The role of the HAS in promoting better understanding of science and the citizen

• General information on the Hungarian Academy of Sciences• The Hungarian Research Fund (OTKA) • Young Researcher’s Fellowship Program • The Janos Bolyai Grant• Some views on science• WSC (1999)

Functions of the HAS

Scientific workshop

The nation’s counsel

Public body, representing researchers

(Details: http://www.mta.hu)

Membership

Members of the Academy

CorrespondingOrdinary

(altogether: 365younger than 70 yrs: 200)

ExternalHonorary

Public Body Members (about 11,000)200 elected representatives Requirements: PhD (degree)Doctor of Academy (title)

The Hungarian Academy's scientific sections

I. Linguistics and Literary Studies Section II. Philosophy and Historical Sciences Section III. Mathematical Sciences Section IV. Agricultural Sciences Section V. Medical Sciences Section VI. Technical Sciences Section VII. Chemical Sciences Section VIII. Biological Sciences Section IX. Economics and Law Section X. Earth Sciences Section XI. Physical Sciences Section

The Regional Committees of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences

Regional Committee in Debrecen

Regional Committee in Miskolc

Regional Committee in Pécs

Regional Committee in Szeged

Regional Committee in Veszprém

Pécs

Veszprém

Szeged

Miskolc

DebrecenBudapest

Institutes for mathematics and natural sciences

Astronomical Institute (Konkoly Observatory)Chemical Research Centre (CRC) Computer and Automation Research InstituteInstitute of Nuclear Research Atomic Energy Research Institute Research Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics “Rényi Alfréd” Mathematical InstituteResearch Centre for Earth Sciences (RCES)Research Institute for Solid-state Physics and OpticsResearch Institute for Technical Physics and Material Science

Institutes for life sciences

Agricultural Research Institute Balaton Limnological Research InstituteBiological Research Centre (BRC) Institute of Ecology and Botany Institute of Experimental Medicine Plant Protection InstituteResearch Institute for Soil Science and

Agricultural Chemistry Veterinary Medical Research Institute

Institutes for social sciences and humanities

ArchaeologyRegional StudiesArt History Economics EthnologyHistory Legal StudiesLinguistics

Literary ScholarshipMusicologyPhilosophy Political Sciences Psychology SociologyWorld Economics

Hungarian Research Fund (OTKA)

Established in 1986 by the HAS

Independent since 1991

Mechanism: grant applications are

- reviewed by outside experts

- ranked by panels

- summarized by three Committees

Budget: about 24 million Euros (2003)

Committees

Science and engineering 40%

Life sciences 40%

Social sciences and humanities 20%

(Fundamental research, instrumentation, scientific libraries, publication, international relations etc.)

INNOVATION SYSTEM

Economic andsocial needs

users

Knowledge baseknowledge producers

absorptivecapacity

interaction- knowledge transfer- user needs

- quality- relevance

Young Researcher’s Fellowship Program

The fellowship is granted for a maximum of 3 years

Age limit: 30 yrs old or up to 35 yrs in exceptional cases

Nationality: Hungarian citizens (or foreign researchers with the approval of the Secretary General)

Salary: 144,000 HUF (Junior) or 180,000 HUF (Senior)

Eligibility: recent graduates, current PhD students or PhD graduates

Availability of Fellowship:

The number of placements and the share of the specific scientific areas is set by the Committee of Research Units

Young Researcher’s Fellowship Program - share of institutes and research groups

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Institutes

Research groups

Young Researcher’s Fellowship Program - share of scientific areas within Institutes

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Social Sciences

Life Sciences

Mathematics andNatural Sciences

Bolyai Grants „for promoting and

enhancing the outstanding research and development performance”

Started: 1997 Duration: 3 years Age limit: 40 years Granted by an independent and autonomous Advisory Board

based on the intermediate decision by 11 Expert Panels Performance is evaluated in each yearValue of the grant: 1998-2002: 3 times the minimum vage.

from 2003: 108,000 HUF (it is additonal to the regular salary)

Applicants, holders and number of calls for the Bolyai scholarship

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Applications

Holders

Calls

Applications by age of applicants

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

26-30

31-35

36-40

40-

Age of Bolyai scholarship holders

0

50

100

150

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

26-30

31-35

36-40

Bolyai scholarship holders- by academic level

0

100

200

300

400

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

None

PhD

CsC

Hostility towards science (a worldwide phenomenon)

Ministry of Finance bureaucrats: science is a luxury,society derives no real benefits from it

General public:Science and technology is destroying the natural

environment,extremely dangerous (nuclear power plants)extremely expensive

Social sciences failed to predict changes andfailed to give valuable advice to the transformations in Eastern Europe

Advances due to scientific knowledge

Life expectancy increased

Cures discovered for many diseases

Agricultural output has risen significantly

Expanding and complex range of industrial products and processes

FORUM I. SCIENCE: ACHIEVEMENTS, SHORTCOMINGS AND CHALLENGES

FORUM II. SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

FORUM III. TOWARDS A NEW COMMITMENT

DOCUMENTS

DeclarationDeclaration

on Science and the use of scientific knowledge

Science AgendaScience Agenda

Framework for action

MAIN PRINCIPLES CONTAINED IN THE DECLARATION

- There is an urgent need to use scientific knowledge to address human needs and aspirations- Fundamental and problem oriented research is essential in solving endogenous problems- Education and research programs in S/T need sustained support from governments and the private sector- Science education is fundamental. Equality in access to science is a necessity for realising the full human intellectual potential

Expanded science literacy, ability and skills, and an appreciation of ethical values, are needed to improve public decision-making on science issues

Enhanced regional and international co-operation is needed to support scientific capacity building, esp. in small states and least developed countries

New initiatives are required for interdisciplinary collaboration and co-operation in production and use of scientific knowledge. The objective should be a move towards sustainable development strategies

MAIN PRINCIPLES CONTAINED IN THE DECLARATION

MAIN PRINCIPLES CONTAINED IN THE DECLARATION

Use of information and communication technologies for free flow of knowledge should be expanded with due respect for the diversity of cultures and plurality of expression

Intellectual property rights need to be protected. Legal frameworks should meet the specific requirements of developing countries and traditional knowledge ………………………………………………………..

As a summary: science is important and useful

MAIN COMMITMENTSScience Agenda - Framework for Action

Commitments are to supported or promoted by

governments,

universities and research institutions

scientists and the scientific community

private sector and funding agencies

NGO-s and the society at large

(Details: http://www.unesco.org/science/wcs)