Obama is a true progressive

Mikhail Burtsev, candidate of physics and mathematics. Sciences, researcher at the Institute of Applied Mathematics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, senior researcher at the Research Institute of Normal Physiology of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences.

Despite its decent size, Obama's address to American scientists is read in one gulp. Particularly striking is the clear and clear vision of the role of science in society. The spirit of open and free search, the spirit of science is one of the integral pillars of democracy and the basis of progressive development. Science not only opens the way to innovations that make our lives better. The very essence of scientific knowledge is valuable - the desire for an objective picture of the world around us, which does not depend on personal or public opinion and is the best cure for self-deception.

The American president makes a revolutionary statement for a politician - science will no longer stand behind ideology, but will become an equal and equal element of society. The strategic part of the speech exudes the spirit of enlightenment, the ideas of which usually huddle on the margins of modern socio-political rhetoric.

For Obama, science is the force that will allow the United States to maintain its leadership in the global world. Therefore, it is during a crisis that we must be proactive, concentrating resources on research and development, thereby laying the foundation for future achievements in the economy, domestic and foreign policy. The President proposes clear, concrete solutions - financial support for universities, increasing the budgets of basic and applied science, as well as the abolition of taxes for private applied research and development.

At the same time, a more ambitious and long-term goal is being set - to make the United States the most educated country in the world. It is obvious that simply pouring money into schools and improving the qualifications of teachers will not solve the problem of the lag of American school education from education in some other developed and developing countries. Therefore, the speech contains an appeal to scientists with a request to take an active part in motivating schoolchildren and improving the quality of secondary education, and inventing new educational methods. Obama promises to personally take part in an organized campaign to raise the status of scientists in society and attract young people to the field of science.

Obama's speech surprises with the depth of understanding of the potential of science, the problems of its development and the necessary measures. Reading it is like a breath of fresh air among the muddy frenzy of “foresights,” “innovations,” and “breakthrough technologies” poured out by our officials into the public space of Russian scientific policy. Obama publicly addresses scientists, declaring that science will give a strategic role in the development of the country, and Medvedev creates another commission “for the modernization and technological development of the economy.” Obama calls on scientists to work together to achieve common goals, and Medvedev plans to meet with “representatives of the presidential administration, businessmen, experts, scientists.” I wonder how many young Russian scientists will decide to leave for the United States after reading Obama’s speech or seeing how the proposals outlined in it begin to be implemented?

As a result, it may happen that our government “sits” in the commissions the remnants of the country’s intellectual potential and remains with a horde of “experts”, under the cover of miracle “innovations”, eating up natural rent in a close symbiosis with corrupt officials.

However, it seems to me that in Russia there is room for a science enthusiast to develop himself. The desire for knowledge and the idea of ​​the value of scientific and technological progress have been preserved in our culture. More and more people are buying popular science periodicals, reading scientific news online, and going to public lectures. Private foundations for the support of science and private research centers are being created, and independent scientific media are appearing. Let's act locally - conduct our research honestly, visit schoolchildren and students, and use all opportunities to maintain the scientific environment in our neighborhood.