Operation "Trinity"

Statement
Council for Science under the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, 06/27/2013

In connection with the media that appeared in the media, the draft law “On the Russian Academy of Sciences, the reorganization of the State Academy of Sciences and amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation” and its immense submission by the State Duma, the Mont Council considers the following to declare the following.

We consider it wrong that the law radically changing the system of organization of science in the Russian Federation was prepared and considered without discussion with the scientific community. The Science Council created by the Ministry of Education and Science for consultations with representatives of the scientific community was not only not involved in discussing the draft law, but was not even informed about its existence. The existence of the project was not informed by the indigenous reorganization of the Academy.

We consider it necessary to conduct a discussion of this project by the scientific community and, in particular, the involvement of the Russian Academy of Sciences and other state academies to its preparation.

We consider it possible to make a draft law for consideration by the Government of the Russian Federation and the State Duma only after such a discussion.

Sergey Neduspasov,

doct. Biol. Sciences, professor, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, head of the Laboratory of the Institute of Molecular Biology named after Engelhardt of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Department of Immunology of the Faculty of Biology and Department at the Institute of Physical and Chemical Biology named after Belozersky Moscow State University named after Lomonosov. Member of the Council for Science of the Ministry of Education and Science:

The trouble came when they did not wait for her. Moreover, they waited, but not immediately after the Trinity, these days of the record heat. It would seem that the elections of the new leadership of the Russian Academy of Sciences have just passed and a course has been taken for some reforms. It would seem - give a deadline, give a chance, look how and what will begin to change the new leadership of the Russian Academy of Sciences, how the reform program contained in the statements of not only the new president, but also his opponents in the elections (which he promised to take into account) will be implemented. How new relations will be built with the ministry ...

But now - at first it sounded on the radio, and then “with pictures” showed a speech by the Minister of Education and Science D.V. Livanova, beautiful and young. Then they showed some “guilty” interviews V.E. Fortov, as well as the presidents of the RAMS and ramp. It was obvious that what was happening for them was a complete surprise, although they honestly tried to let down some kind of rational basis.

But the grandiose (and obvious - long -hazardous) reform, which will affect all aspects of the fundamental and applied science in Russia, has already been started (and in fact - already developed and proposed - and obvious - and obvious - long -hasted). The theses (after discussion and approval by the government - now go to the Spoon) is voiced by the Minister of Education and Science for citizens. But -an amazing thing -3 months ago on behalf of the same minister (with the mouth of the already dismissed deputy minister), we, 22 Russian scientists, were invited to the Council for Science. And we were told, with the lips of the minister himself and under the bright light of the Sofites (“The Hall shone, thundered in chorus ...”) that we will become participants in the discussion of all strategic decisions on the development of science in the country. Even the allegory that was close to the heart of our missiles about the “two keys” was used - one at the minister, the other at the advice.

We, fools, come (some arrive), meet, meet, argue, worry, quarrel-and then it turned out that the “big uncles” had already done everything. And they did in a big way. And one gets the impression that the dream of officials to “steer” the science of a huge country is close to implementation.

But in the Council for Science, the vast majority are employees of the Academy of Sciences, almost half are members of the very notorious “large” academy, which will now be radically reformed. They write that they are already about to bear the documents to the Duma. Let's hope, the Committee on Science, representatives of the academies and the scientific community (and we have half a spirit with scientific degrees!) They will be able to somehow delay the execution of punishment. Give at least a chance to protest the verdict. But the thought we have a hurricane, she can also immediately in the third reading.

How can we feel in this situation?

On TV showed frightening numbers - how many members in the Russian Academy of Sciences, how many institutes in the RAMS, are how many hectares in the ramp. And how many real estate. At home, cottages, garages, pioneering, sanatoriums, ships. Yes, in these state academies there are different people, with different views and tastes, with different life experience and with different achievements. Different sexes (although with this we have a strong skew), age and religion. And a lot, a lot, real estate. But there - little, or not at all, fools. Maybe, only we, members of the Council on Science, who believed in a fairy tale about “two keys”, begin to feel fools. By the way, there are also honest people in the Academy of Sciences, there are a lot of honest people who have not stolen a rusty nail in their entire life (I admit, it is difficult to explain to someone to believe today).

The fact that scientists should engage in science and not be distracted by anything is an obvious truth, what is so new here? But only in the most prosperous countries (I know firsthand), scientists should spend a significant part of the time on writing grants and some inevitable organizational issues, and not on science. So it sounds beautiful, but this is utopia.

The fact that the main problem lies in the property of the academies (square meters, floors and hectares) is also nothing new in this, around this the struggle between the Russian Academy of Sciences and the ministry has been going on for more than 10 years.

But only what this new organization “Agency for Scientific Institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences” will be more effective and honest-focusing, it is not clear. Who are these new “effective managers”? They will send them from abroad?

And how does the need for the “Trinity operation” in the unification of the three academies follow from all this - it is completely incomprehensible (why not with RAO, why not with Rah? Probably, those are bad with real estate?). In fact, (despite the “Odo-Bryams” on TV, the leaders of the RAMS and RASHN) are talking about the elimination of two state academies (each with its own history, traditions, features) and their merger from the current Russian Federation. I am far from sure that all members of these academies dream of moving to Gagarin Square. Let me remind you how a strongly voluntary unification of two germaniums occurred (where second -class citizens were made from the Eastern Germans - I know this firsthand). Another example is the recent fusion of the United and Continental American airlines. In fact, United erased the competitor and did not choke much. But the salvation of the face for Continental was that the tail of the United aircraft would now be painted as it was painted by the deceased "Continental". Effective management. And a very effective PR. As the classic said: “The question is not to unite. The question is who is the main one. ”

The fact that the great “scholarships” promised to academicians - yes, this will contribute to the support from individual members of the academies. But not all. And it was 100 times more important to promise (and give!) Worthy scholarships to graduate students and students, worthy salaries - young and not very young researchers. In Western Europe, a graduate student for its scholarship can live even modestly, but independently and quite fully. We can eat hot at the scholarship of a graduate student once a day. Dessert is not every day.

In his election speech, only a month ago V.E. Fortov quoted the words of V.V. Putin that the salary of a qualified scientist should be several times higher than the average in the region. Yesterday, for some reason, no one remembered about this.

And about the liquidation of the Institute of Corresponding members (thanks for not just asking for the exit, but they offer an “upgrade”) it was also said for a long time-because the Russian Academy was once built on “tracing paper” of two-level European academies, and there the “norms” have long been abandoned (take the same French). But where does the moratorium on the polls? What is the fault of those scientists who have come to run and be elected to the three academies? In particular, if they introduce an age qualification. What to do with the elections that have already been announced in the Russian Academy of Sciences for December this year?

After all, if the question is only “in price”, then the new “effective managers” should undoubtedly find much larger amounts from the management of the huge economy of the three academies.

Well, and such a simple economic question (when their own buildings of the RAMS and ramps will be - almost obvious - “liberated”): and where to plant them all, these members of the Triune Academy ??? Three academies will not fit into the largest assembly hall of the Russian Academy of Sciences or in the Assembly Hall of Moscow State University. True, Luzhniki, a small sports arena, remain. Or the general meetings of the academies must be canceled at all - just to report orders from the ministry on the Internet. And scientists - let them work that they are bazing there at meetings.

Breaking - not to build. And in our conservative (and in some way outdated) education system (now on the scrap), and in our conservative (and in some ways outdated) academies (now prepared for the break) there are a lot of good and effective. And the ministry likes it or I do not like it, the country's scientific elite works. And we don’t have to copy other countries in everything - those countries had a different story. We can’t become them (“You are not here,” as the classic said).

Yes, all state academies have problems, many problems (in which organizations of our Russian reality there are no problems? Is everything normal in the ministry? In the government? In the Duma?). But in the scientific community there are smart, decent people who understand these problems well from the inside. Many people want changes and are ready to make these changes. No need to say that there are no active youth or that young people do not go into science - this is not true. Today's crisis is primarily the consequences of a catastrophic situation in Russian science in the 90s. Plus demography. We just haven't got out of this hole yet. And people who today, excuse me, have aged and so annoy our respected minister and other Mladhor-Mators, saved Russian science in the 90s, at least because they did not go into a semi-criminal business or did not dump abroad.

Radical reforms should be carefully prepared and discussed with experts and public.

Alexander Shen,
cand. physical mat. Sciences, Ippi RAS (Moscow) and LIRMM CNRS, Montpellier (France):

The appointment of Livanov by the Minister of Science and Education was met by some observers with cautious optimism - against the backdrop of another authorities, the minister, who sometimes called Black Black, and white white (albeit timidly, but still clearly) and who decided to include several qualified and independent people in different tips at the Ministry, looked like an unexpected exception.

Two recent events showed that this optimism was unjustified. The first is the failure of the exam in the sense of a massive leakage of options (which overtook all its possible pros, leaving some disadvantages), not so much the leak itself, but the reaction to it according to the usual scheme, when our ostrich removes the head from the sand, only in order to say that everything is under control.

The second is a suddenly appeared plan for reforming the Academy of Sciences. There may be different opinions about the problems in the Russian Academy of Sciences and possible improvements, but suddenly to nominated from nowhere and unknown (even by the very public councils) a radical reform plan as a draft law may, in my opinion, is either an idiot or a person who is both a light bulb and Russian science and his own reputation. Suppose that this is not his initiative, but some kind of Poskutin kovalchuk or someone else like that-but he probably could have resigned?

Andrey Tsaturyan,
Dr. Fiz.-Mat. Sciences, leading researcher at the Laboratory of Biomechanics of the Research Institute of Mechanics of the Moscow State University, co -chair of the Council of the Society of Scientists:

The announcement of the Government of the Russian Federation on intent to actually eliminate the Russian Academy of Sciences and other state academies and transfer their property to a new, specially created state agency, as well as the statement of the head of the relevant committee of the State Duma on readiness to adopt the relevant laws as far as stored in deep secrets, means that the executive and legislative authorities intend to terminate the decree of Emperor Alexander II on the abolition of serial law in Russia For several tens of thousands of researchers, creating more than half of the “scientific product” of the country. Scientists find themselves in the position of serfs.

And according to the current charter, the Russian Academy of Sciences is, in fact, the feudal organization: all decisions are made exclusively by members of the academy who elect its new members, the Presidium and directors of academic institutions. Researchers themselves, even members of scientific councils of many institutions, are practically deprived of the right to vote in resolving the most important issues of scientific, personnel and financial policy of the Academy and its institutions. The mitigating circumstance was that in many branches of the Russian Academy of Sciences there are outstanding and very decent scientists, so that the arbitrariness of the “master” was limited by his own qualification and moral barriers.

The proposed “reform” actually means the wholesale purchase of “without land” of all researchers of the three academies with one collective “master” from another. As a ransom, the former owners-“boyar children”-members of the RAMS, rampant and corresponding members of the Russian Academy of Sciences-become complete “boyars”. Both new and old "boyars" will receive an increased lifelong scholarship of 100 thousand rubles. per month. As for the “serfs” - researchers of the Russian Academy of Sciences, RAMS and RASHN - they didn’t even imagine the new “master”: unlike members of the academies, the leaders of the new state agency, no one knows by person. There are no guarantees that the new “master” will manage the academy more effective than the old one, and the style of making the most important decisions in the secret special operation mode suggests that transparency of decision -making and the quality of management will only worsen, and people will be at the head of Russian science whose professional and moral qualities are below all criticism.

In the light of the foregoing scientists, it remains to categorically protest against the introduction of serfdom for Russian scientists; demand to postpone the introduction of bills regarding the reorganization of state academies to the State Duma of summer vacations; Demand in the coming days to put up these bills for discussing the country's scientific community.

Mikhail Katsnelson,
Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Professor of Theoretical Physics of the University of Radboud (Netherdlands):

It seems to me that this is important. Something needs to be changed, and for a very, very long time. As always, the details are significant: it can become much worse than it was. Or maybe it is better. As Heine wrote about potent means: ...

Where mosses and herbs lurk with miraculous power, healing, or, more often, generating ailments, according to the one who will give them: the Smart Il Hungarian from the banat, a round non -teaching and a fool.

But in one thing I am sure: if you do nothing, leave everything as it is, this is a slow decay without any hope.

Here's what I can say right away. For a more detailed comment, I just do not have enough information.

Egor Zerueev, cand. Biol. Sciences:

Now it’s not yet clear whether the announced reform of the academies of the science of sudden for reforms or for academies will become too little information and time. Therefore, there are only emotions regarding the planned reform.

1. Academy (more precisely academicians) jumped. The conversation about the reform has been going on for many years. All these years, the Academy took a position "Around enemies, not a step back, we are not handing over our own." What is the “right”, from the point of view of the academic leadership, an assessment of the effectiveness of institutions, spent a year ago, according to which all the institutions of the Academy are world leaders in their fields of research. At the same time, over the years, the Academy had more than one chance to "intercept the ball in the game." It would be enough to conduct at least a soft assessment of their effectiveness, reduce completely lagging structural units, increase mobility, put pressure on publication activity and, of course, conduct a conversation not from the position of “I am in the house”, but in the “do as I” format. Alas, this did not happen, Osipov with enchanting statements “Let the Western scientists read our works in Russian” sat, one might say, to the tragic end, and now we have what we have. The moment for the raider reform is chosen the most suitable: the new president is not approved, and if he is articulated, they may not be approved at all; The end of June - and many academic chiefs on vacation, and employees on expeditions ...

2. If we lived in an ideal world, then many provisions of the reform could be supported by both hands. Indeed, why do scientists engage in utilities or purchase products for kindergarten. Было бы замечательно сосредоточиться на научных исследованиях, зная, что заботливые и грамотные сити-менеджеры решат все хозяйственные и административные вопросы. Увы, мы живем в России, и надеяться на служение чиновников не приходится. Это в Швейцарии Институт водных проблем, который мне довелось посетить недавно, был спроектирован до последнего болтика с учетом пожеланий ученых. В России же, как известно, правят параграф и инструкция, поэтому ожидать учета мнений и специфики научной работы при внешнем управлении собственностью не приходится. Да и амбициозные планы университетов и самого министерства по накачке университетской науки не оставляют надежд — ученых в институтах сначала признают не эффективными а потом вольют в университеты, дабы публикационную активность последних повысить (не секрет, что львиная доля индексируемых в мировых базах данных российских публикаций производится именно в Академии наук).

3. Очевидно, что в планах реформ на простых научных сотрудников не обращают внимания (ни одного внятного слова о том, как же реформа облегчит их жизнь, не сказано), а вот от академиков хотят просто «откупиться» пожизненной стипендией. Не уверен, что ученые старой гвардии, а таких среди академиков еще достаточное количество, так легко дадут себя купить. В дурацкую ситуацию поставлены и недавно созданный Совет по науке, и Общественный совет при Министерстве образования РФ. Вроде бы все эти конструкции создавались для консультаций с научным сообществом и выработки взвешенных решений. По факту же никаких дискуссий не было. Очевидно, что в ближайшие дни будет много высказываний, дискуссий, возможно, и массовых акций. Не исключаю, что профсоюзы академий наук попробуют вывести людей на улицы. С большой вероятностью ожидаю, что в этот раз правительство решит пойти до конца. Так что запасные аэродромы в университетах лучше уже присматривать.

Григорий Колюцкий,
cand. physical mat. наук, н.с. ИППИ им. А.А.Харкевича РАН, член ФКС партии 5 декабря:

Слухи о том, что назначение Ливанова — это часть спецоперации по разгрому Академии, ходили среди сотрудников институтов РАН уже давно. У академического сообщества хорошая память: статью «Верните действенность науке» помнят многие. Так же, как помнят и подробный разбор содержащихся в ней передергиваний, написанный директором ИППИ им. A.A. Харкевича РАН А.П. Кулешовым, — «Случай так называемого вранья».

То, что шаловливые ручонки «эффективных менеджеров» потянутся и за академической собственностью,— это сколь неприятное, столь и закономерное явление природы. В этом смысле судьба ИТЭФ — крупнейшего физического института со славной историей — очень характерна. Еще более показательно то, что на вопрос об ИТЭФ на пресс-конференции, посвященной «реформе академий», Ливанов ничего не ответил.

Для полноты картины осталось еще заметить, что реформа РАН разрабатывалась втайне от самой РАН, а также втайне от декорационных Общественного совета при Минобрнауки и Совета по науке. Более того, собранный бывшим замминистром по науке Федюкиным незадолго до его отставки Совет по науке уже успел дистанцироваться от проекта реформы.

Летом академическое сообщество разъезжается по конференциям, научным школам и собственным дачам, поэтому обороняться от министерских инноваций в эту часть года особенно сложно. А председатель комитета по образованию Госдумы единоросс Никонов уже успел заявить, что Дума примет закон о преобразовании академий до осени, хотя текст законопроекта еще никто не видел. Иначе как спецоперацией, такую методу «реформировать науку» и не назовешь.

В заключение отмечу, что руководство и сотрудники РАН — это не покорные холопы. Так что вокруг попыток реформирования РАН (читай, передела академической собственности) развернется нешуточная борьба. Академия — самоуправляемая общественная организация с громадной историей, она пережила крушение Российской империи и распад СССР Надеюсь, что и развал нынешней формы российской государственности Академии удастся пережить с минимальными потерями.

Следите за новостями, связанными с реформой РАН, на специальной страничке нашего сайта: http://trv-science.ru/2013/06/30/lenta-novostejj-svyazannykh-s-reformoi-ran

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