30 years after the collapse of the USSR, after the conflict with Azerbaijan, Armenia is trying to survive at any cost. However, the country and, in particular, at its scientific community, the future is very foggy, writes the French edition of La Vie (“Life”), which prepared material about the deplorable state of science in Armenia.
“Armenia – a small state without resources,” Sargsyan’s Agereik Sargsyan openly says, who believes that the state survival is delivered to the card. – We are part of the history of mankind, we must continue to remain in the center of this story. We must use our legacy to revive as Phoenix. “
As reports La Vie, after many years of downtime on the slope of the mountains of Aragats (Alaghaz) again earned ROT-54 / 2.6 – the radioptic telescope, also known as the Mirror telescope of the geruni. This is a hemispherical stationary mirror with a diameter of 54 meters with a movable focusing mirror with a diameter of 2.6 meters. However, the entire complex, built in 1985, requires a serious restoration of infrastructure, upgrading equipment and, of course, financing. However, there are no funds in Armenia.
“After the collapse of the USSR, Armenians experienced a serious economic crisis and the first war in Karabakh,” writes the French edition. “Due to the lack of resources, scientists from all areas began to move abroad or change the scope of activity.”
“It was a real chaos, here no one could remain in science,” recalls Arge Mikaelayan, director of the Bugkan Observatory. – Faced with insufficient public financing, Armenian scientists find salvation in international partnership. If you have interesting ideas, then you You can cooperate with foreign scientists in the USA, Japan and Europe.
Armenian economy and agriculture are limited compared to large countries, because our territory is small, like our population, and our budget. In the Observatory, only 12 young scientists. Science no longer has the prestige of the past years, and the salary of 170 euros does not satisfy young Armenians. “
In the Research Center at the National Laboratory of A.Alikhanyan (since 2011, the Yerevan Physical Institute has been called) only one student plans to receive a doctoral degree at the Faculty of Astronomy.
Predictions are not comforting. Professor Ashot Chilingaryan, head of the cosmic ray study center, is agreed: “To engage in science, she should like it. This is not the area where you can make a lot of money, but it is more interesting than sticky policy or an indefinite business. I always spoke to my Pupils that humanity should understand where we are and why. As for the mass outcome of Armenian youth in search of peace and well-being … We are a small country, our population decreases every year. I’m not sure that Armenia will live for more than 10 years, “- Signed Professor.