Science Day is a sad holiday: the number of scientists in Russia is declining

Science Day is a sad holiday: the number of scientists in Russia is declining



I wonder what kind of Russian science was imagined in 299 years by the founder of the Academy of Sciences, Peter the Great or Mikhailo Lomonosov? Surely they would be unpleasantly surprised to learn that science cities are being destroyed in the country, that artificial intelligence, a chatbot, is now writing scientific works for graduates of higher educational institutions, because graduates, you see, are too lazy. After that, there is nothing to be surprised when the state itself, knowing how yesterday's students graduate from universities and receive scientific degrees, is ready to put scientists under arms, depriving them of armor from mobilization. A vicious circle, you say, they themselves are to blame ... Perhaps. But someone has to break it!

The unwillingness of young people to comprehend science in good conscience directly or indirectly follows from the suggestion of adults. That is why the same RSUH graduate Alexander Zhadan did not want to write his thesis on his own, but entrusted it to a chat bot? Most likely, because it was not interesting to study. And who is responsible for ensuring that students are interested? That's right, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. What kind of specialist will eventually emerge from this Zhadan? What will our science and country gain or lose from hundreds of thousands of swindlers like him?

Of course, the young humanist should have been punished in a demonstrative way for reaching for an easy diploma, so that others would be disrespectful. But, whatever one may say, decomposition starts from the top. There, in the ministries, in the government, there are smart uncles and aunts, and their direct duty is to fulfill the decrees and messages of the president of the country, stimulating the educational and scientific processes. Let me remind you that back in 2020, in his address to the Federal Assembly, Vladimir Putin said that in order to increase the efficiency of the work of each employee in the field of education, it is necessary to transfer to a contract. Those who corresponded to a high level, proved that they are in their place, move on to the next year. It's elementary! If Putin’s order had been properly executed in 2020, then by 2023 the teachers responsible for the quality of education would have released a more motivated student or expelled him in an early course - why sit out your pants in vain?

In general, motivation, or ideology, is a key concept for any business. What would be the motivation for some members of our government for good funding of the most important scientific sphere for the country? Of course, a close personal relationship with Russia, at least on a mental level. But what we have seen lately leads to sad thoughts that we are led by “not our people”, but by those whose interests lie in completely different countries, and this one can be at least a skating rink.

That's how it was possible to easily allow the destruction of two science cities in the south of the Moscow region - Pushchino and Protvino - by combining them with Serpukhov?! This would have been impossible five years ago.

Those who want science to exist in the country, residents of science cities, write appeals to the prosecutor's office, hoping that there will be people there who are not indifferent to the fate of science. Those who are not interested in it allow a decrease in the number of researchers. In terms of the number of personnel involved in scientific research, we already occupy one of the last places among developed countries: according to the Institute for the Development of Science of the Russian Academy of Sciences, in 2022 there were only 655.4 thousand people, which is 80 thousand less than than it was 10 years ago.

Yes, someone will say that young people in science are now more comfortable. However, according to the same IPRAN, the proportion of people under 39 years old in science has really increased, but those who are 40–59 years old have begun to decline. This suggests that young people do not see the point or opportunity to gain a foothold in this attractive area. What does it say? Of course, the main issue is funding both the institutions themselves, research, and the people employed in them. The Ministry of Education and Science seems to be reporting that the salary of scientists has increased to 200 percent of the average for the region. And if in Moscow or St. Petersburg this is noticeable, then on the periphery, as employees of institutes and universities tell us, the situation is simply awful. We know the trick of science officials: the farther from the center, the lower the rate. All scientists have 200 percent salaries, but ... not all of the full rate. There are different options for solving the problem: 0.5 stakes, 0.2 stakes, there are even 0.1 (!) rates. They would write right away - "works for free."

And now "exotic" - the text of the order for the teaching staff, issued by the leadership of the Volgograd State Technical University, which is quoted by the newspaper "Pravda": amounts: professor - 250 thousand rubles, associate professor - 150 thousand rubles, senior lecturer and assistant - at least 100 thousand rubles. It is also necessary to publish a certain number of articles indexed in the notorious American database Web of Science (access to the main products of which, by the way, is currently closed to Russian organizations).” At the same time, it is explained that the salary of an associate professor at that university is about 30 thousand rubles, and many teachers were transferred to the share of the rate so that the rector could report on the implementation of well-known presidential decrees.

You understand, the associate professor receives 30 thousand (!) Rubles. To work well for that kind of money, you must either be the wife (husband) of an oligarch, or love your profession very much. How many of them are so in love with science? And in addition, they are also untwisted for a "bribe"!

Of course, Russian scientists are very happy that the decade announced last year in the country is dedicated to science and technology, they are also looking forward to the 300th anniversary of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which we will celebrate in 2024... They believe very much - and what else remains? - that the changed leadership of the Russian Academy of Sciences will finally begin to put their ship on the right course. I would like to hope that in the situation in which our homeland is now, there is no other option but to help this ship row with all its might.

Published in the newspaper "Moskovsky Komsomolets" No. 28967 dated February 8, 2023

Newspaper headline:
science day survive



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