Translated material
Kazus K.
The general meeting of the Russian Academy of Sciences, at which on May 29, 2013, the new president of Academician V.E. was elected Forters, in many respects, turned out to be historical. A remarkable story also occurred at the general meeting of the Department of Physical Sciences, which took place in two stages - May 27 and 30.
The OFN OS was completely routine and did not portend anything special. After the report of the Academician-Secretary V.A. Matveeva was followed by questions and speeches. Academician A.A. Slavnov recalled the unanimous decision of the OFN three years ago, which was “wrapped up” somewhere in the area of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences and which should be confirmed in the current decision. This opinion was supported by other speakers who emphasized the complicated position of the Academy. His acuteness was especially expressively voiced by Academician G.A. A month with reference to a number of documentary materials testifying to the possible “pulling” the academy to parts as a result of the activities of its individual members.
The visible consequence of such a speech was the non -removal of the director of the Institute of Crystallography. A.V. Shubnikova RAS M.V. Kovalchuk, although some speakers called for a certain restraint in this particular case. This story immediately hit the media.
The Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences, with the participation of all three presidential candidates, recommended OFN to return to this issue again, since with its initial decision there was no discussion of the situation in this institute, whose work was recently checked by the corresponding commission of the Russian Academy of Sciences and did not cause any serious comments. It was also noted that the scientific council and scientific team of the institute supported the director’s nomination for a new term and with this opinion was agreed by the Bureau of the Department.
A second consideration of this issue took place on May 30 and lasted almost two hours in a format, far beyond the original topic about choosing the director of the Crystallography Institute. Lack of M.V. Kovalchuk, instead of which his deputy performed, caused irritation of some of those present. The calls of some speakers, including G.A. Months, do not mix in this case together all aspects of the activity of M.V. Kovalchuk, did not have a decisive influence on the course of the discussion. The wish to help the newly elected president in the upcoming meetings with representatives of the power hierarchy, not burdening him with an incident of non -removal, also turned out to be unsuccessful. Corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences L.I. Ponomarev drew the attention of the audience to those actions of M.V. Kovalchuk, who, in his opinion, are outside the ethical norms adopted at the Academy. Additional information about the unknown audience documents and actions that can, presumably, added to the fire to the creation of parallel structures and the dismemberment of the wounds added oil to the fire. The ball rolled up ...
As a result of such a discussion, after the secret vote, the OFN OS confirmed its previous decision, and M.V. Kovalchuk was again not elected to the post of director of the Crystallography Institute, receiving 66 supports instead of the necessary 74 (the first vote gave 57 instead of the necessary 64). Help the new President of the Russian Academy of Sciences with a trivial option for resolving this "Kazus K." By the election of the director, it was not possible.
On the other hand, the current acute situation can help the leadership of the Russian Academy of Sciences in setting and solving a larger problem on the organization of academic science. "Kazus K." He showed, in particular, that the practice of creating new departments, as a result of which the institute and its director find themselves in different departments, contains a potential danger that matters not only for the institution of crystallography. It is also obvious that the insufficient awareness of RAS employees about what is happening, especially in the current conditions, is fraught with serious consequences, the neutralization of which may require great efforts.
Taking into account the current situation and taking into account the decision of the May general meeting of the OFN in 2010, the current OFN OFN said that its participants consider the practical for making the key to the life of the Academy of decisions that are not normal and contrary to the spirit of the Academy, from the real participation in the discussion and development of which members of the Russian Academy of Sciences and OS RAS were practically eliminated. OS OFN also turned to the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences with a request to hold a general meeting of the Russian Academy of Sciences about the organizational structure and principles of managing the activities of the Russian Academy of Sciences, its organizations and units. I would like to hope that this decision will not be “wrapped”.