The Value World in the Belorussian Science

(V.G. Gusakov’s book “Axiosphere of the Belorussian Science and Ways of Its Improvement”)

Abstract

V.G. Gusakov, the book’s author, the chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) of Belarus, by placing in it the texts of his public speeches and reports, seeks to bring a reader into the world of values and norms which, in his opinion, are intrinsic in the scientists of the academy he heads, and to show its evolution and development prospects. The author describes large-scale measures towards consolidating the trial and production facilities in the NAS of Belarus. But the research staff in Belarus, including in the NAS of Belarus, has been shrinking. The author assures that it is nothing important. But the reasons for alarm do exist, because the number of researchers per one million of the population, which had been up at the beginning of this century, has been down since 2009. It is 1.5 times lower than in Russia (although 30 percent higher than in Ukraine), nearly twice lower than EU average, and 2.4 times lower than in in Germany. In view of this, the steps designed to attract youth in R&D and prevent “chain reaction of brain drain” appear to be meaningful. They include a new system of stimuli for R&D staff by adopting personal terms of remuneration.