In the Hungarian Parliament, a law should be adopted for the reconstruction of the science sector. Academics criticise the law change in focus. You fear the end of the free research.
Expected to be on Tuesday the Hungarian national Parliament will adopt a law for the conversion of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA). Accordingly, 15 the Academy-Institute is to be transferred out of the Academy and a mixed Committee where the government holds the majority.
The Fidesz party of Prime Minister Viktor Orban and politically related parliamentarians to hold the absolute majority in the Parliament. Therefore, there is no doubt that you are going to adopt the law proposal.
The long-known plans had triggered in the past week the protests of researchers and academics at home and abroad.
Most recently it’s gone on the last Sunday in Budapest, several thousand people took to the streets to demand the whereabouts of the research Institute in the science Academy.
A Supervisory body for the institutions, and policy research Council
The Changes in the science landscape are to from 1. September to enter into force. The Supervisory body of the institutions – called Eötvös Lóránd research network (ELKH) – should be staffed with 13 people. Each of the six will be seconded from the Academy of Sciences and six from the Ministry of Innovation.
Tip the scales in votes, the leader of the body. He is jointly determined by the government and by the Minister of Innovation, László Palkovics.
The Hungarian Minister of Innovation, Laszlo Palkovics says he would like to landscape a “competitive” research.
The ELKH could withdraw from the Academy important financial resources. It’s about scholarships for scientists and the funding of research projects.
In addition, the Academy could lose the home by law-guaranteed funding to Finance ongoing costs.
In Parallel, the new law established a “National science policy Council”. This innovation Minister is personally. This body is to advise the government on innovation and research topics.
More about citizens for freedom of Science: science is also on the table
Resistance of academics falls on deaf ears
The Academy of Sciences has spoken out against the change in the law. Academy President László Lovász said in a statement that the Academy “had tirelessly negotiated”, but the government have held on to their Position.
“The Academy is very successful in the operation of your research network,” emphasized Lovász. In contrast, did not make the government”, a strategy which would justify a separation [of the institutes].” He comes to the conclusion that in the future science landscape “was inappropriate for the research community” and the law “on European principles” contrary.
Bad Example: Germany
Minister of innovation, Palkovics, however, that the government wanted to make Hungary by the tag “competitive”. He justified the step with reference to the German research institutions, such as the Leibniz Association and the Max-Planck society, the carry out from his point of view, a similar task as the ELKH.
However, the representatives of German science organisations is quite different. They stressed their independence from politics and signed a letter, under the auspices of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina on Palkovics.
In the Letter, the German research organisations have criticised the bill and show solidarity with the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
More on academic freedom: comment: Be reasonable!
Not a good science location: CEU rector Michael Ingnatieff announces the move to Vienna.
Europe’s politicians: violation of democratic principles
Also, from the policy, a number of critics expressed a word in. Udo Bullmann, Chairman of the social democratic group in the European Parliament, accusing Prime Minister Viktor Orban, he wanted to bring critical scientists to Silence, for example, removing certain controversial areas of research such as Gender Studies. “We are horrified to see that Orban is a big swing to a new blow against the freedom of Science and against the democracy in his country,” said Bullmann. He was “evidently intended to install a pure autocracy in Hungary.”
Since 2017, the Hungarian government has taken steps to limit the freedom of Science. So they limited the work of the US billionaire George Soros-funded Central European University (CEU) solid. They enacted a higher education law that sets conditions for the continued operation of the University, the CEU-line acceptable.
From the autumn of 2019, the CEU will move step-by-step to Vienna and teaching record. Until 2023, the entire University should be moved to Austria.
More: moving to Vienna: Central European University bends Orbán pressure
-
Science, which is also in 2019 is still worth talking aboutSmall but mighty: Organoid
May we introduce? A Mini-Brain. Although it could (for laymen, anyway), a stomach, a kidney or a liver in miniature format. There is also something! In such a cultivated tissue, called Organoids, invested a lot of spirit. They serve as a tissue replacement for patients for tailor-made cancer therapies, as an Alternative to animal experiments. What about, is it not?
-
Science, which is also in 2019 is still worth talking aboutNorth Star, Ahoy!
In the autumn of 2019, the MOSAiC Expedition, the largest Arctic Expedition ever starts. For a year, scientists from 17 Nations with the research icebreaker Polarstern will be frozen in the ice across the North polar sea drift and the Arctic in the course of the year to explore.
-
Science, which is also in 2019 is still worth talking aboutBye Bye Plastic
As of 2021, disposable plastic Cutlery, straws, cotton swab – banned in the EU, to stop the further Pollution of the seas. But why wait any longer? If you don’t do it already, could 2019 be the year of Practice in plastic waiver. The scientific researches, however, continue to a suitable bioplastic from algae or old frying fat.
-
Science, which is also in 2019 is still worth talking aboutMars, here we come!
In patience we need to exercise a little, at least as far as the move of humanity to Mars. But 2018 is at least the NASA Lander “InSight” after an almost seven-month flight to the Red planet arrived.He remains two years and, for the first time, take samples from the deep Interior of Mars. Also on these results, we can look forward!
-
Science, which is also in 2019 is still worth talking aboutArtificial intelligence: friend or Nemesis?
AI is all about the science year 2019, proclaimed by the German Federal Ministry for research and technology. Therefore, Artificial intelligence as a keyword will look for us soon at each corner of the home. Whether we are pleased or rather, fear to? No matter, not going to stop you anyway: Either the AI will make the machines more human or ourselves more and more to machines.
-
Science, which is also in 2019 is still worth talking aboutMoon addiction
We let China’s plans for an artificial moon times to be seen. Here it is the Original. 2019 Neil Armstrong’s first step on the marks on the moon to 50. Time. And it goes with great strides: the Same four landings are planned for 2019 on the moon. Also here China is involved. With the Chinese Chang’e 4 is the first to land a Lander on the far side of the moon.