Reforming the russian academy of sciences

摘要

Few in Russian politics are as adept as Vladimir Zhironovsky when it comes to vitriol, and his verbal assault against the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) was true to form. "It's anarchy over there", the colourful deputy chair of the State Duma screamed into the microphone as the parliament discussed reforming the Academy. "They're so old their brains don't work anymore...Their reproductive organs don't work anymore...They can't even design proper watches." But the bile flows both ways. Ask Russian scientists about the government's reforms and their passions run just as high. After a hastily convened conference in August the Academy published a response to the then proposed reforms claiming the government was engaged in a "smear campaign" and had allowed "incompetent and unscrupulous" members of parliament to draw up a bill that would result in the "destruction of science in Russia".