"A-scientists can only be outflanked"

Our newspaper turned to science fiction writer Boris Natanovich Strugatsky with a request to talk about how the realities of modern science are perceived through the prism of the story “Monday Begins on Saturday.” With the kind permission of the writer, we publish his response.

— Tell me, how did you and your brother come up with this analogy about A- and U-scientists? And what would the main character of “Monday” advise us to do with our Academy of Sciences? Is there a recipe for recovery without the use of magic and sorcery?

— The questions you ask me go far beyond the limits of my very limited competence, about the essence of the competence of a junior researcher, and in addition with experience from half a century ago. “In my time,” I remember, it all came down to two problems: 1) “These stubborn old people don’t want to change anything,” and 2) “They’re already fed up with their ideology, by God, completely.” Today, as I understand it, problem No. 2, thank God, has ceased to exist. But there were more “stubborn old men”, and their power only increased. Which, I would say, is natural.

This problem cannot be “destroyed”. You can only bypass it. From the flank. Lay a new road, leaving the old one aside. Invent and implement a new system that encourages the most ruthless competition in the most extreme forms. Actually, this system has already been largely invented and implemented in the West. We “just” need to be able to introduce it into our scientific society, saturated with bureaucracy (like the entire society in general).

I’m afraid this process is impossible “without victims.” Moreover, the main victims will be the “first”. But there's nothing you can do about it. "Evolution is never fair." And may Rock help us!

Prepared
Natalia Demina