Whether career for the Russian scientist is important?

         1. What is the scientific career? Concept of ‘career’ today is one of the most demanded. Already even the new profession appeared – «the adviser for career».

         The example: the young girl in interview on TV declares: «I yet do not plan Private life, I am entirely occupied by career». The questions of careers discussed in mass-media and specialized editions. However career in a science today – a problem that needs research. Thus, we observe interesting paradox: in certain fields of activity with material stimulation, career questions are considered extremely attentively, in a science where with lack of material, career questions frankly neglect.

         I science field the serious works by E.Z.Mirskaya, A.I.Terehov's and other Russian researchers. During various researches by scientist often have to answer the question what is successful scientific career according their point of view. Answers are different. The Russian scientists who are working abroad, for example, notice that career has taken place, if the scientist has taken of a constant item and has received the own budget etc. The scientists who have worked during 90th in Russia and continuing to work here, point as success the demand (work on several projects at once, teaching in several high schools simultaneously), attention of foreign colleagues, regular victories in scientific competitions etc.

         In classical understanding of successful scientific career assumes availability of signs on the powerful social recognition expressed in specific forms [1]. Therefore, even if researchers also leave from a direct response on the brought attention to the question, each of them perfectly knows, what exactly is a true sign on a recognition in the area: to receive particular medal, to take particular place, etc. certainly, such bright successes – destiny of the few.  In the given article we will consider the forms of its social recognition.

         2. Does the modern scientist cares about the career? For example, the Russian science constantly compare to the sinking "Titanic", and panic moods of scientific community are inevitably transferred  to young. So there is a question: does the career is important to passengers of sinking ship?

         For example, the Russian science constantly compare to the sinking "Titanic", and panic moods of scientific community are inevitably transferred  to young. So there is a question: does the career is important to passengers of sinking ship?

         This point of view has received in the recent research made by group "Strategic" [2]. There were interest answers to a question: how the scientists choosing the job (tab. 1). The Most important choice of a marked with figure 1, the second for the importance – 2, etc. in process of importance decrease.

 

         Table 1. How scientists choose the job.

 

         The main conclusion following from table 1, is an overwhelming priority of the salary.

         More detailed reproduce a conclusion of authors: Possibility of career growth in the Russian science advances a choice of work for 11 persons, the factor weight is insignificant – only 2,9. Probably, the reason is in the general pessimism concerning long-term perspectives and especially - the Russian Academy of Sciences, that appeared in our conversations with young scientists. What cannot be reached here, researchers wish to reach abroad – on the first place this parameter was delivered by 17 persons – the young scientists are ambitious. They do not believe that this growth is achievable here. We managed to reveal the correlation with the years – the more young the scientist, the career growth in Russia is less important for them.

         60 persons have taken part in the survey, 45 men, middle age of – 27,5 years, the youngest participants was about 21 year, most senior – 36 years. 21 persons are married, 2 – are divorced, the others never married. Of these 60 persons 2 – still students, 3 have higher education, 21 persons – post-graduate students, the others 34 – candidates of sciences. No wonder that adults married and suffered a lot in their life candidates of sciences put the salary the most important point. However we have lack of «early success», in this list. So we will try to generate sample a little in another way.

         3. The factors which are keeping/pushing out scientists from a science. The further survey concern perspective young scientists, various faculties and structures of the M.V.Lomonosov`s Moscow State University. Generally speaking, the Moscow State University is original "mould" of the Russian science as a whole. So, the representative list of the young scientists who have caused a stir (from the point of view of scientific efficiency) in 2005-2007 by certain criteria has been constituted. This list was selectively used for the analysis of pushing out and keeping factors. The list of scientists is a valuable field of research.

         Thus we have concentrated our attention to a quota of successful young scientists and undergraduates of various faculties and Moscow State University structures. This is the difference from the research that has been made above. Here respondents are perfect students with attention to problems in the leading scientific and educational organization of the country. In this survey took 30 persons into each group and were offered to name the factors which are pushing out the scientist for the search of a new place of employment (the first group) and the factors that keep scientists at the place (the second group).   


         First, the factor of salary neither in the first, nor in the second groups has taken the first place. In 1990th such result would be sensational, but today it in the scientific environment it does not cause any surprise. Nevertheless, standard documents continue to appeal to small increasing of salary as to panacea from all troubles.

         Second, the fact that respondents put on the first place among keeping factors the youth environment - considers with attention of a filling with perspective youth of laboratories in "age" academic and branch scientific research institutes. The young scientist as a single cannot survive there, even if old men-scientists will drive a continuous enthusiastic round dance.

         Third, possibility to make official career is not underlined by respondents among keeping factors. On As a special strong keeping factor is the student atmosphere. It is very important, because motivated young scientists spend time in the Moscow State University since morning till the late night.

         The received results are confirmed with other supervisions and foreign analogues. So, at the American universities the great attention is given to development of student campuses. There are all kinds of service and entertainments.

         The salary factor is not in a great importance also because the item that calls «Desire of parents». Also the factor that makes the scientist to stay at the Moscow State University after protection of the dissertation, its desire to work abroad after they will increase certain authority and international contacts.

         The main conclusion of the made research is:  the basic pushing out factor for the Russian scientists is the absence of career opportunities. To get any opportunity, for example, the assistant position to the candidate of sciences takes great luck.  Thus, the question of career motivation for scientists with good potential is still important.

Yegerev Sergey ,
05.09.2008. Views: 2710

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