Translated material
Without the "dynasty": what's next?
Our newspaper turned to leading Russian scientists with a request to share their thoughts what to do after/ without the Dynasty Foundation. “What are the alternatives? What, in your opinion, can be done to at least to some extent compensate for the damage from the closure of the fund? ” - we asked colleagues. The post of this discussion was the post of editor-in-chief of the Trav-hunger Boris Stern in Facebook. We publish his call and response and answers.
Boris Stern, doct. physical. sciences, laureate of special premium "Enlightener":
So, the Dynasty Foundation stops its work. Some of her affairs will continue. In particular, the competition for the Enlightener Award this year will definitely take place, and most likely will continue in the following years (see Alexander Arkhangelsky’s replica lower). But in general, Russian science, and especially enlightenment, will suffer a lot of loss. Including moral.
I already wrote and said that, towards the dark wave of obscurantism rises, relatively speaking, a wave of enlightenment, much smaller, but more stubbornness. The Dynasty supported and dispersed this small wave. More precisely, the wave was accelerated by people whom the fund supported, stimulated and organized. Many of our colleagues, including the “Trinity version”, are among these people. And what can we do now? Break off with curses, go home and watch how the country is immersed in darkness under the influence of weapons of mass destruction, what is our TV? These are from questions like to be or not to be. And if we choose “to be”, then our business is to coordinate and take on the functions of the “dynasty” in terms of enlightenment.
Our capabilities are not as small as it might seem. People are more important than money, so even with small resources you can do a lot. What exactly? Here is a list of what seems to me the simplest, least costly and, nevertheless, extremely important.
- Scientific and popular articles competition. It can be carried out quarterly. The secretary and the jury are required. For the start, there is enough million rubles for a year. This will be an excellent addition to the Enlightener Award.
- Support for popular lectures, especially in the regions. Counterparties are required in the regions and pool of the proven lecturers. The simplest and most effective is to pay for the road and accommodation to lecturers.
The publication of foreign and domestic science and educational books. This direction is more complicated than the previous two, but it may be more important. In any case, many are grateful to the "dynasty" precisely for the book issued during its support.
The first question is where to get the money. Usually in such cases, people resort to crowdfunding. The disadvantage of this method is unreliability and unpredictability. Therefore, I suggested gathering a team of donors - that is, people, each of whom declares to allocate a certain amount to the program from his pocket. These people should ultimately make decisions that they deserve funding. From the “first click” (that is, as a result of one appeal on Facebook), 16 donors were gained by about 400 thousand rubles. I think it is quite possible by September in this way to put together a million with which you can start some simple program, for example, a prize for articles. But you should not refuse crowdfunding.
How to spend money? Here I am a supporter of minimalism-if possible, to do without accumulating money: for example, a donor directly pays for tickets or a hotel to a lecturer traveling to some festival of science. This is not always possible, but in any case it is better to use existing organizations than to fence one comprehensive.
Who will work? From that very “first click” a certain significant number of volunteers who were ready to work for the idea have already been gained. In particular, people who are already involved in what is required: the editor -in -chief of the publishing house with an educational slope, the head of the existing educational center.
So, we urge potential donors and volunteers to join. The Trinity Option provides for this its own mailbox info@trvscience.ru .
If we succeed, the effect will be wonderful, especially the moral effect. At the same time, we will show how to act in the conditions in which we found ourselves. "Dynasty."
Alexander Meshcheryakov, Japanese, laureate of the Enlightener Prize:
My considerations are like that. Of course, I would like to continue the glorious case of D. B. Zimin, although I think this is difficult.
- We need a real “motor”, which would do this selflessly, as they do, say, Olga Romanova and Chulpan Khamatova. There will be nothing without it. It is difficult to find such a motor, because scientists are most expensive for their time to science.
- Donators are needed, personally I am ready to be them. But this does not cancel crowdfunding.
- Personally, I am ready (to maintain the image of the Fund) to record the annual conference “History and Culture of Japan” in the co -organizers, which I already conducted and will conduct without asking any money.
- Apparently, you should come up with a new name for the fund (the "dynasty" has already been recorded in foreign agents, it would be wrong to begin activities with such a stigma). Perhaps call his "enlightener".
- I agree with Boris Stern, what is simple and begble - to help ensure that the Enlightener prize is preserved. This is not such a lot of work, ready to participate.
Vladimir Surdin, astronomer, laureate of the Enlightener Prize:
How to live without a "dynasty"? Like her. Do what you should, and whatever happens.
Alexander Nozik, cand. physical. Sciences, Secretary of the Council of the Society of Scientists:
The situation with the "dynasty" is bad, in my opinion, mainly because it is not about money. Still, no matter what we say and, no matter how we think, the purely financial contribution of the “dynasty” to science was relatively small (there is a different situation in education, but let's talk about science so far). The problem is that what and how they did with the "dynasty" is a crushing blow to those remnants of trust, which the scientific community has still experienced the country's leadership.
Suppose we will find some sponsor who agrees to give science and enlightenment as much money as the “dynasty” gave, but where is the guarantees that it will not be covered in exactly the same way? The law does not protect us not because it is bad, but because it is constantly ignored or twisted in such a way that the whole meaning of the law is lost. Like it or not, scientists need protection - protection primarily from those who at the moment can provide this protection. Is it possible? In this situation - I personally are not sure. Obviously, the position “the scientist is engaged in science and does not climb into politics, and then he will not be touched” no longer works.
As for the fact that the scientific community can do, the answer lies on the surface and, for quite some time: do not wait until everything is organized for us, not sit at a minimum of potential energy (I apologize for the physical metaphor, the alternative is much more rude), waiting for money and other benefits that should be sprinkled on us simply because we are so smart.
It is necessary to create new formats of scientific and educational activities, optimize the structures of institutions, eliminate inoperative units. To establish the most dense interaction between various scientific institutions and educational institutions. Of course, all this requires quite significant efforts and destruction of the current order (in particular, of course, we will have to reduce something somewhere), but if we do not do it ourselves, if we ourselves do not try to carry out transparent and effective reforms, then this will do for us. Already almost done, and we do not like the result. Now, no matter what anyone says, no one is engaged in this, moreover, they do not allow to do it.
Young scientists with whom I have been communicating more and more recently are inclined to think that something serious (in terms of science, education and education) is now completely impossible to do on the basis of academic institutions. Not because the abstract authorities interfere, but because the structure of academic institutions itself creates completely irresistible barriers on the path of introducing any new ideas.
The idea of some independent organizations financed from third-party (not academic and non-state) sources, but at the same time with a clear internal structure (including administrative), now seems very attractive.
Peter Gaiduschek, Honorary Professor of the University of California at San Diego, member of the US National Academy of Sciences:
The News That The Dynasty Foundation Is Closing Its Doors Has Been and is a Great Disappointment. I have Been Glad to Play a Very Small Part as a Volunteer in the Dynasty Fellowsip Program Because i Have Admired Its Objectives for the Development and Career Paths of Young Russian Scientists. That The Foundation's Essentially Patriotic and Far-Sighted Effort Has Now Been Labelle Authorites as SomeHow Suspect, Inst, Instead of Being Applauded and Held Up By The state as an Example, IS Profoundly Discouraging.
Igor Pshenichnov , DOK . physical. sciences, co -chairman of the Council of the Society of Scientists:
The defeat of the Dynasty Foundation Russian authorities sent two unambiguous signals to the scientific community. First: it is allowed to support only the most obedient authorities of scientists who do only what the authorities say to them, strictly in accordance with the program drawn up by the authorities. Second: you should avoid and beware of all foreign.
The origin of these signals is understandable: the authorities and the media serving them before the tantrum, to the nightmares are afraid to lose their current very satisfying position, so they see a threat in any initiative that have not been controlled by them. For example, the “bestial grin of American imperialism” seems to them as an external threat even in portraits of American scientists of the year before last, hung in the walls of the University of Nizhny Novgorod [1] .
The freedom of scientific search and integration into the world scientific community is critical for most scientific disciplines, however, as shown above, these principles contradict today's official scientific policy. An example of a court over a talented inventor who ordered abroad, as it turned out, the reagents prohibited for purchases by individuals [2] clearly demonstrates that talent and abilities for the authorities mean nothing. The obvious facts that the inventor repeatedly provoked a reagent by mail, and no one was going to use the solvent as a narcotic substance, were ignored by the prosecutor's office.
The above, like much more, unfortunately, only strengthens my skepticism in relation to prospects open to scientists in today's Russia. The Dynasty Foundation helped talented youth productively working where they were born. Now this support will not be. I think that in this situation, it is worth recommending a really talented youth to look for application to their abilities outside our country, and I think we will still see the new Zvorykin and Sikorsky.
Fortunately, in today's world, the fruits of scientific developments quickly become the property of all mankind, therefore, the results of the works of scientists and engineers of Russian origin who work abroad, Russia can successfully use along with other countries.
2. Mk.ru/science/2015/07/16/izobretatelya-lopatina-sud-ne-steper-on-zanimaitsya-superluchom.html
Prepared by N. Demina and M. Gelfand
The correspondent of the TRV-hunger Nadezhda Builova turned to a number of people related to the Dynasty Foundation, with a request to comment on the proposal of Boris Stern about the continuation of the “dynasty” forces of the public. We publish the answers that we managed to get.
Mikhail Feigelman, Dok. physical. sciences, deputy. Director of the Institute of Theoretical Physics. L. D. Landau RAS, prof. Moscow Physics and Technology Institute (MIPT), member of the Scientific Council of the Dynasty Foundation:
I believe that the idea is good, but it will be very difficult to realize it. It is obvious that it is impossible to implement “on the basis of self -organization” all areas of the work of the “dynasty”. Therefore, you should think tightly which of them, firstly, are most critical, and secondly, have the chances of implementation in the “self-organization” mode. And then work with the intersection of these two sets (if it does not turn out to be empty). Of course, some skeleton of interested scientists (and not only scientists) should arise, who will primarily think about these issues. How and from whom he can form, so that it is working, is also an interesting question. Help ready, to the best of your understanding and capabilities.
Alexander Arkhangelsky, Russian literary critic, literary critic, publicist, TV presenter, writer, member of the Council of the Liberal Mission Foundation:
I know the initiative regarding the projects of the Dynasty - it is noble, like everything that Boris does. Specifically, about the “Enlightener” I'm not sure - this project will continue, I met the other day with Zimin, he confirmed this again. (At the time of publication of the idea on Facebook, it was not yet known that the “Enlightener” would continue. - Ed. ) I would consult with the leaders of the projects which of the closed (or half -loaded) it makes sense to socially support and “re -invest”. And then he is ready to participate in every possible way.
Valery Rubakov, Russian physicist-theoretic, specialist in the field of quantum theory of fields, physics of elementary particles and cosmology, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, doct. physical. sciences, member of the Council of Dynasty and the chairman of its academic council:
Of course, I have a positive attitude to the idea of continuing the case of the “dynasty”. Both to the lecturer and to the "enlightener", and especially to the publication of scientific literature. The latter, maybe, is the most successful thing that the "dynasty" did, I do not want this to disappear. I don’t know how all this will be financed, after all, Zimin supported it very well, but I am ready to support money if this scheme works.
