“Science is in the hands of pensioners”
"The miserable financial situation in Armenia has driven all spheres to a plight. The state of science is the most concerning, with everyday empty talks about past achievements," physicist Sasun Gevorgyan said at the Hayeli (Mirror) Club.
Unable to live on a salary of 35 000 AMD, Armenian intellectuals leave the country finding shelter abroad.
"Unfortunately, no one suggests innovative ideas today. Our intellectual potential is gone. Mostly, pensioners have stayed in the country who can hardly boost science. About 180 pensioners, aged 70-90, work in the Institute of Physics," the physicist observed.
Artak Davtyan, Chairman of the NA standing Committee on Science and Education Affairs shared the concerns of his opponent saying the sphere of science encounters numerous problems while financial compensation is insufficient, even incomparable with the GDP.
"It is nonsense to expect any serious progress in the sphere. We must understand whether the country is going to contribute to science with its resources," Artak Davtyan said.
Asked why an ordinary dustman at the Central Bank receives more money than a scientist, Artak Davtyan said, "They all receive fixed salaries and to say that we allot more money to science will be wrong since we must specify the sphere where reductions have been realized."
"No matter how much money you give to science, it will be insufficient. We should understand where the money is directed," Mr. Gevorgyan said adding that fundamental science is financed worldwide by different sources while in Armenia the only source of financing is the state.
Sasun Gevorgyan suggested Artak Davtyan to allocate the property and area belonging to scientific establishments to institutes for them to be able to shift to self-financing in the course of time. "The policy was used in the USA in the 20s," the physicist said.
