To the basis ... and then?

Young scientists about RAS Reform

The adoption of the Law on the Reform of the Academy of Sciences was accompanied by rallies of protest: they were mainly involved in young scientists, the concern for which the upcoming changes are supposedly dictated. What worries scientific youth and why the reform of the Russian Academy of Sciences causes a storm of conflicting emotions - asked The New Times

"The paper flow has grown four times"

Elizabeth Galperin, 39 years old, candidate of biological sciences, IEFB named after Sechenov, St. Petersburg

Most of all, complete ignorance is concerned: what will be replaced by the prevailing system of organizing scientific labor? We eat mostly rumors and guesses. Until now, the research areas have been determined by the Departments of the Academy of Sciences, that is, the academic community. The director of the institutes had the opportunity to participate in this. The system is not perfect, quite inertial, but at least this is a matter of discussion.

Who will now form state orders are absolutely not clear. Ministry? It does not know how to lead in meaning, it can lead only in form. The experience of such a leadership has already gained. For those two years that scientific institutes have become accountable to the Ministry of Education and Science, the paper flow has grown four times. Instead of an annual report - quarterly. The lion's share of working time goes to the preparation of documents. And the question is also: who reads them in so much? How many officials do you need to process this muddy shaft of papers? And if you got not what you planned? From a scientific point of view, it smells of a real discovery, and from the point of view of the ministry - you have not fulfilled the plan.

The management of science is bureaucratic, and it is pointless and harmful. A specific example: a colleague had to analyze biological material in Germany (we do not have the appropriate equipment and reagents). It is impossible to legally carry a test tube abroad (unrealistically obtained permission), nor pay for this analysis (there is no regulations, how to do this). So: either do illegally, that is, violate the law, or refuse research.

Grants do not help out - today's average grant of the RFFIF or RGNF* (about 500 thousand rubles a year) does not allow to invite even one additional specialist to the salary. In addition, the structure of the grant costs is very specific - for example, it is impossible to pay for the organizational system to participate in the conference or buy equipment. And even these grants are difficult to get, more and more obstacles every year. This year, there was not enough simple signatures of the participants that the passport data was filled correctly, it was necessary to assure at the main place of work in a special form, printed at a certain time (!) And sent urgently. That is, if you have created a Mezhin Institutic group, then you will spend a lot of time on the collection of documents, on which nothing depends. Great difficulties with the invitation of colleagues from abroad. Quotas, benefits, justifications, visas - the procedure is so difficult that it is easier to refuse than to hire a specialist you need.

In conjunction with the new law on education, which may deprive the scientific institutions of graduate students (so far the new rules have not been approved, admission to graduate school this year took place ahead of schedule, many applicants did not have time to prepare), the influx of scientific personnel will not increase, as the ministry plans, but will be seriously reduced.

"We are afraid for the future of institutions"

Sofya Pirozhkova, 27 years old, candidate of philosophical sciences, Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow

It is not yet visible that something is going to reform, except for the external structure (the merger of the three academies, the creation of another bureaucratic body). Nobody talks about real problems. The only thing that is more or less known is the ministry intends to increase the average salary of a researcher. But at the same time, they are very careful that financing will not be increased. Now the institutions barely make ends meet, because everything goes to wages and utilities. If they are not going to increase funding, then the natural exit is the abolition of some structures (departments, laboratories, sectors) within the institutions, the elimination of entire institutions or their merger. We, as the only institution of our direction, are extremely concerned, especially since we have a long lawsuit with the city authorities about our building.

We have a lot of young, still non -oriented scientists at our institute, will they begin to “optimize” the personnel composition from them? In philosophy, it is very difficult to give out serious work at the age of 25, you need to gain some weight, erudition, you need time elementary for this. If the youth falls under abbreviation, it will be, in my opinion, a disaster. But exactly the same disaster is the expulsion of the older generation, without interaction with which young people will not be able to gain professional experience.

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The most delicious pieces will be recognized as ineffective. Employees will be discouraged, and real estate will be sent to a “more effective” direction

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"Chaos is waiting for us"

Dmitry Levkov, 34 years old, Institute of Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow

I consider it destructive that scientific institutions are transferred to the bureaucratic body. Deputies assure that the scientific leadership of the institutions of the Russian Academy of Sciences will remain with the Academy of Sciences. But this is not confirmed by anything, no specific mechanisms in the law are provided. We have the word "keeping" means direct control. If the agency wants, it will disband the institute, wants to - give a direct order of the directorate. And no one will ask the Academy.

There is no official information about how the wage system will change, there are leaks. Good salaries are announced. Now my salary is 15 thousand rubles, with allowances about 25 thousand. If the truth is that it has “flowed”, then a senior researcher like me will receive 100 thousand rubles with a little, that is, many times more. But this means that we will even be reduced two to three times by a rough assessment. And it is also not clear how many additional officials will be appointed. The agency will eat from the same money that the Academy now receives from the same line in the budget. They will disband one device and create the other. It is not known how much it will cost to create such a monster. One thing is undoubted: at first, chaos awaits us.

By the way the law was adopted and how empty it was, I conclude that the current government is not interested in the existence of systemic science. The future of science worries me even more than my own fate, although it is also completely incomprehensible. Maybe they will consider that I do not have enough certificates, and they will dismiss ... And even the whole institute will be cut off.

"Academy gave an ostrast"

Kirill Pervakov, 28 years old, Physical Institute. Lebedeva RAS, Moscow

I do not believe in the sincerity of the reformers. In fact, there is an expropriation of property and transfer it to the hands of “effective managers”. My institute may not be in the first ten that will suffer. And the first victims will be those who are in the former estates in the center of Moscow. This is the Institute of State and Law, the Institute of World Literature, the Institute of Philosophy. Then, I think, the sale of real estate on Leninsky Prospekt will go, because there is the main property base of the Academy of Sciences. Another reason for this reform was the desire of some persons close to high power structures to give an accelerated academy. Therefore, the reform is carried out in the most rigid manner, which can be.

Obviously, after the adoption of the law, the Academy of Sciences for Efficiency will begin to be totally revise. The most delicious pieces will be recognized as ineffective. Employees will be discouraged, and real estate will be sent to a “more effective” direction - following the example of the Academy of Sciences of Tatarstan. The auditors came there and admitted that the academy works inefficiently, it was necessary to drive half, drive the other half into one building, and then it will be good with efficiency ...

At the same time, I am sure that it is necessary to reform the wounds. But in what is being done, I do not see thoughtfulness and focus on those who work in science. I see the mood for the interests of some catching groups.

"Who needs this textology?"

Anna Akimova, 31 years old, candidate of philological sciences, Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences named after Gorky, Moscow

The reform is carried out under the slogan “young - road”, and I am afraid of dismissal not so much young as representatives of the older generation; This will damage very much, because many areas were created by scientists who are now over 50. Officials are unlikely to understand that life experience, experience in archives, libraries, and experience of communicating with writers are very important in the humanitarian sphere, many of which are no longer alive.

I'm afraid that not only working conditions, but also quality will change. They will demand impossible things within the time period taken from the ceiling. We saw how we adopted the bill-without a serious discussion, in some incomprehensible hurry. Where is the guarantee that tomorrow managers will not come and ask: who needs your textology? Why do you need to verify the texts of Soviet writers - we have them in tablet, what else is needed? Our science may be simply unnecessary.

Photo: Konstantin Rodikov, RIA News