Many of our academics reacted to this program is critical. Complained that our science is poor, and at the invitation of scientist megarotica stand out fantastic amount of money, 5 million dollars, which is tempting for any foreign Professor. They’ll come, “cut down” the millions of our money to do their work and depart. And our science will remain with what was.
Valery Falkov: Yes, such statements may sound, but this interpretation of the program is totally incorrect. Enough to see on what terms stood megagrants. Limitations are very serious. The remuneration of the leading scientist and research team is, as a rule, not more than 50 percent of the total. About 25 percent goes to the purchase of equipment, 10 per cent for the purchase of materials and components for research. The remaining funds are allocated for the internship of Russian scientists into the world scientific centers, scientific seminars, the cost of maintaining laboratories.
But academics can understand. Big money on the creation of new laboratories received only the universities, of course, that institutions , particularly our aces feel bypassed. In this connection, in 2010, had such a controversial program? And why in favor were the universities?
Valery Falkov: It was the government’s response to a situation which then prevailed in our science. On the backlog in her very negative and painful events. For example, everybody was talking then about “brain drain”. About the lack of demand for Russian research and development. Even the breakthrough work of our institutions were not demanded by the enterprises. About “feudalism” and the secrecy of the acquisition and use of expensive research equipment. And this is only a small part of the negative which had to be surmounted.
Another important goal of the program is to connect active research, not only academic organizations, but also universities, scientific schools and laboratories. To significantly strengthen the integration of science and higher education. And of course, from the science all been waiting for breakthrough solutions to improve the competitiveness of the Russian economy. In the first place in the breakthroughs needed in the industry related to the life Sciences and to improve the quality of human life – medicine, agriculture, social and humanitarian Sciences, as well as companies working in the sphere of rational subsoil use, biotechnology, materials science, aerospace. Needed support and the scientific teams that kept the world’s traditionally leading to Russia’s position, giving breakthrough results in mathematics and related Sciences, many sectors of physics, chemistry new mate��yalow and information technology.
for the First time about the support of the laboratories established under the guidance of leading scientists, and attracting to Russia from abroad, leading experts to make our science more competitive and open, it was stated by Vladimir Putin at the end of 2009, and in April following came the relevant government resolution.
And finally, the specifics of the first years of the program. Indeed it was originally designed only to universities. However, after two years the opportunity to invite leading scholars appeared in scientific organizations, and government research centers. And since 2019 the program involves the organization regardless of their forms of ownership, i.e. not only the state. So today she is open to almost everyone. But it is necessary in the fierce competition to win the competition.
Another reason for criticism – examination of the allocation of grants. Scientists required it to limit transparency and objectivity. This is especially important when we are talking about large sums, which appear in this program. How to create pool of experts? Who is it included?
Valery Falkov: As is customary in many leading countries, we have formed an international team of experts. In addition to leading Russian scientists in the work involved specialists of the European University Association, the Association of German universities, the National science Foundation and other prominent organizations. Just a pool of experts about 3 thousand foreign scientists and twice as many Russian.
it is Important to note a key and effective role of Russian-speaking scientists working abroad, and occupying a leading position in their universities and institutes, and to thank them all. Association of Russian-speaking scientists in the United States (RASA), in Europe (RusSciTech), many other Associations and enterprises, leaders and presidents of the clusters of our scientific Diaspora. We can say that it is our scientific ambassadors, diplomats of the Russian science in the world. They are actively involved in the Council’s work programme, its promotion, are the guarantors of high standards of the program. It’s safe to say that in Russia up to 2010 this level of examination has not been done. Moreover, the evaluation process was literally built from scratch. This is a multistage filter which sifts and selects only the most promising projects. For example, each application is evaluated on at least four experts – two Russian and two foreign.
Today both in Russia and abroad, examination of mega-grants is recognized as one of the most transparent and understandable. For example, in 2010 for the first time in the practice, all participants received expert advice on their applications. This is extremely important for stations informedI scientists about the level of their applications. Later, the principles, the algorithms of this examination were to be replicated in other contests, for example the Russian science Foundation (RNF).
What are the criteria for invitation into the program of academic “stars”? Big name? H-Index?
Valery Falkov: It is a set of requirements. Of course, taken into account the achievements and experience we invite scientist, but not least, the scientific level of the Russian scientific team, with whom he will work, the relevance and significance of the proposed research. And of course, take into account both the obligation to establish the lab takes over a host organization, including its ability to co-financing. Therefore, the credibility value of a scientist is only one of many, albeit the most important criterion during the competition.
I Can say that, for example, in 7-m the competition for the program, which took place last year (and he is not good in political terms), participated 354 applications from 45 countries. For example, the US received 41 applications, Italy – 34, Germany – 27, Britain – 24, France – 22, China – 13. All countries actively participating in the scientific and technological race. The credibility of the program may be judged by one number: the competition in it is an average of 10 people.
Critics argue that the publication of the grant of “weight” in terms of money much more than the publication of any Russian scientist, is not included in the program mega. By the way, how many publications of megarotica got into the most prestigious first quartile of the database Web of Science?
Valery Falkov: the Weight of the publication and its value is determined not by the status of the program, not the funding and interest in the grant, that is, a citation and a desire to use it to move forward. As for the quartiles, answer example 2019. Just last year in the resources indexed by the Web of Science, the results of megagrants was published 825 articles. Of these, 446 articles that comprise the first quartile, which is more than 50 percent.
According to some estimates, after the completion of the grant and the departure from Russia a leading scientist about 25 percent of the new laboratories are returned to the previous level. There were cases when the name of the scientist itself is not justified, and with him had to leave?
Valery Falkov: a Laboratory that has experience working in a team with leading scientists for several years, in principle, can not return to its previous level. Of course, it can be transformed, combined with other laboratories, but “to return to the previous level” is initially incorrect statement. Were there cases when the name of the scientist could not be justified and had to leave? Yes, e��inicie cases were, but they can be counted literally on the fingers of one hand. Difficult situation we have dealt with on the Board and make a decision about early completion of the project or its unsuccessful implementation.
What are the main results of the program in ten years? What impact has it had on our science?
Valery Falkov: If you evaluate the program according to the specified indicators and parameters, that it many times exceeds the original requirements. In just ten years has created more than 270 new laboratories. The share of Russian young researchers under 35 years of age averages 56 percent, which is considerably more than the average in national scientific organizations. Modern equipment that is purchased for research at the end of the work stays in Russia and continues to work.
in the intervening years, the program of mega-grants, published more than 6 thousand of articles in scientific journals indexed by international database Web of Science, and was about 1.5 thousand patents for inventions and scientific discoveries. More than 2,500 employees created laboratories had internships, professional development, training in the leading universities and leading scientific organizations of Russia and other countries. Using the obtained results has written more than 120 monographs, books, re-created or significantly upgraded more than 1,100 educational courses.
However, to evaluate the program solely on the indicators and the indicators would be wrong. First, it is possible to build effective communication between field scientists and a new laboratory became the training ground for our science. As I said, the share of youth in the laboratories of the program is very large, some up to 80 percent. And, for example, two of the three young scientists, who are this year’s winners of the prestigious presidential award in science, came because of “magaganda” laboratories.
Over the years the program has become a hallmark of Russia in the sphere of international scientific-technological cooperation. It promotes the integration of our country in the global environment, acquired a great importance not only from a scientific point of view and foreign policy. In addition, it helps to exercise structural changes in the management of the whole of Russian science. Russian President meets regularly with scientists and megarotica, and each of such meetings it becomes the impetus for positive change in our science. For example, in 2016 the conference “science of the future” in Kazan were invited to create a range of grants to support talented young specialists. Vladimir Vladimirovich has heard of scientists. So there was a presidential programme, implemented by the Russian science Foundation.
Nesomnenno�� that thanks to the program of mega-grants in Russia from abroad have returned in large numbers of Russian scientists, having authority and laboratories in the world most famous research centers. By the way, they note that the program allowed them to establish multidisciplinary research teams bringing together researchers and graduate students in different fields. They can lead full scientific production cycle from basic research to implementation in practice at the level of the world leading scientific centers.
What lessons and conclusions can be drawn at the end of the program?
Valery Falkov:, She demonstrated the “mechanics” of how to create successful research teams for joint search of responses to global challenges. Namely, attracting the best scientific minds regardless of their country of habitual residence, developing international cooperation.
As we now see, in that daily cooperation of scientists around the world are working to overcome the pandemic coronavirus. I’m sure this work will be done by a professional and useful for science insights. But it is clear that last but not least, thanks to the program of mega-grants our current work with scientists around the world is not declarative, and high-quality working character.
the Program was designed until 2020. Will it be renewed?
Valery Falkov: the mega-grants were part of the program “Scientifically-technological development of the Russian Federation”. From 2019 they are one of the areas of the national project “Science”, a new competition will be held in late 2020.
Any world stars of science managed to attract to the program of magaramov?
Falkov | As I said, in the creation in Russia of a new world class laboratories under the program of mega-grants was attended by more than 270 leading scholars from 45 countries. Among them are Nobel prize winners Osamu Shimomura, George Fitzgerald Smoot, winner of the fields medal award Stanislav Smirnov, Nobel peace prize Jean Jouzel and Ricardo Valentini, Gerard Moore, who, being the head of the laboratory of megagrants received the Nobel prize in physics in 2018, the guru of bioinformatics Pavel Pevzner, our outstanding scientist in the field of biotechnology and pharmacy corresponding member of RAS Alexander Kabanov, a recognized expert in the field of plasma physics, Friedrich Wagner, a world expert in the biodiversity of the oceans Leonid Moroz, the largest domestic biologists Sergey Lukyanov and Peter Chumakov, the legendary physicist Vladimir Zakharov, the owners of ultra-high citation indices physicist Yuri Kivshar from Australia and biomedic Boris Zhivotovsky Sweden, Director of the Institute of chemistry of surfaces and interfaces, CNRS Dmitry Ivanov, Arctic Explorer Jorn Tiede, Gleb Sukhorukov, included in the list of 10 world-renowned scientists to “Forbes”, prominent historians, economists, psychologists, archaeologists. All stars are not listed.
What scientific results of the program of mega-grants may be specially proud of?
Falkov| List of significant achievements of the program is very extensive. To cite just a few examples. For example, the development of supermolecule drive to record and store large amounts of information at the International center of laser technologies, created on the basis of MUCTR. Mendeleev under the guidance of Professor from the University of Southampton Peter Kazansky. In the future this disc will save millions of rubles from the budget, which now goes to the archives, and will transmit to posterity the works having scientific and cultural value, government securities, etc., Anything like our scientists are still not done. In the United States and Europe, these developments can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Or create at MSU under the direction of Professor Dmitry Ivanov of new polymeric materials, which in the future will become the analogues of human skin. Or development in the Volga research medical University under the guidance of academician Sergey Lukyanov technology observation of cells and cellular structures with the use of red fluorescent protein (RFP).
Valery Falkov, Minister of science and higher education of the Russian Federation. Born October 18, 1978 in Tyumen. With honors he graduated from the Institute of state and law of Tyumen state University. After the defense in 2003 PhD thesis remained in the native of Tyumen state University.
he Worked in various positions. In 2012, he became the rector of the University, which he directed for seven years.
Over the years, the University has become one of the best universities in the country. So, the rector has written to the University employees for training in the centre “SKOLKOVO” has taken on the work of teachers from foreign universities that have implemented individualized education of students. The University was included in the program “5-100”, which involves the removal of five universities among the best in the world.
On his initiative appeared interregional multidisciplinary Olympiad “D. Mendeleev”, which is aimed at identifying and developing talented students of 4-11 grades. Participants in the Olympiad are schoolchildren from Russia and CIS countries. Falkov became the initiators of creating the West-Siberian interregional scientific-educational center of international level. In 2014 he was included into the reserve of managerial personnel.
January 21 the presidential decree appointed Minister of science and higher education of the Russian Federation.
