Информационно-туристический интернет-портал «OPEN.KG» / To the Mourner by Science

To the Mourner by Science

The second half of the outgoing 2015 year, in addition to the elections for a new composition of the Jogorku Kenesh, was marked by heated discussions in scientific and quasi-scientific circles about the state of science in the republic as a whole and the fate of the Academy of Sciences in particular. There were even proposals to abolish the Academy. However, everything ended with a productive compromise. The authorities agreed that the Academy should be preserved as the highest state scientific institution, while scientists recognized the need for radical institutional and substantive reforms. The National Council for Science and Innovation was formed, headed by the Prime Minister and representatives of the scientific community. Thus, for the first time in the history of the republic, a vertical of mutual responsibility for the development of science was created. It seemed that the dots had been placed over the "i." But no! Suddenly, a certain ordinary historian (as he positions himself) woke up and on December 3 of this year published an article titled "Lament for Science" in the newspaper "Megapolis," containing "devastating" criticism of scientists.


Lament for Science


The history of humanity is well aware of an exceptionally effective way to mislead (to deceive) – to prepare a cocktail of truth and lies. Such a cocktail was presented to readers by the ordinary historian.

The truth is that the science of the republic is in a dire state. The author of the article is right in stating that the number of candidates and doctors of science in philology, jurisprudence, economics, history, pedagogy, sociology, and political science is growing exponentially. I would add that, unfortunately, corruption, nepotism, and profanation have penetrated the field of science. The author is also right that the state does not care about science. I would note, by the way, that it did not care until mid-2015 when the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, A. Sh. Atambaev, intervened in the sluggish process, initiating the need for accelerated radical reforms. The scientific community supports reforms! The other question is to ensure that it doesn't turn out to be "we wanted the best, but it turned out as always."

After the aforementioned truths, the author of the article pours a bucket of falsehood – a consequence of ignorance or bias. He laments that the state "trusts the scientific community too much," and they "abuse this trust too much." Yes, these "idlers" shamelessly abuse salaries ranging from four thousand (ordinary research staff) to eight thousand soms per month (head of a laboratory – candidate or doctor of sciences). Due to such "trust," more than two thousand out of the once four thousand left the Academy: they moved abroad or found more profitable occupations. But the salary, which is below or around the subsistence minimum, is not the main reason. The pursuit of knowledge about the laws and regularities of nature and society is, for a true scientist, both bread and water. The problem is that throughout the entire twenty-five years of sovereignty, the state has not allocated a SINGLE TIN for SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. Only salaries to support the pants, as the saying goes. Scientists of the republic survive and continue successful research in several areas thanks to GRANTS WON in international COMPETITIONS.

However, I will not continue lamenting the woes of the country's science. These are well-known issues, and the author of the pamphlet has not made any scientific discoveries. Who is to blame for the troubles, the ordinary historian named, having no slightest idea about their scientific works: it turns out to be the scientists with world names, academicians A. Aldashev and A. Aydaraliev! What does he propose to correct the situation in science? Neither more nor less: following the example of I. Stalin, send both academicians to the GULAG (state camp administration) for the construction of the White Sea Canal. Bravo, the historian nostalgically recalls 1937 and the subsequent repressions of the Stalin regime and the NKVD! By the way, let me remind him, if he has forgotten, about the destruction of the advanced molecular biology of that time in the USSR, the execution of the president of the USSR Academy of Sciences N. Vavilov and the first scientist of Kyrgyzstan Kasyim Tynystanov, repressed and later pardoned by V.I. Vernadsky, S.P. Korolev, D.S. Likhachev, G.K. Skryabin (a monument to whom is installed in Bishkek), and hundreds of other outstanding scientists – the cream of world science!

So, a challenge has been thrown to academicians A. Aldashev, A. Aydaraliev, and, in their person, to other scientists. I believe that the academicians will accept the challenge and invite the respected ordinary historian and his offended supporters to the Academy for an intellectual duel, in order to try to convince him/them with facts that science is still alive and that the scientists are not just freeloaders and laborers of science. Well, what do you say, ordinary historian, are you not afraid to show up for the duel?
17-12-2015, 21:57
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