Photo: Alexander KazakovWhat recent scientific accomplishments can Russia be proud of? Are there any at all? Apparently there are. Just like there is something to be proud of. However, those accomplishments are not well known to the public at large. Experts discussed the ways to improve the competitiveness of Russian science in the world’s information space during a roundtable on Russian Science Day.
Why Is Science Popular Among Youth Again?
A bleak diagnosis was looming over Russia’s scientific community for a long time. It seemed that the “brain drain” would never come to an end: all brains would go down the drain and Russian science would cease to be. However, to many people’s surprise, science has not only managed to survive, but is also showing clear signs of recovery.
One of such signs is the rising prestige of scientific careers, with young people becoming scientists. As Leonid Gokhberg, first vice rector of the Higher School of Economics, said at the TASS roundtable, the scientific and technological research conducted by the Higher School of Economics reflects a substantial change—a rise in employment. “Importantly, that rise is caused by the rising number of scientists who conduct real research. And the arrival of youth. Science is getting more attractive,” Gokhberg said.
A rise in financing means new employees. According to HSE data, the government spending for research has increased more than twofold over the past 15 years. As a result, the rate of growth in research spending has been higher than in most countries, including leading economies.
Is that much or little? “They sometimes say that Russian science is poorly financed. But when you look at real statistical evaluations, you see that, until recently, Russia was seventh among the world’s economies in terms of research spending, higher on the list than the UK. Which is quite substantial,” Leonid Gokhberg said.
At the same time, his colleague Alexander Kuleshov, member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Board of Trustees at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, did not miss the opportunity to say that one large American university spends more on basic research than the Russian Government in total. Still, it is well-known that leading American universities exist mostly through private donations, including those from their successful graduates. Here in Russia, private financing of research is hardly widespread. There is hope, though, as Leonid Gokhberg points out: research financing from private businesses has increased by 20 billion roubles in 2014.
Targeted Distribution
The government is trying to compensate for a lack of research financing through targeted distribution of existing funds. Notably, Nikolai Kudryavtsev, rector of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, spoke about the wholesome changes that took place at the institute thanks to its participation in the 5–100 Program. The program is aimed at getting at least five Russian universities into the top 100 of the world’s universities by 2020.
“The 5–100 Program has allowed us to bridge the gap in terms of equipment and infrastructure. And our collaboration with both our diaspora and scientists from leading research centers is rapidly growing at this stage,” Nikolai Kudryavtsev said. For instance, the number of international research conferences featuring leading experts and hosted by the institute has grown substantially. “Conferences used to be something out of the ordinary for us, but now we host conferences every two weeks at the least. We also have an opportunity to send our students and professors to the world’s leading laboratories to get some experience,” he added.
And it produces concrete results. Prior to the conference, journalists received promotional materials on the latest achievements of the institute’s scientists. They were about unique technologies: creating superconductive qubit, a major element in future quantum computers; a graphen biosensor that would help find a cure for cancer; a wireless seismic sensor for oil-and-gas fields; and an adaptable bracelet for artificial arms.
The Language of Science
The question remains, however: why was all of it only brought up at the roundtable? Unlike their western counterparts, our leading media are hardly in a hurry to report on Russian scientists’ latest discoveries. That same HSE paper points out that Russia is still in the top 10 of newsmakers when it comes to science and technology. According to Leonid Gokhberg, “Russian scientists' accomplishments in the domestic market allow us to generate the news flow.”
Alexander Kudryashov believes the public image of Russian science in the world is directly dependent on the amount of attention the government pays to it. He said the Soviet authorities had advanced science without thinking too much about its public image. When he was a student back in 1966, he took part in the World Math Congress in Moscow and was struck by a particular detail. Many members of the congress—a unique show featuring the world’s best mathematicians—spoke Russian quite well, even though they came from leading European and American universities. Apparently, they had to read Soviet scientific magazines to be conversant in math. Which meant they had to learn Russian. And they did.
Besides, the Russian government recently made a decision to campaign for bringing the World Math Congress back to Moscow for a second time in history in 2022. “I take it as a sign that progress has been made. It’s quite an event,” Alexander Kudryashov said.
Hopefully, the FIFA World Cup will be followed by the World Math Congress. After all, as Alexander Kudryashov says, there is no doubt that Russia ranks seventh among other countries when it comes to mathematics. So Russians are much better at math than at football. And it’s an encouraging thought.
