“Reason for your visit?” - the immigration officer asks sharply. “I’m looking for a job. I’m coming for some interviews”. “But you used to live here…” he points out, looking carefully at an expired visa. “For more than a decade” I answer. He looks at the front page of my worn-out passport. “Spain...things are not good over there, are they?” I nod. “Good luck,” he says, letting us go through. Read more [...]
For many years, we have been witnessing a paradox in Italian research. On the one hand, we have heard the frequent declarations by politicians and institutions on the importance of research and researchers. On the other hand, the same policy makers have been imposing budget cuts and constraints to scientists. The scientific community has thus expressed justified concerns. Read more [...]
The financial crisis—in which we are still immersed—has brought back words such as cyclical and counter-cyclical; a terminology typically used by economists, independently their ideological or theoretical flavour. The problem with the current debate is that most of the discussions are about the economic aspect of the recession. Meanwhile, the concerns of citizens confronted to this economic context are diluted. Read more [...]
We are preparing a Special Issue on the effect of austerity on research, due to be published next week. This Special Issue is the first example of what the relaunched version of EuroScientist is designed to do, as a participatory magazine. You will therefore be able to share your views on how research in your country is withering the winds of austerity blowing over Europe. Read more [...]
Resisting a reduced spend on science in Europe may require decision makers to understand the mechanisms that makes them discount future benefits in return for short-term certainty on cost savings. Is it better to invest money now or save it for a rainy day? A dilemma faced by millions of people in the tough economic climate: invest now for an uncertain return in the long-term future, versus saving it for short-term needs. Read more [...]
The scientists’ group Euroscience, the European Research Council and the League of European Research Universities have renewed efforts in the face of funding fears. Scientists and university groups have launched a late push against cuts to the Commission’s plans for Horizon 2020, ahead of a meeting of EU leaders that could seal the next seven-year budget for research. They have made fresh pleas urging decision makers to secure a budget of at least €80 billion for Horizon 2020. Read more [...]
Researchers in Serbia are facing reduced access to scientific literature after funding cuts to the national portal KoBSON, run by a consortium of some of its largest libraries, which has become the main access point for research institutions over the Read more [...]
Montenegro's official science academy may see its budget subject to month-by-month approvals, or even face deep budget cuts, if it does not comply with a law forcing it to merge with the country's unofficial science academy. The move, approved at a cabinet meeting on 26 July, is the latest in an escalating conflict between the Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts (CANU), which says its academic autonomy is under attack, and the Montenegrin science ministry, which seeks to merge the two academies.... Read more [...]
Bright and early on 3 January 2011, 140 physics lecturers, students and other staff at Utrecht University in the Netherlands made their way from the physics department to the offices of the university administration. The purpose of the demonstration was to submit a petition objecting to proposed cutbacks, and to the removal of department head Casper Erkelens after he refused to sign a document agreeing to the reforms. Read more [...]
Greece is the first country to seek help from the International Monetary Fund (IMF)/EU austerity package following a disastrous financial crash. The science in Greece is being severely affected. Read more [...]
Across the European Union and the wider Europe, governments are engaged in cutting public expenditure and we are entering an unprecedented period of austerity. Thus, public support for research is now at risk in a manner not seen before and just at the time when Europe faces new challenges from the rising new economies, especially in Asia, and when threats to our quality of life from climate change, demographic change and energy, food and resource availability and sustainability are becoming evermore threatening and urgent. This undermines the EU Lisbon process, to create a leading knowledge-based economy which must remain as the aim of governments and societies across Europe. Read more [...]
European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), with its multitude of accelerators, has opened up the possibility for scientists to answer some huge questions. I imagine CERN’s To Do list to read something like “1 - understand the intricacies of the Big Bang, 2 - find the Higgs boson, 3 - figure out dark matter, 4 - unify fundamental forces.” However, there is one underlying question that is arguably even more challenging - “How are we going to pay for all this?” Read more [...]
European science conversations by the community, for the community
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