On July 8, 2013 a joint meeting of the Public Council and the Science Council of the Ministry of Education and Science on reforms to state academies of sciences was held. Minister of Education and Science Dmitry Livanov also attended the meeting.
“The draft law on reforms to state academies of sciences is a framework document which addresses a specific set of problems concerning property ownership and the creation of scientific organisations. It does not envisage reforms to science per se. We have now started developing ways to organise scientific research that will serve as a base for bylaws regulating the scientific activities of the institutions of state academies of sciences,” said Dmitry Livanov.
The meeting participants were unanimous in deciding that reform is necessary and even overdue. They discussed ways to conduct the reform and current readjustment plans, and expressed their willingness to take part in broad public discussions.
The Public Council advised the Minister to hold a series of meetings with scientists in Russia's major scientific centres in order to explain the proposed changes to the scientific community. “After today’s meeting and explanations by the Minister, we’ve changed our viewpoint on many provisions of the draft law and we now have strong reasons to say why this reform is needed. All of us have our own audience and opportunities to explain the nature and details of the reform to it,” said teacher of Russian language and literature, and member of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation Sergei Volkov.
A joint statement was issued following the meeting. It was decided to create a working group under the Ministry of Education and Science, including members of both councils, and to develop proposals for reforming the system of state academies of sciences.
At the end of the meeting Dmitry Livanov thanked the participants and said: “Councils under the Ministry of Education and Science were formed by independent people with their own opinions. I would be grateful to the members of the Public Council and the Science Council for taking part in the shaping of the future system of science research management. I invite you all to make suggestions and help determine the future path of development of modern science and its organisation.”
Source: Ministry of Education and Science
