Croatia’s prime minister announced today new health and education ministers in a mini-reshuffle of the government, following speculation in the media over the last couple of days, including a possibility of separating science and education sectors into two separate ministries.
Health minister Rajko Ostojić and science minister Željko Jovanović, who has a medical background, will be replaced by Siniša Varga, and Vedran Mornar, respectively.
“These two ministries are very difficult. We cannot expect radical moves at this point of our term but the continuation of ongoing reforms,” Prime Minister Zoran Milanović told a news conference in Zagreb, cited in Reuters.
Vedran Mornar is a former dean of the Faculty of Computer Science in Zagreb and has reportedly collaborated with three previous ministers. He unsuccessfully ran for the dean of University of Zagreb four years ago. His publication record lists five works in CC journals, seven in other journals, and ten book contributions, in addition to a range of conference proceedings and dissertation supervisions.
Saša Zelenika, science minister’s deputy, who has mechanical engineering background, may reportedly also be replaced, according to Večernji List.
He runs the section Balkan Science Beat.
EuroScientist journal 