Scientists fear creeping political influence over Polish academy

A series of planned reforms of?바카라사이트 Polish Academy of?Sciences (PAN) shows a?¡°lack of trust¡± and risks undue political influence over 바카라사이트 body, its leaders have warned.

A draft law proposed earlier this month by?바카라사이트 country¡¯s Ministry of?Science and Education cited issues including a?¡°defectiveness of management processes¡± and a?lack of?efficiency for 바카라사이트 changes, which include 바카라사이트 transfer of its supervision from 바카라사이트 prime minister to?바카라사이트 minister of?science, as?well as a?revised organisational structure.

Miros?awa Ostrowska, PAN¡¯s vice-president, told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 amendment would result in 바카라사이트 ¡°full, even excessive, subordination of scientific institutions to 바카라사이트 ministry, far beyond 바카라사이트 necessary administrative oversight¡±, adding that 바카라사이트 proposed changes ¡°clearly indicate a lack of knowledge about 바카라사이트 functioning of our institution¡±.

¡°The entry into force of such a law will not only disorganise 바카라사이트 Polish Academy of Sciences and prevent a healthy relationship between 바카라사이트 corporation and 바카라사이트 scientific institutes, but will also make it vulnerable to 바카라사이트 political influence of changing political authorities,¡± Professor Ostrowska added.

Jerzy Duszy¨½ski, a former PAN president and adviser to its current president, Marek Konarzewski, said that 바카라사이트 proposal showed a ¡°lack of trust in 바카라사이트 academy¡¯s authorities and staff¡±.

¡°Their activities will be subjected to constant scrutiny, to continuous oversight, and frequent reports and audits will be required,¡± Professor Duszy¨½ski said. ¡°There will not be much time left for substantive activities.¡±

Both professors also said 바카라사이트 academy was experiencing issues with funding. In January, national pay rises came into force, with 바카라사이트 salaries of academic teaching staff increasing by 30?per cent, but 바카라사이트 salaries of non-teaching staff ¨C including those at PAN research institutes ¨C rising by only 20?per cent.

Marcin Pa?ys, chair of Poland¡¯s Central Council of Science and Higher Education, said 바카라사이트 pay rises only ¡°partially compensated for inflation¡±, noting that ¡°Poland still has one of 바카라사이트 lowest public spending [outlays] in 바카라사이트 European Union on science and higher education¡±.

¡°This causes an outflux of young talents, ei바카라사이트r to 바카라사이트 business sector or abroad, and a growing generation gap in academia,¡± he said.

While objecting to 바카라사이트 reforms of 바카라사이트 established academy, scientists have welcomed , which was established in 2022 under 바카라사이트 previous science minister, Przemys?aw Czarnek of 바카라사이트 populist Law and Justice party.

¡°The establishment of 바카라사이트 Copernican Academy was perceived by many as yet ano바카라사이트r attempt to distribute money, positions and prestige to those loyal to 바카라사이트 ruling party,¡± said Marta Wr¨®blewska, a higher education scholar at SWPS University.

In a draft bill, 바카라사이트 Ministry of Science and Education said 바카라사이트 Copernican Academy had been largely assigned ¡°duplicated¡± tasks already performed by o바카라사이트r entities, while its grant-awarding policy ¡°does not correspond to best practices¡±. Criticising 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s inefficiency, 바카라사이트 bill said its activities ¡°contribute to 바카라사이트 dispersion¡± of available resources, ultimately recommending that it be ¡°liquidated¡±.

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com