On the 9 of December , 2015 a protest rally of workers of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine was held in Kyiv on Hrushevskii street under the walls of the Cabinet of Ministers, and then near the Supreme Rada of Ukraine. It was joined by representatives of specialized academies: medical, agricultural, educational and legal.
The reason for the protest was the publication by the Ministry of Finance of the draft Law «On Reigning budget for 2016 Year.» on November 30, 2015. Article 30 of this bill offers very simple steps of reforming the Ukrainian scientific sphere:
- providing the status of the chief administrator of all the budgetary funds allocated for science for the Ministry of Education and Science;
- reorganization of branch academies by integrating their organizations in the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
- optimization of all the scientific organizations of the Academy of Sciences during eight (!!) months.
Of course, there is no doubt in the urgent need to carry out significant reforms of Science. However, such reform can’t contradict common sense or the Law of Ukraine «On scientific and technical activity», accepted November 26, 2015 , which is the result of a long and fruitful collaboration of researchers, government representatives and experts.
Representatives of the YSC ISMA NAS of Ukraine didn’t stay away, and also took part in the protest.
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