russian Academy of Sciences, Medical Sciences and Agricultural Sciences and membership levels (academic, corresponding member) is an internal affair of these organizations and should not be regulated by a federal law.

Finally, given the critical importance of this law for the further development of science and education in Russia, it would be advisable to adopt a special procedure for the consideration of the law (in consideration of four readings).

In case of extremely undesirable change of the name or status of the Russian Academy of Sciences for the period till the completion of structural reforms must be issued by-laws,

purpose of which is to prevent the termination of existing contracts and agreements with the Russian Academy of Sciences, including – international, interruptions in funding and services is going research (on any form – the budget, grants, contracts) , interruptions in the ability to participate in competitions and new breaks in the activities of graduate studies and dissertation councils.

July 8 at 17:00 scheduled a joint meeting of the Council for Science and the Public Council of MES to discuss the situation with the reform of the state academies ».

No comments:

Post a Comment