Today, the press service of the Ministry of education and science of the Russian Federation has denied recent media information about the plans of departments to reduce the number of budget places in universities, and massively lay off scientists and researchers. Earlier it was reported that such ideas were discussed at a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in connection with the shortage of budget financing.
Read more… About why funding cuts on science is no surprise, “NOR” talked to academician of RAS, doctor of technical Sciences, former rector of the MAI Yuri RYZHOV.
– Yury Alekseevich, today Gazeta.ru reported that can be fired thousands of scientists and researchers. How much it might affect science in the country?
– The loss will be visible only for people who care about what is happening. And for society, who agree with the government, all goes unnoticed. Unfortunately, in my opinion, science and education have already left the country. We passed the point of no return. So if layoffs happen, I would not be surprised.
– Why do you think that you have already passed the point of no return?
– While I can see that scientists do not need the country. At the meeting with the President when it was more about the may decrees, promised a lot, but nothing was done. The country does not spend money on academic, fundamental and applied science. We find the funds to build an unnecessary bridge in the far East, to hold the world championship on football…
Spending on science fell even when our country was more or less okay, but the crisis was not even thinking. Academician Vladimir Fortov, when he was elected President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, showed graphs illustrating that science are spending less and less money from year to year.
– It turns out, the lack of financial investments is reflected in the science?
– Of course. I can tell by your industry. I am head of the Department of aerodynamics at the Moscow aviation Institute. Unfortunately, our graduates have great employment problems, because the aviation industry in the country is almost gone. The state of science also reflects the situation of wounds.
I believe that fundamental science is destroyed, when the reformed Academy. FANO (Federal Agency of scientific organizations. – “NO”) was originally created to take Academy all economic worries. Now these “effective managers” decide what directions in research institutes should be supported, and which are not. That is, to whom to give money for research, and who will not. I believe that destroyed the Academy. And it’s not surprising when good scientists leave the country to have the opportunity to work…
