Basic science and the future of Russia

Translator's Introduction : A world-class science and technology built over the 80 years of the Soviet Union's existence is at risk of decline and heavy lag in the context of economic development. capital market in Russia. With a deep concern for the fate of the country, responding to the calls of Russian physicists, more than 200 Russian scientists are studying and teaching at institutes and universities around the world. sign the following open letter to the country's top leader. In October 2009 President Dmitry Medvedev confirmed on the internet that the contents of the letter were open and the letter was transferred to relevant agencies for research and processing. Although far from the geographical distance and the level of scientific development, we find that the issues raised in this letter are similar to the current state of science in Vietnam. Please introduce to you the entire contents of the open letter for reference.

September 9, 2009
Mr. Dmitri Anatolievich and Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich,

We are aware of our obligation to recommend the leadership of the country to pay attention to the current catastrophe of home science (KHCB). The backwardness of KHCB is still going on, with the size and danger level of this process, is not being assessed properly. The level of investment in Russia's KHC is very contradictory with the corresponding index in developed countries. A very serious problem has been and continues to challenge Russia as a continuous flow of large flow of Russian scientists leaving the country to work abroad.

Russian President Medvedev visited the Nuclear Reaction Laboratory of the Nuclear Research Institute, HCMC.Dup na, Russia.

For decades of its development, the Soviet Union has built a powerful scientific and technical base, with strong structures for a process of sustainable science and technology development, including training. and construction of adjacent personnel. It is this facility that is a unique 'structure' of our society, contributing to ensuring the continuous development of science and technology, the country's strong defense power . and maintaining a unique background. set up by the nation.

The current decomposition process of this structure will certainly lead to, in the near future, the complete disruption of traditional connections between generations of Russian scientists, diluting science. of the Russian Federation once stood on a world-class scale, accompanied by a loss of creative knowledge to dangerous levels of disaster.

Among the most pressing issues of science and technology and education and training, we emphasize the following hotspots:

1. The significant decline of Russian science from a world-class science.
2. Lack of a strategic development plan with clear goals.
3. The financial remuneration for scientists who are actively doing research is no longer appropriate and thus leads to the rapid collapse of the reputation of scientific professions and the shortage of scientific human resources. .
4. The serious degradation of the criteria of teaching natural sciences, along with the quality of training students and graduate students, is getting worse.

These issues require urgent solutions at the national level in developing a science development plan. We believe that a Scientific Strategic Plan must be directed directly by the President and / or the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, with the aim of obtaining as soon as possible a master plan to restore stabilizing and continuing to develop science and technology as well as the level of teaching natural science training in Russia. The direct contribution of leading industry scientists, representatives of Government ministries, industry representatives as well as international experts is essential in the process of developing the overall plan. . This must be a team of very active individuals, dedicated to the future with macro thinking for the national benefit.

Here are some of our specific suggestions for the overall strategic plan for developing KHC in the Russian Federation:

• Adjusting investment in science to a reasonable level for the tasks and objectives of the country as well as ensuring the creative working conditions and the living standards of scientists.

• Identify the most important directions for the process of science and technology development with specific science and technology programs as indicators for scientific and technological development that will bring to the country the same foundation achievements as the programs former Soviet nuclear and space technology.

• Actively deploying in the territory of the Russian Federation, scientific and technological research programs of world-class scale. The main purpose of such projects is to contribute to the focus of pre-scientific research going back to Russia. This has a great meaning, helps motivate the community spirit as well as really promote scientific development and at the same time is an important indicator of scientific and technological development. Such a unique ability is the design and construction of a new generation of high-energy particle accelerators. This project certainly requires the development of the most modern technologies that will have great potential for application in the development of the energy industry, information technology, biology, materials and many other fields. , especially the potential application of these modern technologies in the design and construction of high-performance, safe nuclear reactors. Thus, the project will contribute to bringing Russia into a pioneering position in the development of a production economy with a high scientific content (the letter presents one of the feasible options of this project has been sent to the President and Government of the Russian Federation in July 2008).

• Ensuring absolute transparency in scientific sources of finance, according to the standards achieved in major international research programs.

• Resolutely improve the level of integration of Russian science into world science, moving towards Russia's leading position in many of the most important international scientific projects. Russia actively participates in the international academic science labor market: creating academic positions at international level, ensuring the equal participation of foreign candidates in these jobs. (including temporary positions and permanent staff), ensuring attractive living and working conditions for successful candidates.

• Bringing international standards into the evaluation of scientific labor, building and strengthening the mechanism of independent funding of scientific projects.

• Establish a High-Level Research Institute (VNCCC) of Russia with funding from the state budget and private finance in the form of similar institutes in the United States, Canada and Japan. Created in VNCCC, the academic positions invite the highest level scientists from Russia and the world to work on the basis of competitive selection according to international standards, start exchange programs, dynamic international scientific cooperation.

• Develop a unified national program to disseminate and propagate scientific knowledge to high school students and social strata throughout the country.

We believe that having to stop the decline process of the country's water science, speed up construction and immediately apply a new model for science and technology development must be one of Lien's top priorities. Russian state.

We, all of the undersigned, are not involved in any political interest or economic interests of any corporation in Russia. Sharing a feeling - deep anxiety about the fate of Russia, we call on national leaders to take firm steps to handle the issues raised in this letter and we are always ready. use your experiences, knowledge and understanding to provide professional support in the above questions.

Sincerely,

The authors of the open letter (more than 206 people) co-sign.

• Dao Tien Khoa
Translated from Russian original http://www.hep.phys.soton.ac.uk/~belyaev/open_letter/