The Academy is me, gentlemen!

RAS President Yuri Osipov, who repeatedly accused the media of the “persecution” of the academy, and his colleagues - in the absence of a sense of corporate solidarity, does not notice (or does not want to notice) an obvious thing. Allegedly, attacking the Russian Academy of Sciences, like internal criticism, are primarily aimed at the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences and its administrative-organizational activity. We publish thoughts about the Gazeta.ru correspondent that ended in the general meeting of the Russian Academy of Sciences, M.N.S. Ineos RAS Alexandra Borisova.

The head of the Russian Academy of Sciences, designed to represent its interests before the state and voice the position of scientists, instead skillfully maneuverates between the two lights, alternately hiding behind the involvement in one or the other camp. Defending himself from media criticism, Osipov is hiding behind the remnants of the good name of the Academy, associating himself with her something like Louis XIV associated himself with the state. Responding to the “opposition” statements of his Akademikov colleagues, he prefers to refer to the “external enemy”-the critics of the Russian Academy of Sciences-in the face of which you need to rally. At the same time, calling for unification, he again identifies himself with the Academy, declaring his personal ill -wishers opponents of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which is by no means obvious.

The non -payment course of the events of the last general meeting of the Russian Academy of Sciences only confirmed: the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences is characterized by a formalist approach to work and attempts to relieve himself of responsibility for what is happening.

Office of the Department of Physical Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences

The discussion in this context was a discussion of the worthy initiative of the department of the physical sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences, voiced by academician Andrei Slavicov.

The general meeting of the Department of Physical Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences, consisting (like other collections in departments) on May 17, on the eve of the general collection of RAS, expressed concern about the situation around the Academy and adopted an appeal to the general meeting of the Russian Academy of Sciences. It says, in particular, about the bias of information voiced in the media about the inefficiency of Russian science in general and the wounds in particular. The large role of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the scientific and scientific and technical expertise, the education of scientific personnel is emphasized; The close relationship of the Academy with the leading universities of the country on the example of Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov. Scientists propose to strengthen the role of the Academy in the examination of projects financed by the Ministry of Education and Science for more efficient use of state funds.

“Ordinary members of the Russian Academy of Sciences create a sense of the lack of a clear position of the state regarding the prospects for the development of fundamental science, which is the long -term plan the basis of an innovative economy. At one time, the Presidium of the State Council of the Russian Federation, the Council for Science under the President of Russia and the Security Council made a strategically important decision to support fundamental research. Its duration expires in the current 2010, which will be replaced is unknown. The general meeting of the Department of Physical Sciences appeals to the general meeting of the Russian Academy of Sciences with a proposal to devote the nearest general meeting of the Russian Academy of Sciences to discuss the role and tasks of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the circumstances. It is necessary to hold such a meeting this year, preferably in October 2010, ” the appeal says.

It is difficult to disagree with the rationality of the comments and the importance of the proposals of the department of physical sciences. However, there was another point in it, which attracted much more attention than the fundamental problems of the long -term functioning of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

“The general meeting of the Department of Physical Sciences draws the attention of the general meeting of the Russian Academy of Sciences to the insufficiently active defending of the interests of Russian science by the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences,” scientists complain.

This phrase attracted the attention of the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Further, the discussion continued in the style of the "Tales of the Troika" of the Strugatsky. “I really like this question,” said Yuri Sergeyevich, after which he began to describe a long procedure for introducing the question on the agenda of the general meeting of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the path from the Bureau of Departments through meetings of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which may not miss the issue.

“I really like this question” sounded like a sentence. The wording was criticized "draws attention to the insufficiently outlining of the interests of Russian science." He stated that he does not understand how mathematically it can be proved to prove whether the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences works effectively in this area or not, so he does not agree with the formulation of the issue. “To conduct a discussion, you must first clearly formulate the issue,” Osipov said.

He demanded to put this issue for consideration by all branches of the Russian Academy of Sciences so that they formulate their opinion and their claims. To the request to put grandfather-linen to hold such meetings Osipov answered: "You can get ready at least tomorrow, but the general meeting of the Russian Academy of Sciences will not take place earlier than December of this year, as required by the Charter." The proposal to decide on the consideration of the issue under discussion “here and now”, having organized a vote during the current general meeting (which is the highest body of the RAS governing), Academician Alexander Nekipelov, chairman of the authorized commission of the Russian Academy of Sciences, was refused. He stated that the agenda of the general meeting is discussed and approved in advance, and the proposal of a spontaneous issue of a new issue of voting is a direct violation of the charter and the path to the collapse of the academy.

Thus, by the forces of the representatives of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the discussion of the vital issue turned out to be protracted, moving into a purely bureaucratic plane and actually losing its meaning. At the end of her, apparently, Academician Slavov, tired of meaningless words, said: “ It seems to me that we have already come to a common opinion. Since you, Yuri Sergeyevich, like this issue, you will find a way to take it to discuss the next collection of RAS. ” The commentary tore off the applause, but did not give a solution to the problem and did not cancel the main thing: the painful attitude of the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences to criticism addressed to his address and the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences, in fact, he blocks the path to any dialogue in order to improve the functioning of the structure of the academy. The Presidium prefers to act independently, without listening even to the comments of his colleagues.

“Now a bet is on the contrast of the tops of the Academy - supposedly entirely bureaucrats - and ordinary scientists. It seems to me important to say the following. The Presidium is far from the varnishing of reality, the 90s were not in vain. But our research institutes are not financial and economic superstructures over individual researchers and laboratories, but a key link in the organization of scientific work. It is they who determine the distribution of funds allocated by the Institute of the Academy on competitive principles. And it is wrong to assume that grant, competitive financing is effective, and work on estimates is not. The estimate is given as a result of intracademic competition, this is a normal working system. Grant financing has its own niche, no more, ” Osipov said.

There is nothing to add here. In recent years, “intracademic competition” has not developed the best methods for distributing material resources in the context of a reduction in financing than proportional reduction of payments to all institutions on an equalizing principle and simple closure of institutions for forced vacation in cases where funds are not enough to pay for electricity and water supply. The Presidium does not intend to move forward, try to redistribute resources to stimulate effectively (according to objective indicators) of working laboratories and institutes.

Polemic with Putin

The positions of the Chairman of the Government of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Yuri Osipov, expressed during the general meeting, differed in one fundamental point: Putin offers to concentrate the available resources in breakthrough directions, and not "smear them with a thin layer of bread, so that the oil is not visible." In fact, this means that Russia refuses the status of a serious scientific power capable of covering all areas of study-from Chinese to the construction of large accelerators-and is ready to support only individual areas in which more experience or less suffered from the destructive whirlwind of the 90s. Osipov, on the contrary, is a supporter of “smearing oil” and believes that the weakness of certain areas of science is an occasion to support them rather than close them.

Both of them contain obvious shortcomings and problems. The approach proposed by Osipov, in the context of the current meager financing of the Academy, is simply not feasible. I will explain: the allocated RAS in 2010. 49.3 billion rubles are approximately equal to the budget of one powerful American University (the Russian Academy of Sciences is 450 institutions). Putin announced that 1 trillion of 100 billion rubles -10% of the budget was allocated for fundamental science and higher education in 2010, that is, less than 5% of the “near -scientific” expenses of the state account for the RAS. We will not dwell on which new -fangled projects the government considers more important and useful than RAS. We will take it for a given, that the financing of the wounds is negligible and will not increase. Under these conditions, an attempt to support all directions, all the laboratories that Osipov offers, will obviously be insufficient for the revival of weak laboratories and will hit good groups. This path of degradation and provincialization of science.

However, Putin’s approach contains so far in the very formulation of the question: how to choose the main directions, what to consider more necessary, in demand, useful society. On the one hand, the practical benefits of fundamental science generally lies in the plane of incorrectly set tasks: it cannot be evaluated, because its application can be found and in demand only after 50100 years, this is the same in the history of the darkness of examples. On the other hand, even for relatively applied areas, our society is now unable to formulate a scientific order. The state is trying to transfer this responsibility to business in accordance with the laws of a market society. And modern Russian business in the overwhelming mass does not need scientific development at all, such is its specificity. Therefore, the choice of priority areas of science to support in this way leads to a completely deplorable result: there are no such, all science is uninteresting and should be eliminated.

The position of Academician Osipov in this situation looks deadly and reflects the desire not to make sudden movements, not to offend the institutions of reduction, and in power - with an acute polemic. Meanwhile, the chosen strategy for the distribution of the reduced budget of the Academy this year is already giving fruits. Long "festive" closures of institutions motivate only passive and disinterested people to work in them; Those who want to work are looking for other niches. The reduction (third) of competitive financing also hit the leading groups - holders of a large number of grants necessary for conducting research at a high level. The leaders of such groups have already noted the increased outflow of personnel abroad.

And finally

The atmosphere of the general meeting of the Russian Academy of Sciences left not the best impression. Putin's performance caused a real full house, which ended, however, very quickly. After the prime minister left the hall, a kind third of the listeners reached out behind him, who did not heed the assurances that the break had not yet begun, for another hour.

Closer to the middle of the day, the hall was empty. Before the prevailing break, Academician Robert Nigmatullin, finally, was very well commented on by the break of the current situation. “We are all here as members of the academy. Visiting meetings of the Russian Academy of Sciences, therefore, is our direct official duty, an element of labor discipline. In this regard, I propose to members of the Academy, who without good reason miss the general meeting of the Russian Academy of Sciences, until the next general meeting, do not pay an academic scholarship. I think you agree with me that what the present journalists and other citizens of Russia see now, very reduces our authority. Also, for example, the authority of the State Duma falls, the meetings of which are held with an empty hall. I also propose to divide the general meeting into sectors in the departments so that in each department it is clear whether its members are missing the general meeting, ” he said.

However, the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences did not consider it necessary to support this undertaking, and those present at the meeting continued to flight. On the evening part of it were almost empty and place on stage, and the hall was barely filled by a quarter. In front of such an unusual audience, the awards of the Russian Academy of Sciences were presented, including a large gold medal of the Russian Academy of Sciences. M.V. Lomonosov. And although its foreign owner, the Japanese chemist Ryoji Neoyori, in his report stated that this is a great honor for him, he was unlikely to report to a more empty and disinterested audience. So it is safe to say that a decrease in the authority of the Russian Academy of Sciences as a result of non -compliance with simple ethical norms will spread beyond Russia. True, foreign criticism, in particular, an interview with Osipov, Gazeta.Ru in the editorial note of Nature magazine, does not cause anything but offense and accusations of “Herring” ...