Science in society

Dear editors!

The most important event in the life of Russian science was Science Day, during which Russian President Dmitry Medvedev presented prizes to young scientists in the Kremlin. On such a significant day, it would be a sin not to think about what science means now in the life of our society, how it influences our everyday life.

Colleagues often look at this issue pessimistically: they say, the prestige of the scientific profession is falling, young people are not becoming scientists to study the laws of nature, but becoming officials in order to take bribes, ignorance is all around, astrology, magic and other witchcraft are flourishing. Of course, there is some truth in this, but other trends are becoming stronger - the desire for science, the growing role of science in the life of society. Many, including those at the top, want to join scientific knowledge.

Unfortunately, scientists often look at this phenomenon the wrong way. Let’s say that the mayor of Khimki, Vladimir Strelchenko, recently defended his doctoral dissertation on the topic “Regional security in the Russian Federation: theory, policy and security strategy,” and then there was noise. Why: the same odious mayor, whose opponents regularly receive serious bodily harm, and a doctor of sciences.

But, colleagues, why shouldn’t a successful politician reflect on the same experience of the struggle to build a road through the Khimki forest and systematize it in the form of a dissertation in political science? Strelchenko may not be as sophisticated as an armchair thinker, but, firstly, he has invaluable practical experience in combating subversive elements in his region, and secondly, he wants to comprehend it in a scientific manner and is not afraid to share his experience with people. This is worthy of all respect and support.

Or let's take an even more sensational case. How many angry words have been said about the fact that the head of the brutal gang from Kushchevskaya, Sergei Tsapok, received a PhD in political science from the Southern Federal University. No, I don’t argue, the bloody atrocities of the gang are worthy of all condemnation. However, imagine this picture: a person, having killed yet another enemy, sits down to think about the balanced development of society, whether Orthodox ethics contradicts the ideas of rural modernization or not, etc. Agree, there is something truly Shakespearean about this!

One cannot blame the Southern Federal University either. Do you know what the strategic mission of the federal university is according to its governing documents? In the formation and development of competitive human capital in federal districts based on the creation and implementation of innovative services and developments. So the university employees developed competitive human capital in the surrounding areas.

But, of course, the role of science, scientific character and scientific elaboration of decisions made in our public policy is especially noticeable. There are simply countless examples here; I will limit myself to the last one. Recently, members of United Russia political clubs proposed considering the possibility of abolishing seasonal clock changes. The first deputy chairman of the United Russia faction in the Duma, Tatyana Yakovleva, spoke about the scientific basis of this proposal. The current system of changing clock hands throughout the year leads to an exacerbation of chronic diseases, disruption of work capacity by an average of 10%, a decrease in labor productivity, and an increased risk of mental illness. The number of heart attacks increases by 1.5 times, the number of suicides increases by 66%, while jet lag increases the risk of cancer by 3 times. Truly a terrible statistic, action needs to be taken urgently. And on Science Day, President Dmitry Medvedev announced the decision to cancel the transition to winter time from the fall of 2011.

I really support this decision! Only one thing worries me: citizens began to travel a lot to different foreign countries, and if changing the clocks by an hour twice a year has such serious consequences, then how harmful are regular trips to Europe, the States or Thailand? It is urgently necessary to limit the travel of citizens abroad! Party and government leaders, ministers and deputies who tirelessly wander around the country and the world are at especially serious risk. This is where there is a complete disruption of biorhythms, so I propose that the United Russia party introduce into the constitution a ban on the departure of the country's leaders, ministers and deputies from their native time zone. We cannot risk the most precious thing we have - the health of the best members of society!

Yours
Ivan Ekonomov